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metamatar · 2 years

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Virendranath Chattopadhyaya or 'Chatto' by Heike Liebau

Indian radical revolutionary, journalist, communist

via Ole Birk Laursen, right, celebrating May Day in Leningrad

Virendranath Chattopadhyaya (1880-1937) was part of a large transnational network of Indian political activists who, during the first decades of the 20th century, carried out organised anti-imperial and anti-colonial propaganda activities outside India, first in Europe and North America. He grew up in an intellectual Bengali Brahmin family as the second of eight children. Among his siblings were the famous Bengali poet and musician Harindranath Chattopadhyaya (1898-1990) and the political activist, campaigner for women’s rights, and renowned poet Sarojini Naidu (1879-1949).

Chatto studied in Madras and Calcutta before he entered Oxford University in 1902 and became a law student at the Middle Temple. Like other nationalist Indian students in England, he joined India House in Highgate, London where he contributed to the journal The Indian Sociologist published by Shyamji Krishnavarma (1857-1930). For a short period in 1909, Chatto was involved in the production of the journal Talvar. During his years in England, Chattopadhyaya established intensive contacts with revolutionary socialist and social democratic circles in Europe. Thus, in 1907 he participated in the Stuttgart Congress of the Second International. In 1910 Chatto, like other Indian political activists, moved from London to Paris and from there, in April 1914, to Germany where he enrolled in comparative linguistics at the University of Halle.

Involvement in International Anti-imperialist Movements during the First World War

While during the first decade of the 20th century, London and Paris were central sites for the Indian anti-colonial movement, with the outbreak of the First World War, Berlin became a hub for Indian revolutionary exiles. Chatto, already living in Germany in summer 1914, sought collaboration with the German Foreign Office and became a leading figure within the Indian Independence Committee (IIC), founded in Berlin in September 1914. Initiated and supported by the Nachrichtenstelle für den Orient (Information Service for the East), part of the German Foreign Office, the Committee was a loose association of South Asian political activists which had been built on earlier European and American networks. Despite the frictions within the Committee, it became a strong tool for Indian revolutionary and anti-colonial activities abroad. Together with other nationalist “independence committees”, the IIC was an important element of Germany’s so-called program for revolution which aimed at instigating unrest within the French, British, and Russian Empires. “Revolution was openly acknowledged as a means of warfare and as an aim of war”, argued Fritz Fischer. Colonial inhabitants were actively involved in this strategy, thereby also pursuing their own political aims.

The IIC carried out propaganda in and outside India, first of all among Indian soldiers at the front as well as among POWs. The Committee also engaged in military action and weapons training. Being a leading figure in the IIC and hoping for support from the German Foreign Office, Chattopadhyaya re-activated members of radical political networks, which existed before the war and invited other Indian activists like Har Dayal (1884-1939) to come to Germany. At the same time, Chattopadhyaya constantly enlarged and improved his international political alliances. In 1917, disenchanted with the role of Germany and with the conflicts among the IIC, Chattopadhyaya shifted the weight of his political activities to neutral Sweden, where he established contacts with the Socialist International Comintern, especially Russian socialist circles.

Activities and Conflicts within the Comintern Movement

Back in Germany, after the First World War, Chattopadhyaya founded the Indian Information Bureau, based in Berlin which engaged in improving Indian-German relations, including commerce and economic enterprises. The bureau also supported Indian students who came to study at German universities. At the same time, Chatto continued his collaboration with the Russian Bolsheviks and with the Communist International. In 1920, together with other former members of the now dissolved Berlin IIC, Chatto went to Moscow to present his “Thesis on India and the World Revolution” and to seek support from the Comintern for the anti-colonial struggle in India. However, the Berlin delegation’s negotiations with the representatives of the Comintern were not successful. At this time, Chattopadhyaya also became active in the League against Imperialism. He was the co-organiser of the Brussels Congress of the League in 1927 and became one of its joint secretaries.

Period of Repression in the Soviet Union

Chattopadhyaya spent the last years of his life in the Soviet Union. He moved there in 1931 and worked in Leningrad at the Institute of Anthropology and Ethnography of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. During the period of Stalin’s repressions, he was accused of espionage. Virendranath Chattopadhyaya was arrested and shot to death on 2 September 1937, having spent most of his life in exile in search of an applicable ideology to build a future world. He navigated his life through competing alliances and disconnections, through periods of active engagements as well as “silent moments”.

#chatto #virendranath chattopadhyaya #indian revolutionary figures #anti imperialism

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mindbaanker · 8 months

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BPSC Teacher Mock Test Free- 5

Welcome to the fifth edition of the BPSC (Bihar Public Service Commission) Teacher Mock Test! This test series is designed to assess your knowledge in various subjects relevant to teaching and general awareness. It will evaluate your understanding of historical events, literature, and notable personalities that have shaped the cultural and educational landscape of India.

Test Instructions:

Carefully read each question and select the most appropriate answer.

Choose the option that you believe corresponds to the correct answer.

After completing the test, you can review the correct answers along with explanations.

Let's dive into the questions:

Question 1: Who authored the renowned book 'Brihat Katha'?

गुणाढ्य

सर्व वर्मन

पाणिनि

राधागुप्त

Question 2: The famous book 'Brihat Katha' was written by Gunadyha, a distinguished scholar in the court of Satavahana King Hal.

वैदिक युग

मौर्य युग

गुप्त युग

मध्यकालीन भारत

Question 3: During the Mauryan Empire, who was responsible for overseeing markets and investigating corrupt practices?

संस्थाध्यक्ष

सीता अध्यक्ष

अंकाध्यक्ष

मानाध्यक्ष

Question 4: Which Brahmin scholar stated that 'A wife is half of her husband'?

शतपथ ब्राह्मण

ऐतरेय ब्राह्मण

गोपथ ब्राह्मण

तैत्तिरीय ब्राह्मण

Question 5: With which dynasty did the Shaka rulers initiate the Kshatrapa system of governance?

पार्थियन

कुषाण

शुंग

सातवाहन

Question 6: Which Mughal Emperor was ruling Delhi when the Vijayanagara Empire was founded?

फिरोज तुगलक

सिकंदर लोदी

गयासुद्दीन तुगलक

मुहम्मद-बिन-तुगलक

Question 7: Which Mughal Emperor is also known as "Padshah Ghazi"?

अकबर

जहांगीर

शाहजहाँ

औरंगजेब

Question 8: Which Mughal Emperor earned the title "Padshah Ghazi" and sat on the throne?

अकबर

जहांगीर

शाहजहाँ

औरंगजेब

Question 9: In the Mughal period, who were the officers responsible for revenue collection and maintaining accounts?

गवर्नर जनरल

दिवान

दरोगा

अमलगुजर

Question 10: During which event did Indians have their first contact with Islam?

Arab invasion of Sindh in the 7th century

Turkish invasion in the 11th century

Arab traders along the Malabar coast

None of the above

Question 11: Whose name is associated with the foundation of the revolutionary organization "Anushilan Samiti"?

Rajkumari Amrit Kaur

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit

Aruna Asaf Ali

None of the above

Question 12: Which Indian literary figure is closely linked to the poem "Bidrohi" (The Rebel)?

Rabindranath Tagore

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

Kazi Nazrul Islam

Shambhunath Pandit

Question 13: Who was the first Indian woman to preside over an Indian National Congress session?

Rajkumari Amrit Kaur

Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit

Aruna Asaf Ali

Sarojini Naidu

Question 14: Which Governor-General implemented the "Forward" policy towards Afghanistan?

Lord Dufferin

Lord Mayo

Lord Elgin

Lord Ellenborough

Question 15: Which Bengali poet wrote the famous poem "Bidrohi" (The Rebel)?

Rabindranath Tagore

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

Kazi Nazrul Islam

Shambhunath Pandit

Question 16: Who was the first Indian to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature?

Rabindranath Tagore

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay

Kazi Nazrul Islam

Shambhunath Pandit

Question 17: Who was awarded the first Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award?

C. Rajagopalachari

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

Jawaharlal Nehru

M. Visvesvaraya

Question 18: Which Indian scientist is known as the "Missile Man of India"?

C. V. Raman

Homi J. Bhabha

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

Srinivasa Ramanujan

Question 19: Which river is known as the "Sorrow of Bengal"?

Brahmaputra

Ganges

Yamuna

Godavari

Question 20: What is the Indian equivalent of the Nobel Prize?

Bharat Ratna

Padma Shri

Param Vir Chakra

Ashoka Chakra

Question 21: Which Indian state is known as the "Land of Five Rivers"?

Punjab

Haryana

Uttar Pradesh

Rajasthan

We hope you find this test informative and beneficial for your BPSC Teacher exam preparation. Best of luck in your journey to becoming an educator and making a positive impact on the lives of students!

You can mind more questions and answers in Mindbanker

#Current Affairs #Government Exam #Mock Tests #pte mock tests #bpsc

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experienceamazingbengal · 10 months

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Beauty of Bengal

The beauty of Bengal is truly captivating and diverse, encompassing its rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and the warmth of its people. Located in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent, Bengal is known for its unique blend of traditions, art forms, and natural wonders. Here are some aspects that contribute to the beauty of Bengal:

Cultural Heritage: Bengal has a deep-rooted history and boasts a remarkable cultural heritage. The region is known for its literary contributions, with renowned poets and writers like Rabindranath Tagore, the first non-European Nobel laureate in Literature, hailing from Bengal. The art, music, dance, and festivals of Bengal reflect its vibrant cultural tapestry, with events like Durga Puja, Kali Puja, and the Bengali New Year (Poila Baisakh) celebrated with great enthusiasm.

Architectural Splendor: Bengal showcases a wide range of architectural styles that highlight its historical significance. The terracotta temples of Bishnupur, adorned with intricate carvings, are a prime example of the exquisite craftsmanship prevalent in the region. The Victoria Memorial in Kolkata, a magnificent white marble structure, is another iconic landmark that blends Indo-Saracenic and British architectural styles.

Natural Beauty: Bengal boasts diverse landscapes, ranging from the Sundarbans mangrove forests, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world's largest delta, to the picturesque hill stations of Darjeeling and Kalimpong in the Himalayan foothills. The verdant tea gardens of Darjeeling and the breathtaking views from Tiger Hill are a sight to behold. The pristine beaches of Digha, Mandarmani, and the coastal regions of the Bay of Bengal add to the natural allure of Bengal.

Culinary Delights: Bengali cuisine is renowned for its delectable flavors and variety. From mouthwatering sweets like rasgulla and sandesh to savory dishes like macher jhol (fish curry), shorshe ilish (hilsa fish in mustard sauce), and kosha mangsho (slow-cooked mutton), Bengali cuisine is a gastronomic delight that reflects the region's rich culinary heritage.

Intellectual and Artistic Legacy: Bengal has a long-standing reputation for fostering intellectuals, artists, and revolutionaries. It has been a breeding ground for some of the most influential figures in literature, music, art, and cinema in India. The Bengal Renaissance, a cultural and intellectual movement in the 19th and early 20th centuries, played a significant role in shaping the region's intellectual legacy and promoting social reforms.

Warmth of the People: The people of Bengal are known for their warmth, hospitality, and intellectual curiosity. Whether you're exploring the bustling streets of Kolkata, mingling with the locals in rural villages, or engaging in intellectual discussions in coffee houses, you're likely to encounter friendly and welcoming individuals who are proud of their heritage.

The beauty of Bengal lies in its vibrant culture, diverse landscapes, historical landmarks, and the unique blend of traditions that make it a fascinating destination to explore.

#travel #photography #west bengal #digha

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medusasprotegedaughter · 3 years

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যদি থাকি কাছাকাছি,

দেখিতে না পাও ছায়ার মতন আছি না আছি–

তবু মনে রেখো।

If I am near

But you see me not, for I have disguised myself as a shadow -

Forget me not.

- Rabindranath Tagore, Forget Me Not (originally, Tobu Mone Rekho), Geetobitān

#rabindranath tagore #books & libraries #forget me not #geetabitan #poems and other drugs #bengali academia #bengaliliterature #revolutionary bengali poets #bengali dark academia #poem: excerpt #dark romanticism #dark academia #bengali poetry #poetry #classic literature #bengali literature

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odishaphotos · 2 years

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Mr. Arvind

Sri Arvind (Bengali - শ্রী অরবিন্দ - Sri Ôrobindo) is a yogi, guru, revolutionary, freedom fighter, philosopher and poet. He landed on 15 August 1872 in Calcutta, a British-ruled India. Prior to his development of the human race, he became involved in the Indian liberation struggle and became known as a great leader. He believed in armed struggle. The essence of Mr. Arvind's philosophy is to transform ordinary human life into divine life. "Man is a developmental being," he said. He is not fully developed. Development from mind to mind is the next milestone in the rise of world consciousness. And this is very important because it is the essence and natural law of the soul. " The combination of Eastern and Western philosophy, religion, literature and psychology can be seen in Mr. Arvind's writings. Mr. Arvind's works include translations and commentaries on philosophy, poetry, Vedas, Upanishads and the Gita, plays, social, political and historical criticism, spiritual writings, newspapers and magazines. His literary creation is structured in a delicate combination of philosophy, poetry and drama that is a little complicated, and not easily understood. The following is a list of our most popular pages.

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motifcollector · 2 years

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4 and 14 for the essay asks!

thanks so much for the asks! and i'm sorry for the super late response, i have been busy (with what else?) writing essays!

4. what essay completely changed your mind/opinion while writing it?

it's hard to think of one that made me do a complete reversal but the one i'm writing now made me shift my subject a lot! it's about Indian Muslim soldiers in WWI and i initially was interested in what their experiences fighting in the Middle East were like but i've not been able to find much on that so i'm focusing on Europe instead. also in general they expressed much less ~revolutionary~ sentiment than i expected although it's hard bc my main sources are letters which were of course censored and monitored.

14. what essay are you most proud of yourself?

it will be my final senior thesis when i finish it in 2 weeks i hope! it's about the bengali poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and bengali muslim identity

#asks #answered asks

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philearning · 3 years

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Tagore is one of the greatest revolutionaries India has produced. His contribution to Bengali and English literature is unmatched. May 7 (Friday) is the 160th birth anniversary of poet, philosopher, patriot, and a social thinker Rabindranath Tagore. Rabindranath Tagore was born on May 7, 1861 in the Jorasanko Thakurbari in Kolkata to Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi. #RabindranathTagore #englishliterature #bengaliliterature https://www.instagram.com/p/COjs0ZeNVex/?igshid=thfqkvoxv5tg

#rabindranathtagore #englishliterature #bengaliliterature

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aksharainternationalschoolblog · 3 years

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#AksharaInternationalSchool, Remembering the first #education minister of India who inspired the Nation. #NationalEducationDay is celebrated every year on November 11, the birth anniversary of 𝐌𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐀𝐛𝐮𝐥 𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐦 𝐀𝐳𝐚𝐝, who was the first #education minister of independent India and was well versed in languages such as Arabic, Hindi, English, Urdu, Persian, and Bengali. Maulana Azad, he is remembered for being a noted scholar, poet, and revolutionary journalist and also for his invaluable contributions to the Indian freedom struggle. ”𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐀𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐥𝐲” Admissions are open - 2021-22. Admission Inquiry: http://akshara.edu.in/admissions/ www.akshara.edu.in Contact: 𝟵𝟬𝟮𝟯𝟬𝟳𝟵𝟵𝟵𝟵 #aksharainternationalschoolhyderabad #NationalEducationDay #AksharaSportsAcademy #Bestinternationalschoolinhyderabad #BestSchoollnKarimnagar #KarimnagarSchool #Aksharainternationalschoollbnagar #aksharainternationalschoolasronaga https://www.instagram.com/p/CHb5qawApf7/?igshid=1m0kutw5off8r

#aksharainternationalschool #education #nationaleducationday #aksharainternationalschoolhyderabad #aksharasportsacademy #bestinternationalschoolinhyderabad #bestschoollnkarimnagar #karimnagarschool #aksharainternationalschoollbnagar #aksharainternationalschoolasronaga

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socialyouthassociation · 4 years

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vimeo

#Famous #Munshiganj - #বিখ্যাত #মুন্সীগঞ্জ from Sheikh-Yasir-Arafat on Vimeo.

Munshiganj Sadar (Bengali: মুন্সিগঞ্জ সদর) is an Upazila of Munshiganj District in the Division of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Bikrampur (Munshiganj) was the political and cultural centre of ancient Bengal. It was officially known as Bikrampur until 1986 and was part of Dhaka District. The remains of the city of Bikrampur, the capital of the ancient kingdoms of southeastern Bengal, are lost and its location can only be guessed on the basis of available data. The area comprising the districts of Munshiganj stretching on the west of the Meghna and Dhaleshwari had been included in the kingdom of vikramapura in the ancient period. During the Sena rule Vikramapura in East Bengal had been the second capital of the Senas in addition to their capital at Nadia. After the fall of Nadia in the hands of bakhtiyar khalji (1204) the Sena King lakshmanasena fled to Vikramapura and began to rule East Bengal. After the death of Lakshmanasena (1206) his descendants Visvarupasena and Kesavasena ruled in Vikramapura till at least 1223 AD. Some historians postulate that the sons of Lakshamanasena ruled in Vikramapura up to 1243-45 AD. Raja Dasarathadeva Danujmadhava (Danuj Rai), the Deva king of Chandradvipa, ousted the Senas from Vikramapura in the third quarter of the thirteenth century and ruled the south-eastern Bengal till the end of the thirteenth century. When the Pakistan Army began mass-killing and massacre in Dhaka city on the night of 25 March the students and youths of Munshiganj raided the armoury and captured arms and ammunitions to resist the Pakistan Army on 29 March.[2] They successfully guarded the river-side area to check the onrush of the Pakistan army towards Munshiganj. The people of Narayanganj in alliance with the youths of Munshiganj resisted an attack of the Pakistan Army on 31 March. The Pak army first penetrated into Munshiganj on 9 May and killed some youths at Kewar on 14 May.As of the 1991 Bangladesh census, Munshiganj district, formerly a subdivision under Dhaka district, was established in 1984. It consists of 6 upazilas, 67 union parishads, 662 mouzas, 906 villages, 18 wards, 73 mahallas and 2 municipalities.There are five colleges in the upazila: Government Haraganga College, Mirkadim Hazi Amzad Ali (Degree) College, Munshigonj College, Munshigonj Government Mohila College, and Rampal College. According to Banglapedia, A. V. G. M. Government Girls' High School, founded in 1892, Bajrajogini J. K. High School (1883), Binodpur Ramkumar High School (1919), Edrakpur High School (1970), K. K. Government Institution (1942), Munshiganj M. L. High School (1885), and Rampal N. B. M. High School (1933) are notable secondary schools. Notable Residents: A M Nurul Islam, civil servant, attended Munshiganj High School.

Administration The district consists of 6 upazilas: Lohajang Upazila, Sreenagar Upazila, Munshiganj Sadar, Sirajdikhan Upazila, Tongibari Upazila, Gazaria Upazila Notable people Revolutionary Nationalists M. Hamidullah Khan, Bangladesh Forces, Sector Commander, Sector 11, Bangladesh War of Independence 1971 Jagadish Chandra Bose, Great Bengali physicist Badal Gupta, revolutionary against British India Benoy Basu, revolutionary against British India Dinesh Gupta, revolutionary against British India Social & Scientific Chashi Nazrul Islam - artist Humayun Azad, linguistic scientist, poet and novelist Durga Mohan Das, Brahmo reformer Dwarkanath Ganguly, Brahmo reformer Art, Culture & Sports Brojen Das, the first Bangladeshi and Asian to swim across the English Channel, and the first person to cross it four times Emdadul Huq Milon, writer and media personality Buddhadeb Bosu‚ writer, poet, playwright, essayist Public Affairs A. N. Hamidullah, First Governor, Bangladesh Bank Abu Sayeed Hafizullah, first Bengali Accountant General of East Pakistan Fakhruddin Ahmed, former chief adviser, Non-Party Caretaker Government of Bangladesh, 2007–2008. Iajuddin Ahmed, former President of Bangladesh A.Q.M. Badruddoza Chowdhury, former shortest term appointed President of Bangladesh Sadeque Hossain Khoka‚ former Mayor of Dhaka M. A. Naser, pioneer in Engineering Education, former Vice Chancellor or BUET, Ekushey Padak recipient Top tourist attractions from Munshiganj district

Munshiganj is a district from Bangladesh that is located beside the mighty river Padma. This district is very close from Dhaka as well.

Fair Use Disclaimer: ================= This channel may use some copyrighted materials without specific authorization of the owner but contents used here falls under the “Fair Use” as described in The Copyright Act 2000 Law No. 28 of the year 2000 of Bangladesh under Chapter 6, Section 36 and Chapter 13 Section 72. According to that law allowance is made use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."

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medusasprotegedaughter · 3 years

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মানুষ মানুষের জন্যে,

জীবন জীবনের জন্যে,

একটু সহানুভূতি কি মানুষ পেতে পারে না?

- ভূপেন হাজারিকা

Translation:

People are here for people,

Life is for life,

Can't they get just a little sympathy?

- Bhupen Hazarika

#bhupen hazarika #manush manusher jonne #songs #lyrics #poems #revolutionary bengali poets #dark academic #literature #poetry #dark academia #quotes #books & libraries #deep thoughts #life

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newsupdatedaily · 4 years

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Remembering Sukanta Bhattacharya on his 73rd death anniversary

Today marks the 73rd death anniversary of renowned poet of Sukanta Bhattacharya, one of the key figures in modern Bengali poetry from the 20th century. Viewed by some as a realist and by others as a romantic, Sukanta’s poems are popular for their revolutionary nature, shedding light on socialism, patriotism, humanism and romanticism. He was often called the ‘John Keats of Bengal’, likely because…

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ladystylestores · 4 years

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The Indian revolutionary who fought to overthrow British rule while living in Japan

The bomb was meant to kill him, but instead it peppered Hardinge’s back with shrapnel, killed his attendant and cast a shadow over a day that was meant to mark the transition of India’s capital to Delhi from Kolkata.

The mastermind of the attack was Rash Behari Bose, a 26-year-old Bengali revolutionary who initially posed as a British loyalist while secretly working to overthrow colonial rule.

The attack failed, but it gave Bose the opportunity to show the hundreds of people in attendance — and the world — that some Indians were prepared to expel the British by force.

After the failed assassination attempt, Bose’s five comrades were captured and took the stand in the Delhi Conspiracy trial, with one imprisoned for life and four others executed.

With a bounty on his head, Bose managed to flee India in 1915 to Japan, where he became a significant activist, reportedly introduced one of the country’s most popular curries and laid the foundations for the Indian National Army.

Today, the names of prominent Indian freedom fighters such as Mohandas Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru have found their place in world history, but few have heard of Rash Behari Bose.

Yet in Japan his story has become something of a legend.

Foundings of rebellion

Bose was born in a village in northeastern Bengal in 1886 and grew up amid the severe famines that struck India during British rule.

The country’s colonial leaders had started to commercialize farming, collecting land revenue and encouraging the export of “cash crops” that contributed to severe food shortages when other harvests failed.

At the time, the average life expectancy for ordinary Indians was about 25 years compared to 44 in the United Kingdom.

The disparities nurtured a nationalist movement which led to the formation of the Indian National Congress, a party for Indians interested in reform and greater political autonomy.

Bose also wanted a greater say in his own future and was prepared to take up arms to get it, according to Elizabeth Eston and Lexi Kawabe, the authors of “Rash Behari Bose: The father of the Indian National Army.”

After leaving school, he made unsuccessful attempts to join the Indian Army before landing a clerk’s job with the Forest Research Institute at Dehradun, in the northern state of Uttarakhand.

Bose had wanted a role that would allow him to give the impression of being a loyal British subject while he worked on dismantling British rule from the inside, according to Eston and Kawabe.

With the Forest Research Institute he was able to travel around India and used the opportunity to secretly forge anti-colonial revolutionary networks, they wrote.

For several years, India’s colonial rulers didn’t suspect a thing.

Bengali fury

Bose was still in his teens in 1905 when the British partitioned Bengal into two new provinces, supposedly for administrative reasons, though it appeared to be split along religious lines.

Like other Bengali Hindu nationalists, Bose was incensed.

Bengal had been a key location for India’s anti-British opposition and Bengali Hindus saw the partition as a way for the British to weaken their power base. The move was largely supported by Muslims.

Nationalist protests erupted across Bengal. The non-violent camp sought to undermine British rule through economic boycotts, while a more ruthless cohort attempted to assassinate British officials, according to Joseph McQuade, author of “The New Asia of Rash Behari Bose: India, Japan, and the Limits of the International, 1912-1945.”

Bose fell into the latter camp. His attempted assassination of Hardinge triggered a massive manhunt, but his previous efforts to ingratiate himself with the British elite served him well, according to Eston and Kawabe.

He managed to stay under the radar until his links to the independence movement were revealed in 1913 by a police raid on a comrade, they wrote.

Investigators seized a briefcase he’d left at the property — his cover was blown.

The Lahore plot

Bose was on the run when he organized one of his most audacious plans.

After the assassination attempt against Lord Hardinge, Bose became well known among revolutionary circles in India. With the British distracted by World War I, he planned to spark a mutiny similar to the uprising of 1857 — when Indian soldiers serving under British rulers had rebelled, McQuade wrote.

Indian revolutionaries from America, Canada and Germany made their way to India in 1914 and contacted several army units across India and even in Singapore, with each agreeing to defect once called upon. The date for the start of the rebellion was set for February 21, 1915, in Lahore.

But as spies infiltrated the movement, the British started disarming Indian soldiers, wrote Eston and Kawabe.

Undeterred, Bose moved the start of the rebellion to February 19 — but the simultaneous plot was suppressed by counter-intelligence operations that saw many revolutionaries executed, imprisoned and exiled.

With the authorities on his heels and a bounty on his head, Bose decided he was no longer safe in India.

Disguising himself as a relative of the poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, Bose set sail for Japan from the Port of Kolkata on May 12, 1915.

He never went back.

Looking to Japan

As a British ally, Japan may seem like an odd safe haven for a Bengali freedom fighter fleeing British retribution.

But Japan had a long history of pro-Indian sentiment, dating back to India’s exportation of Buddhism to Japan via the Korean peninsula in the 6th century.

Centuries later, many freedom fighters were starting to look east.

Japan’s rapid industrialization and victory in 1905 over Russia in the Russo-Japanese war altered the balance of power in Asia and fueled nationalist movements in India and the Middle East, according to McQuade.

The unexpected rise of an Asian nation gave freedom fighters like Bose hope. They thought Japan, with the rest of Asia, would be able to challenge Western hegemony.

Western powers such as Britain, France and Portugal had gained control of vast swathes of territory across Asia and Africa while building up their empires as early as the 15th century.

Under the guise of trade missions, they exploited the natural resources found across those territories and sought to “bring civilization” to the people there. Between 1765 and 1938, Britain is estimated to have drained nearly $45 trillion from India in unfair trade and tax, according to economist Utsa Patnaik.

Even though Japan was a British ally between 1902 to 1923, it had kept its doors open to revolutionaries who wanted to end British rule in India.

At the time, Japan was emerging as a center for Pan Asianist ideology. The Pan Asianists wanted to rectify what they saw as an unjust international system. Some wanted to articulate the experiences of non-Western people. Others wanted to establish Japan’s leadership in Asia by pushing Western powers from the region.

Dodging British authorities

In Japan, Bose laid low.

The British embassy had hired a private Japanese detective agency to track him down, according to Eston and Kawabe.

He aimed to go to Shanghai to gather weapons to send back to revolutionaries in India, but in the meantime he hid in a house in Tokyo’s Azabu district. There, he discreetly met with Sun Yat-sen, the head of the revolutionary army of China, wrote Eston and Kawabe.

Sun was in exile in Tokyo after a failed armed uprising against the Qing government and wanted to rouse support from Japan for an armed revolution in China.

Sun introduced Bose to Mitsuru Toyama, an influential figure among Japanese political circles and the leader of Pan-Asianist group Gen’yosha, which was later deemed an ultra-nationalist organization and closed down by the American occupying forces after Japan’s defeat in World War II.

Toyama knew just the place to shelter Bose, Eston and Kawabe said.

The “Nakamuraya Salon,” as it was known among Tokyo locals and intelligentsia, was a bakery and cafe located in the bustling Shinjuku district.

Owners Aizo and Kokko Soma were a Christian couple with a deep interest in the arts, literature and other cultures. Toyama convinced them to shelter Bose from the British authorities in a small guesthouse in their backyard. He stayed there for four months and in subsequent years moved multiple times to avoid detection.

In 1918, to protect him from capture, Toyama encouraged Bose to marry Soma’s eldest daughter Toshiko.

According to Eston and Kawabe, the marriage was devised to ease Bose’s integration into Japanese society so he could keep fighting for Indian independence. It also made it easier for Bose to become a Japanese citizen in 1923.

The couple had two children before disaster struck.

The dream of a new world order

Toshiko died from pneumonia in 1925. She was 27 years old.

Bose threw himself into the independence movement to overcome his grief.

Eager to build cultural ties between Japan and India, he established and ran numerous associations such as the Indo-Japanese Friends Society and a hostel called “Villa Asians” for Asian students studying in Tokyo, which he managed until 1941, according to Eri Hotta, in “Pan-Asianism and Japan’s War 1931-1945.”

He published widely on India’s past, promoted ties between India and Japan, and seized every chance to advocate for a Pan-Asian union to strengthen the region.

Bose was becoming bolder with his public profile and was regularly featured in Japanese newspapers.

When Bose came to Japan, only educated Japanese knew about India, which back then was known as “Tenjiku,” meaning “land of heavens” in Japanese. People dubbed Bose “tenrai,” which means heavenly being, according to Kawabe.

All the while, the British kept an eye on him.

Fearful of his influence on a younger generation of Indians, the colonial British government made it difficult for Indian students to travel to Japan in the 1930s, according to McQuade.

They had good reason to be suspicious.

‘India’s cry’

In 1931, Bose organized the first Indian Independence League in Japan, which aimed to attain the “independence of India by all possible means,” according to a declassified CIA document.

He enlisted Indian students to help and V. C Lingam, a student from Singapore — then Malaya — who chose to study in Japan, recounts traveling to Vietnam, Bangkok and Singapore to recruit locals for the organization for the independence from British colonial rule, according to the Japan Times.

“The league became bigger, and Bose became leader of the movement throughout East Asia,” Lingam told the Japan Times in 2007.

Two years later, Bose received funding to publish a journal called “The New Asia,” which was distributed in English and Japanese.

Though that journal was banned in India and didn’t mention Japanese aggression in China, Bose “urged the Japanese government to cooperate with the United States, China, and the Soviet Union in a move to eliminate British colonial control in Asia,” according to Cemil Aydin, a historian at the University of North Carolina-Chapel.

For Bose, Britain was the ultimate enemy — and a US-Japan conflict would only play in the country’s favor.

In the lead up to World War II, relations between England and Japan had soured considerably. By 1933, Japan had quit the League of Nations, the international diplomatic group set up after World War I to find peaceful resolutions.

The strained relations removed any incentive for the Japanese government to limit Bose’s political activities, according to McQuade.

In 1938, after Bose published “Indo no sakebi” (India’s cry) — which strongly denounced British rule in India — British authorities classified him as a Japanese agent intent on spreading terrorist propaganda.

By then, there was no way Japan was handing him over.

Trouble on the horizon

Japan was hit especially hard by the Great Depression of the 1930s as agricultural and textile prices fell.

Amid the economic downturn, some radicalized Pan-Asianists gained control of Japanese politics, and the idea that Japan could solve its economic problems through military conquests gradually gained currency.

During World War II, India’s independence was an integral part of the Japanese military government’s Pan-Asianist program. For example, in 1941 Major Iwaichi Fujiwara had established Fujiwara Kikan, a Japanese intelligence operations unit tasked with supporting independence movements in British India, Malaya and Netherlands East Indies.

But as Japan launched its ruthless campaign across the Asia-Pacific during Word War II, many prominent Indian freedom fighters like Ananda Mohan Sahay and Raja Mahendra Pratdap grew wary of the country and its colonization of the rest of Asia.

Bose, on the other hand, never spoke up — even after the country invaded China and the Korean peninsula, according to Takeshi Nakajima, author of “Bose of Nakamuraya: An Indian Revolutionary in Japan.”

“Though Bose felt conflicted by the gap between what Japan said it wanted to achieve for Asia and the reality, his friendships with the Japanese and citizenship made it impossible for him to dissent,” Nakajima said.

It wasn’t long before other Indians began to see him as a Japanese puppet and a collaborator with Japan’s militarist regime, argues Eri Hotta in her paper “Rash Behari Bose and his Japanese supporters.”

Regardless of how others viewed him, Bose was convinced the Japanese military could be used to liberate India. He kept up his efforts to mobilize supporters in Japan and across southeast Asia.

On February 15, 1942, British commanders in Singapore surrendered the British Empire’s forces, numbering more than 120,000 in Malaysia and Singapore, to the Japanese, in what became known as the largest military capitulation in British history.

It coincided with Japan’s campaign to persuade Indian prisoners of war in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore to fight alongside the Japanese for the liberation of India. After the battle over Singapore, Fujiwara asked Indian military officer Mohan Singh to form an Indian army from the captured Indian soldiers there.

In June of that same year, Bose chaired the Indian Independence Conference in Bangkok, sponsored by Japan. There, he was appointed to lead the Indian National Army (INA) and the tens of thousands of Indian prisoners Singh had recruited to fight alongside the Japanese. They planned to conquer the British in India.

It was Bose’s most high-profile role and one that seemed destined to ensure his name entered Indian folklore.

But it was not to be.

Today, another man named Bose is much more closely associated with the INA than Rash Behari.

Subhas Chandra Bose, a better-known nationalist in India, took over in 1943, after tensions arose between Singh and Behari Bose. Chandra Bose steadily built the Indian National Army’s ranks, convincing a greater number of Indian prisoners of war to fight for independence, according to the CIA document.

As Chandra Bose became a popular figure in Japan, Behari Bose’s health and presence at the forefront of the Indian independence movement started to fade.

Behari Bose died in 1945 just before India gained independence from British rule in 1947 — a victory he’d worked his whole life to achieve.

In India, there is now a tourism center dedicated to him in his birthplace. And in Japan, his legacy is immortalized in a well-loved curry dish at Nakamuraya, which Behari Bose is said to have popularized during his decades-long struggle for Indian independence.

Behari Bose laid the foundations of the Indian Independence League and the Indian National Army, according to Eston and Kawabe.

Right until the end, he stood by his conviction to change the status quo. And to this day, he remains one of India’s unsung freedom fighters.

CNN’s Yoko Wakatsuki contributed to this report from Tokyo. Edited by Hilary Whiteman and Jenni Marsh.

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