Bollywood actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut has ignited a heated online debate by asserting that freedom fighter Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose served as India’s first prime minister, challenging the conventional narrative that credits Jawaharlal Nehru with the position. Ranaut, who is a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, supported her claims by referencing a news article clipping purportedly documenting Bose’s self-declaration as prime minister of ‘Azad Hind’ in 1943.
However, Subhas Chandra Bose’s family swiftly responded to Ranaut’s assertions, seeking to clarify the historical context. Chandra Bose, Netaji’s grandnephew who resigned from the BJP last year, acknowledged that while Subhas Chandra Bose was indeed the first prime minister, he did not personally declare himself as such. Chandra Bose emphasized that Netaji was elected by the Azad Hind Government, serving as the head of the first free government in exile.
Subhashini Ali, a CPI(M) leader and the daughter of a member of Subhas Chandra Bose’s ‘Provisional government of Azad Hind,’ also corrected Ranaut’s interpretation. Ali clarified that Netaji was the head of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind, not the government of India, underscoring the distinction.
Ranaut’s remarks drew criticism from several opposition leaders, including Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate and BRS leader KTR. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi took a sarcastic jab at Ranaut, suggesting that her comments had inadvertently sparked educational discussions. In response, Chandrchur Ghose, co-author of a book on Subhas Chandra Bose, questioned Chaturvedi’s awareness of the provisional government of free India, highlighting its significance in history.
Anuj Dhar, another co-author of the book, addressed Indian historian Irfan Habib’s claim by contrasting it with the establishment of Raja Mahendra Pratap’s government in exile in Kabul in 1915. Dhar emphasized the functional nature of Bose’s government, which operated departments in Southeast Asia and garnered recognition from multiple countries.
Ranaut’s assertions have stirred a debate on historical accuracy and the legacy of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, shedding light on lesser-known aspects of India’s struggle for independence.
