ThePrint ThePrintPod: India forgot revolutionary Rash Behari Bose. Abhishek Banerjee brought him back into focus
Jun 21, 2025
Deep Halder, an author and journalist, sheds light on the remarkable yet overlooked legacy of Rash Behari Bose, a key figure in India's struggle for independence. They delve into his daring assassination attempt on Viceroy Hardinge and his role as an architect of the Ghadar Revolution. Halder discusses Bose's complex identity and his later life in Japan, exploring why such revolutionaries fall into obscurity. The conversation also highlights Bose's leadership in the Indian National Army and his connections with Japanese allies, prompting a reevaluation of India's historical narratives.
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Bose's Cover After Attack
- In 1912, Bengali revolutionary Bashant Kumar Bishwas and Joravar Singh bombed Viceroy Lord Hardinge, injuring him but killing his servant.
- Raj Bihari Bose publicly protested this assassination attempt and appeared pro-British, even leading a delegation to greet Hardinge after his recovery.
Revolutionaries' Relay Across Decades
- Raj Bihari Bose spent his later life in Japan connecting Indian revolutionaries worldwide against British rule.
- Armed revolutions in India were interconnected efforts over decades, like a relay race passing the baton.
Bose's Leadership and Legacy
- Raj Bihari Bose led the Indian National Army before handing leadership to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose without ego.
- He became a Japanese citizen, married a Japanese, and worked tirelessly for India's freedom from abroad.