PROOF – 125TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY YEAR OF NETAJI SUBHAS CHANDRA BOSE

Subhas Chandra Bose affectionately called ‘Netaji’ was an Indian Nationalist born on 23rd January 1897 in Cuttack, Odisha. In 1920, he appeared for the Indian Civil Service Competitive Exam and came out fourth in order of merit. However, citing Nationalism to be a higher calling than the civil service, he did not join the same. In 1921, he joined the Nationalist Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress. Bose at first worked with C.R. Das in Bengal under whose mentorship he flowered. Later he left Congress and formed ‘Forward Block’. He was one of the most prominent leader of Indian freedom struggle. Netaji was strongly influenced by Swami Vivekananda’s teaching and was known for his patriotic zeal as a student. On January 26, 1941 he escaped from his Calcutta residence in disguise and went outside India. He assumed leadership of Indian Independence Movement in East Asia and founded Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army). Azad Hind Fauz crossed the Burma Border and stood on Indian soil on March 18, 1944. His contribution to the Indian Struggle for Independence will remain etched forever in the Indian history. This commemorative coin has been minted on the occasion of 125TH Birth Anniversary Year of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.