Nadda pays tribute to Azad Hind Fauj on its founding anniversary
Synopsis
Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda marked the founding anniversary of the Azad Hind Fauj on 21 October 2026, honouring Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Rash Behari Bose, and every soldier of the Indian National Army for their sacrifice in the independence struggle.
Key Takeaways
Nadda posted a tribute on 21 October 2026 marking the founding anniversary of the Azad Hind Fauj .
He specifically honoured Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Rash Behari Bose as towering leaders of the Indian National Army.
Rash Behari Bose organised the INA in 1942 before transferring command to Netaji.
On 21 October 1943 , Netaji proclaimed the Provisional Government of Azad Hind in Singapore .
Nadda invoked Netaji's iconic slogan: 'Give me blood, and I will give you freedom' .
The tribute is part of a consistent official practice of commemorating both non-violent and armed streams of India's independence movement.
On the founding anniversary of the Azad Hind Fauj, Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda on Wednesday, 21 October 2026 offered a solemn tribute to every soldier of the Indian National Army, honouring their courage, sacrifice, and devotion to the nation's freedom struggle.
In his post, Nadda wrote: 'स्वाधीनता संग्राम में अदम्य साहस, त्याग और राष्ट्रभक्ति के प्रतीक' ['a symbol of indomitable courage, sacrifice and patriotism in the freedom struggle'] — invoking the spirit that drove thousands to join the armed resistance against British colonial rule.
Netaji and Rash Behari Bose: the commanders Nadda named
Nadda specifically named two towering figures: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Rash Behari Bose. It was Rash Behari Bose who first organised the Indian National Army in 1942, before transferring its command to Netaji, who would go on to electrify the movement with his rallying cry: 'Tum mujhe khoon do, main tumhein azaadi dunga' ['Give me blood, and I will give you freedom']. That slogan, Nadda wrote, gave the independence struggle a new and urgent direction.
Under Subhash Chandra Bose's leadership, the Azad Hind Fauj became far more than a military force — it was a declaration that India's freedom would be claimed, not merely requested. On 21 October 1943, Netaji proclaimed the Provisional Government of Azad Hind in Singapore, a moment that recast the terms of the anti-colonial struggle on the world stage.
A pattern of official commemoration — and why it endures
Nadda's tribute fits a consistent pattern of Indian ministers paying public homage on anniversaries tied to both the non-violent and armed streams of the independence movement. These commemorations serve a dual purpose: they keep the memory of revolutionary figures alive in public consciousness and they anchor contemporary political identity to the broader sweep of the national freedom struggle.
The BJP government has placed particular emphasis on figures like Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in recent years. Commemorations of a similar register are typically expected again around Netaji's birth anniversary on 23 January.
Nadda concluded with the conviction that the sacrifice of those martyrs — 'हुतात्माओं का त्याग और बलिदान' ['the sacrifice and martyrdom of these souls'] — would remain immortal. A sentiment that, on a day like this, needs no embellishment.
Point of View
The statement reinforces a political framing that broadens the ownership of India's freedom narrative. These commemorations also serve a forward-looking function: they cement official legitimacy by linking the ruling dispensation to the full arc of the independence struggle. Expect the same energy to intensify around Netaji's birth anniversary on 23 January.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Azad Hind Fauj founded?
The Indian National Army, known as the Azad Hind Fauj, was first organised by Rash Behari Bose in 1942 . Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose subsequently proclaimed the Provisional Government of Azad Hind on 21 October 1943 in Singapore.
What did J. P. Nadda say on Azad Hind Fauj Day 2026?
Nadda paid tribute to all soldiers of the Azad Hind Fauj, honoured Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Rash Behari Bose by name, and invoked Netaji's famous slogan 'Give me blood, and I will give you freedom', calling their sacrifice immortal.
What is the famous slogan of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose?
Netaji's most iconic slogan is 'Tum mujhe khoon do, main tumhein azaadi dunga' — 'Give me blood, and I will give you freedom' — which became a rallying cry for the Indian National Army's armed resistance against British colonial rule.
Who was Rash Behari Bose?
Rash Behari Bose was an Indian revolutionary who established the Indian National Army in 1942 . He later transferred command of the organisation to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, who expanded and led it through its most prominent phase.
Why do Indian leaders commemorate the Azad Hind Fauj?
Indian political leaders across parties mark the Azad Hind Fauj's anniversary to acknowledge the armed stream of the independence movement alongside the non-violent Gandhian tradition, keeping the memory of revolutionary sacrifices alive in public consciousness.
