Subhas Chandra Bose was a great patriot and a determined fighter of national freedom. Unlike other prominent leaders of the Indian freedom struggle, Subhas strongly believed that an armed rebellion was necessary to wrest independence from the British. Born on August 18th at Cuttack (Orissa), Bose was a powerful orator and organizer, inspiring millions with his vision, and willingness to take extreme and fearless measures to attain India's freedom. Subhas Chandra Bose is popularly known as 'Netaji' and is considered to be a hero by many.

In 1943, he organized the Indian National Army (I.N.A). He gave to the nation the Salutation and slogan of 'Jai Hind' (Victory to India).  The famous words of Subhas Chandra Bose are "Give me blood, I will give you freedom", urging people to sacrifice their lives for freedom. He also famously used the call "Dilli Chalo" (Go to Delhi) to motivate his troops towards the capital.

He sought the support of Germany and Japan for India's freedom. Because of the ideology difference, he later formed the political party 'Forward Bloc' within Congress; and still later established the Provisional Government of Free India, 'Azad Hind' while in exile.

He was posthumously decorated with the title 'Bharat Ratna' in 1992. However, the Supreme Court of India declared on 4^th  August, 1997  that the press communiqué dated January 23, 1992, used from the Rashtrapati Bhavan to confirm Bharat Ratna "Posthumously" on Netaji should be treated as cancelled as this proposal was dropped by Government in deference to the sentiments expressed by Public and his family members.

Bose is believed to have died in an air-crash in 1945, during World War II at Taihoku (Taipei), Japanese Formosa (now Taiwan) as per official account. A contoversy still exists about the cause and time of his death, with many Indians not believing the crash story hoping that he will return to lead the freedom struggle, and some believing that he lived on, and escaped to some other country. But the fact remains that there is no proof for such theories. His birth annivesary is celebrated with much reverance, and his ideals of sacrifice and unshakable love for the motherland remain an inspiration for generations.