Bose, Chandra

(1897–1945) was an Indian nationalist, whose defiant patriotism made him a hero in India, but whose attempt during World War II to free India of British rule with the help of Nazi Germany and Japan, left a troubled legacy. Earlier, Bose had been a leader of the younger, radical wing of the Indian National Congress in the late 1920s and 1930s, rising to become Congress President in 1938 and 1939. However, he was ousted from congress leadership positions in 1939 following differences with Gandhi and the congress high command over the use of violence against the British. The Indian National Congress, the main instrument of Indian nationalism, praised Bose’s patriotism but distanced itself from his tactics and ideology, especially his collaboration with Fascism.