Talk about India, from India with you

~ Netaji, The Forgotten Hero ~

Good morning/Good afternoon/Good evening my friends out there! This is 9:00am. 23^st January, 2014, Thursday in India. How are you my friends? Today, 23^rd January 23, is the birthday of a legend of India. He is the idol of millions of people, for his noble sacrifice and able leadership during freedom struggle of India. He is still an inspiration for Indians from generation to generation. Although his life remains an open book, today, I want to share with you, some unknown facts about Netaji which show his brilliance and rare courage. Have a look!

Netaji was born in the year 1897 as the 9th child of his parents at Cuttack in Odisha. He was exceptionally brilliant and secured top ranks throughout his study in the school and university. He was placed 4th in order of merit in the examination of Indian Civil service and qualified as an ICS Officer. He showed his depths in nine subjects, while appearing at the civil services, which proved his exceptional brilliance. After being successful in Indian Civil Services (ICS) examination, Netaji  refused to obey the prohibition to carry his umbrella while meeting the Governor General at his office in Kolkata. It was then a traditional dignity to carry the umbrella for every Bengali gentleman. When the Governor General objected to this, asking him to explain his behavior, he dared to put the umbrella around the neck of British Governor General and warn him to mind his behavior.

Netaji resigned from the rising career of civil service to join the freedom struggle. He worked under the leadership of Chittaranjan Das, an active member of Congress in Calcutta. It was Chittaranjan Das, who along with Motilal Nehru, left Congress and founded the Swaraj Party in 1922. Subhash would regard Chittaranjan Das as his political guru.

While Chittaranjan Das was busy in developing the national strategy, Subhash Chandra Bose played a major role in enlightening the students, youths and labors of Calcutta. He was eagerly waiting to see India, as an independent, federal and republic nation.During the period of 1921-1941, he was imprisoned eleven times in various jails in India.

In freedom struggle congress was large organization. Subhash Chandra Bose became a strong leader in Congress and he made brave attempt to mold the entire party differently. Congress party was always lenient and never in a position to oppose. Subhashbabu outrightedly opposed this behaviour. This opposition was against Gandhi‘s philosophy. Netaji appeared at the 1939 Congress meeting on a stretcher. He was reelected as president over Gandhi’s preferred candidate Pattabhi Sitaramayya.

In the year 1941, with a daring escape from house arrest in India, Netaji Subhas Bose went from Kolkata to Gomo by a car and from there traveled to Peshawar by train. From Peshawar (now in Pakistan), he went to Kabul and from there he traveled to Germany to seek help from Adlof Hitler.

During his stay in Berlin in the year 1943, Netaji had established the Free India Center and Azad Hind Radio station. In January 1943, the Japanese invited Bose to lead the Indian nationalist movement in East Asia. He accepted and left Germany on 8 February and later led INA. Netaji Subhas Bose traveled from Germany to Madagascar by a German Sub-marine named U-180 and from there a Japanese sub-marine called I-29 took him to Japan.  The voyage in two sub-marines covering such a long distance was extremely hazardous and it does not find any parallel in any freedom struggle.

Netaji’s death in a plane crash is still not proven by any evidence. There are many of evidences in favour of Netaji’s existence in Russia and India even after many years of India’s independence.

That’s all for today. Take care of your family and yourself! Have a good day/ afternoon/evening/night! Namaskar.

Image Courtesy:  https://www.google.co.in/search?output=search&sclient

Talk about India, from India with you

Good morning/Good afternoon/Good evening my friends out there! This is 9:00pm. 1^st January, 2014, Wednesday in India. At first, I want to wish you a very happy and prosperous New Year! After a very long time, I’m here for you! How are you my friends? I was busying with my new blog and page; so couldn’t be able here. Sorry for that and you becomes happy to know, that, from today, you can read my post regularly on Monday and Wednesday, as usual. Also, you may follow my new cooking blog on Tuesday and Friday as well. Hope you will enjoy both.

In West Bengal, every 1^st day of January, we celebrate a festival, called ‘Kalpataru Utsab’. Behind this festival, a very interesting story is there. Allow me to tell the story! 

Kalpataru Utsab is the marks the metamorphosis of Swami Ramakrishna Paramahansa into a Kalpataru or magical tree. This festival is celebrated every year to commemorate the divine transformation of the great soul of India, Swami Ramakrishna Paramahansa, who is also famous as the Guru of Swami Vivekananda. A Kalpataru, as per the Indian mythology is a magical tree, which blesses a person with anything which he or she desires. It is believed that Swami Ramakrishna Paramahansa cured the diseases of some people by just touching them on that auspicious day. 

On the 1st of January 1886, Sri Ramkrishna Paramhansa Deb made up his mind to go for a short walk in the lawns of the garden since he was feeling well after a long illness. Since that day was not a working day, a number of disciples of Swami Ramakrishna Paramahansa started to gather in the garden. At last, when he came downstairs at three ‘o’clock, about thirty disciples have already gathered inside the hall and also in the garden under the trees, whispering with each other. Seeing him advancing towards them all stood up with deep reverence and welcomed with folded hands while Thakur climbed down the steps to the garden intersecting the hall’s west corridor while everyone accompanied him at a distance.

As Ramakrishna Paramahansa reached the middle of the path which leads to the main gate from the building, he found his disciples Girish, Atul, Ram and others in the west lawn, under the tree’s shade. Finding him, the disciples of the Swami also greeted him with deep respect and came to him. Before the breaking of silence by anyone else, he first asked Sri Girish Chandra that he always speaks to different people regarding the incarnation of Swami Ramakrishna Paramahansa and thus he wanted to known what he has seen in him. In reply, Sri Girish Chandra told to him with hands folded and kneeling down, that he is not in a position to pass any comment on a personality who is in the same platform to that of the sages like Valmiki and Viyas.

Overwhelmed with the innocent and simple reply of Sri Girish Chandra, Swami Ramakrishna Paramahansa addressed others present there that they well gain cognizance and after that he went into a trance. Then, one by one, all the disciples of the Thakur started to take his blessings by touching the feet of the Swami. In this phase of meditation the Thakur blessed the disciples by providing them the sight of holy enlightenment. Overawed with this, most of the disciples were speechless and continued to watch him with awe. A number of his disciples called others to take the blessings of their Swami while several other disciples chanted hymns and prayed the Thakur with flowers. Some of the disciples of Thakur like Sri. Ramachandra explained this incident as the transformation of Swami Ramakrishna Paramahansa into a Kalpataru.

 

A large number of devotees move in to the Dakshineswar Kali temple to celebrate the Kalpataru Utsav every year. The Dakshineswar Kali temple is located on the eastern bank of the River Hooghly and it is devoted to the Goddess Kali as well as Lord Shiva. Swami Ramakrishna Paramahansa passed a considerable amount of his life, serving the deity Kali, in this temple.

Well, that’s all for today. Take care of your family and yourself and enjoy the New Year Party! Have a good day/ afternoon/evening/night! Namaskar.

Image Courtesy: https://www.google.co.in/search?q=kalpataru+utsav&tbm