Netaji's 117th birth anniversary

It's strange that there was not a whimper on 23rd January, the 117th birth anniversary of Netaji (Subhash Bose) while the whole country goes on celebration on an actor's or cricketer's birthday.

Netaji was the King of revolutionaries. Starting with Congress and it's disobedience and non violent methods, he did not lose sight of the ultimate goal. As a free spirit he was devoted to the idea of India's freedom and not to any particular way.

When paens are sung for the non violent freedom movement of India.It must be remembered that we got independence in 1947, Myanmar & Ceylon in 1948,in early 50s the whole of South-East Asia was breathing free air. So if the movement was so strong only in India, how come our neighbours too enjoyed the party. The answer to this question is Second World War and the death blow given by Germany and Japan to the Anglo-French empires. Great Britian did’nt come out “Great” after the war and was in no position to rule over the world. So the hurry to leave the land and partition it to suit their ambitions.

In case of India, Netaji’s Azad Hind Fauj (INA)of( Indian prisoners of war) played a key role. It sowed the seeds of revolution in the armed forces on which the British empire rested safely. It was this army which had made them the rulers of India, saved them in 1857 and even won laurels in first and second world war. The moment our gora sahibs realised that the army won’t support them against their countrymen, they knew their time was up. In an epic struggle Netaji escaped from Calcutta to Afganisthan and then Germany. Not able to reach India from there he circumnavigated half the globe to Japan and raised the banner of INA from there.

Let us remember his fierce dedication to our motherland and sing “kadam kadam badhaye ja”

On Makarsankranti

Today is 14th January, Makarsankranti, the day when sun moves to Northern hemisphere and hence an auspicious day for us. But it is an important day for us all Indians. It was on the same day that the third battle of Panipat was fought in 1761.

It was a clear conflict among the rising power of Marathas (read national) and waning power of Afghans (read foreign).The moment Marathas started knocking o...n the gates of Delhi from 1719, the Mughal power started getting uneasy about the rise of so called kafirs. But the momentum of Bajirao, his son Nanasaheb and Raghunathrao was impossible to relent. Within 12 years of death of Aurangzeb, Marathas became the owner of central India and started expanding in all directions. By 1740s they were in Bengal and Orissa and in 1758 they achieved the pinnacle when saffron flag flew over Attock after a gap of 1000 years. They became the defacto rulers from Attock to Cuttack and Delhi to Tanjavur.

It was in this background that Mughals started conspiring to bring down the national movement which was clearly eclipsing them fast. Najib khan invited Abdally who had been crushed by Marathas previously to avenge his defeat and also get a huge loot from the prosperous land. He kept a smoke screen of friendship with Marathas and revealed his plans when Abdally was near Delhi. The northern flank of Marathas in Punjab collapsed and the responsibility fell on Dattaji Shinde, who was mecilessly murdered by Najib while protecting his motherland.

Marathas had to avenge his death and a huge army started from Pune under the leadership of Sadashivrao Bhau.His movement were slowed down due to huge contingent of non soldiers as a result he was stuck around rivers in monsoon. It somehow happened that the 2 forces were locked in such a way that Marathas blocked Abdally's return to Afghan land and he blocked Marathas return to South.Shuja-ud Daulah, Nawab of Awadh sided with Abdally in name of jihad and hence he recieved fresh reinforcements and supplies but Marathas were left with their supply lines cut off in the hostile cold of North.

It was in this desperation that the 2 sides collided in Panipat, in initial few hours the battle was tilted toward Marathas but the sudden killing of Vishwasrao and disappearance of Sadashivrao, caused the whole formation to collapse and ultimately to the rout.Almost 1.0 lac fighters gave their life defending their motherland in a war which could have been won if all the forces including Rajput had sided with Marathas against Abdally.

It wiped out the Afghan factor from Delhi politics and created a power vaccum for a few years, Marathas were back in the game under the able leadership of Madhavrao in late 1760s.But the ultimate benificiaries were the Englishman who without firing a shot gave a major setback to their biggest competitor in India. The lesson remains the same that only UNITED WE STAND and is more relevant today when the anti corruption movement is divided into 2 pitched groups who are fighting among each othe while the big daddy of corruption watches merrily.

On martyrdom of Fatehsingh/Zorawar singh

26th December is a day to be remembered. It was on the same day that youngest sons of Guru Gobind Singh sacrificed themselves on the altar of freedom. How young anybody will ask ? They were 7 and 9 years to be precise. When caught by Mughals treacherously they were taken to Sarhind and presented in court. They would have been pardoned if they had accepted conversion .But they were tiger cubs ...and refused any conversion. After facing torture for many days they were martyred. Guru Gobind Singh sacrificed all his sons for cause. Finally taking inspiration from him Banda Bairagi avenged the death of his sons by ransacking Sarhind. Fatehsingh and Zorawarsingh would be always an example of sacrifice. The other event is birth of Sardar Udham Singh who avenged the Jallianwala bagh massacre by killing Mr Odwayer who ordered the firing on helpless mob. It is really necessary to know this history so that we know the sacrifices given for a so called non violent independence struggle.

On Swamiji''s 151st birth anniversary

Swami Vivekananda, the name itself is fiery and electrifies us when we read him or see his photo. The same effect was felt by all great men like Gandhiji or even foreigners like Romain Rolland. Britishers could not establish link but every revolutionary they arrested had a copy of Vivekananda's speeches or thoughts. Such was the impact of this man who was aptly named as cyclonic Hindu monk. He awakened us about the glory of our motherland and the dire straits in which it was languishing due to foreign rule. To achieve greatness he clearly proclaimed that India should be politically freed first. To free our motherland he exhorted his countrymen to have muscles of iron and nerves of steel and courage which could see death in it's face and still have unshakeable faith. Although he lived for 39 years and only 2-3 years in India after achieving fame as Swami Vivekananda he shook us to our core due to his tremendous passion for country and Hinduism. We should pray to him to get an iota of his passion for the country on his 151st birth anniversary.