Key Highlights
- January 23, 2025 marks the 128th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
- The Indian government has designated the day as Parakram Diwas to celebrate his valour and visionary leadership.
- Nation‑wide events—seminars, cultural programmes, and educational talks—will underscore his ideals of unity, courage and sacrifice.
- The Subhas Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar, awarded annually on this date, recognises outstanding disaster‑management work.
Detailed Insights
Parakram Diwas, observed each year on 23 January, commemorates the life and work of Subhas Chandra Bose, a towering figure in India’s struggle for independence. Born in 1897 in Cuttack, Bose distinguished himself academically at Presidency College, Kolkata, and the University of Cambridge, before abandoning a promising career in the Indian Civil Service to join the freedom movement.
His political trajectory included two terms as President of the Indian National Congress (1938‑1939), the creation of the Forward Bloc in 1939 to rally left‑leaning forces, and the formation of the Indian National Army (INA) which fought the British alongside Japanese forces during World War II. In 1943, Bose proclaimed the provisional Azad Hind Government, asserting India’s right to self‑rule and popularising the rallying cry “Delhi Chalo.”
The day also honours the legacy of the INA and the enduring relevance of Bose’s advocacy for national unity, self‑reliance and self‑sacrifice. Contemporary commemorations—school/college lectures, parades, and tributes at statues—aim to transmit these values to younger generations.
Since 2021, the Government of India has institutionalised the Subhas Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar. The award, presented on Parakram Diwas, includes a cash component of ₹51 lakh for institutions and ₹5 lakh for individuals, together with certificates of recognition. In 2024, the honour was conferred on the 60 Parachute Field Hospital, Uttar Pradesh, for exemplary disaster‑response initiatives.
Key Concepts
- Parakram Diwas: The official designation for 23 January, celebrating the courage and contributions of Subhas Chandra Bose.
- Indian National Army (INA): A military formation raised by Bose in 1942 to wage armed struggle against British colonial forces.
- Forward Bloc: A political faction founded by Bose in 1939 to consolidate left‑leaning forces under a common socialist agenda.
- Azad Hind Government: The provisional government declared by Bose in 1943, seeking international recognition for an independent India.
- Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar: An annual award recognizing exceptional contributions to disaster management, instituted in Bose’s memory.