His Majesty's Opponent: Subhas Chandra Bose and India's Struggle Against Empire

Sugata Bose

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0674065964 ISBN 13: 9780674065963

Publisher: Harvard University Press, 2012

The man whom Indian nationalists perceived as the "George Washington of India" and who was President of the Indian National Congress in 1938--1939 is a legendary figure. Called Netaji ("leader") by his countrymen, Subhas Chandra Bose struggled all his life to liberate his people from British rule and, in pursuit of that goal, raised and led the Indian National Army against Allied Forces during World War II. His patriotism, as Gandhi asserted, was second to none, but his actions aroused controversy in India and condemnation in the West. Now, in a definitive biography of the revered Indian nationalist, Sugata Bose deftly explores a charismatic personality whose public and private life encapsulated the contradictions of world history in the first half of the twentieth century. He brilliantly evokes Netaji's formation in the intellectual milieu of Calcutta and Cambridge, probes his thoughts and relations during years of exile, and analyzes his ascent to the peak of nationalist politics. Amidst riveting accounts of imprisonment and travels, we glimpse the profundity of his struggle: to unite Hindu and Muslim, men and women, and diverse linguistic groups within a single independent Indian nation. Finally, an authoritative account of his untimely death in a plane crash will put to rest rumors about the fate of this "deathless hero." This epic of a life larger than its legend is both intimate, based on family archives, and global in significance. His Majesty's Opponent establishes Bose among the giants of Indian and world history.

Review:

"Here is a biography of one of the most intriguing and powerful men in 20th century India, Subhas Chandra Bose, written with energy and without sacrificing the historical details...In parts the book reads like a thriller, especially when dealing with Netaji's daring escapes from British clutches. There is a spirited account of a secret submarine escape, and riveting material on Netaji's complex political strategies. But above everything else, the book offers an intimate portrait of Netaji not only as a revolutionary leader but also a loving husband, a man of letters, and an untiring believer in communal amity." -- Arthur J. Pais Rediff.com, 31th May 2011

" [Bose] presents an admirably restrained account of this flawed patriot. Making good use of the family archives, he reaches out to the widest possible audience with a compelling narrative that sacrifices none of its author's academic credentials." -- John Keay, Literary Review, 14th May 2011

" Bose, grand nephew of Subhas Chandra, known as Netaji (respected leader), has written an enthralling account of Netaji's life, detailing his lifelong struggle against British rule (he was imprisoned without a trial at a young age), exile in Europe, and political successes...This biography of a nationalist leader of the same stature as Mohandas Gandhi should be read...by all who seek a complete picture of India's freedom struggle." -- Ravi Shenoy, Library Journal, 15th June 2011

" [This] new biography of Indian nationalist hero Subhas Chandra Bose could help resuscitate the leader's troubled reputation outside of India...His Majesty's Opponent aims to be the definitive biography of a man who, as the author writes, devoted "his life to ensuring the sun did finally set on the British Empire." ...Bose's life is an action-packed thriller tailor-made for biographical treatment." -- Tom Wright, Wall Street Journal blog, July 7th 2011

" This competent biography by Bose's great-nephew, a historian, is the best work to date to clarify some of his paradoxes. With unpublished material from family archives and public records, Sugata Bose supplies a fuller back-story of Netaji's predicaments. The book has illuminated my understanding of a controversial and charismatic Indian militarist who remains inspirational to many in India, despite his questionable status in the global politics of the period." -- Krishna Dutty, The Independent, 22nd July 2011

" Sugata Bose's book has filled a long-standing gap for an authentic biography of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose." -- Chhanda Chatterjee, The Statesman, 14th June 2011

" It is not easy to be objective about a national icon like Subhas Bose, especially when he happens to be the grand-uncle of the biographer. But Sugata Bose has achieved that critical distance...This biography reveals a lot more about Subhas Bose's intimate life than did the stuffy portrayals in some earlier accounts. -" --David Motadel, Times Literary Supplement, 24th February 2012

About the Author:

Sugata Bose is Gardiner Professor of History at Harvard University.