Rash Behari Bose Cyclonic Freedom Fighter of Greater East-Asia

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Rash Behari Bose (25 May 1886 Subaldaha/21 Jan 1945 Tokyo) wrote: " If Netaji came out the light as Garibaldi of the movement, Rash Behari's part in the drama was more than that of a Mazzini". His life was a perilous adventure. Once the President of India, Late Rajendra Prasad wrote: "Rash Behari Basu was one of those well known patriots whose love for the Mother- land and the burning desire to see her free could never be curbed."He deserves to be remembered by his country- men, for his great courage and patriotic work in difficult times. H M the Emperor of Japan decorated him with the Second Order of Merit of the Rising Sun. Nikki Kimura wrote from Japan : "The brilliant and distinguished services rendered by Rash Behari Bose to his mother country will remain for ever in the histories of Japan and India."

Sayantan Basu is a well known social and political activist. He was born in Kolkata in the year of 1976 but he has his roots in Chandannagar. Sayantan had spent his childhood in Chandannagore. His father late Amitava Basu was a student of Kanailal Vidyamandir, Chandan- nagar. Sayantan Basu is a graduate from the University of Calcutta and an MBA also. He lives in Salt Lake, Kolkata along with his wife and mother. Since his childhood he was fond of writing, particularly on issues of independence movement.

I am aware of Shri Rash Behari Bose since my childhood. My family is originally from Chandannagore and I had lived my childhood in there. So, it was very normal to know this great Indian revolutionary since childhood. My surname is same with this great leader but we are not related. Earlier many books were written about Shri Basu but his life sketch could not be drawn with proper documentation because many of the documents were lost or written in Japanese language. In his short span of life of only 58 years, he proves himself as a great visionary, organizer, intellectual, leader, writer, thinker and revolutionary.

I have tried to put most of the material facts related with Shri Rash Behari Bose. I have written his surname as Basu and Bose both because he was called by both these surnames and both surnames are same. In the book, the spelling of Chandannagare (Chandernagor-French/Chandernagore-British) has been spelled differently from the present common spelling. Actually this 'Chandannagore' spelling was used by Shri Rash Behari himself. I have avoided putting all those so called facts, which were not supported by any primary evidence. I really wonder to see the capacity and talent of Shri Basu regarding his way of outsmarting the Government and making inroads almost single handedly in Japan.

I am really indebted to Shri Kalyan Chakroborty of Rash Behari Research Institute, Chandannagore. He always encouraged me to write the book. His knowledge, resources in his library have enriched me to a great extent. Rash Behari Research Institute, Chandannagore has been working on Shri Rash Behari Basu since a long time. I have only tried to extend my contribution to them as a researcher. Thank to Shri Chakroborty would not be enough for his pioneering work and the help and encouragement he has continued to give me.

I acknowledge my sincere acknowledgement to the National Librariry authority, who permitted me to use their books for the purpose. The Director of the National Library and Angshuanji and other staffs helped me to a great extent. I am also indebed to the British Council Library at Camac Street, Calcutta, where I have devoted much time to gather required information. I am grateful to the Ministry of Culture, Government of India for allowing me to access the portal of National Archive (Abhilekh Patal) in this regard.