ShodhPatra: International Journal of Science and Humanities

Navigating Ideological Divergence: Nehru, Bose and Gandhi’s Interpose

The political scenario of India’s freedom struggle was shaped by the ideological and strategic differences among its remarkable leaders. Gandhi’s emergence as the ideologue for the Congress political party deeply influenced the perspectives of its two most eminent leaders during the British period, namely, Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose. However, despite their relentless struggle to free their motherland from imperial rule, their ideological paths diverged forever due to their fundamental differences in approaches and visions for independent India. Both Nehru and Bose were ardent nationalists, dedicated their life for India’s freedom, although their ideologies and concepts to achieve this objective were contrasting. Nehru was deeply influenced by Gandhi’s principles of nonviolence and democratic socialism. Nehru envisioned India’s future within a parliamentary democratic framework. Bose, in contrast, supported a bold and direct approach, emphasizing direct confrontation with British imperialism. These differences became apparent as Bose’s aspirations diverged sharply from Nehru’s visions, leading to an inevitable clash that ultimately forced him to walk away from the Congress. A crucial factor that created a division between Nehru and Bose was the role played by Gandhiji. His commitment to non violent and democratic ideology closely aligned with Nehru’s vision but contradicted with Bose’s radical and revolutionary approaches. The 1939 Tripuri Congress session marked a turning point that brought about a significant change in India’s political landscape. While Gandhiji and Nehru stood on one side, Bose took a different path, creating a rift that would never align in the same direction again. This research paper seeks to explore the ideological contrasts between Nehru and Bose, critically evaluating their differing personalities, visions and approaches during the freedom struggle. Additionally, it delves into the direct or indirect role of Gandhi in creating an environment that led to the cleft between Nehru and Bose.