At a time when the middle class youth is finally giving up its political apathy and is hitting the streets demanding long needed change and accountability, the country needs the vision of tall leaders of the freedom struggle who commanded respect from all quarters of the society. One such name was Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. He had shaken the foundations of the then mighty British Empire by bringing together Indian POWs (Prisoners Of War) in World War 2 to revolt against the British crown. Today (23 January 2013) on his 116th birth anniversary, we speak to TV stars on what they feel about his contributions to modern Indian history. Read on… Dilip Joshi of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (SAB TV) feels, “We seriously need leaders like him who always held the country’s interest first, unlike the current crop of politicians who have abandoned the basic precept of public service and now regard the profession as a business, which they have to pass on to their next generation as part of a family legacy. But the sad part is that we, the public, have also become materialistic. Tell me would any youth of today really regard these old vanguards of freedom fighters as their icons? They have become just another footnote in history.” Ravi Dubey, who is currently shaking a leg in Nach Baliye 5 (Star Plus) with girlfriend Sargun Metha, feels, “Netaji was one of the tallest leaders of the pre-independence movement. He had the courage to say Tum Mujhe Khoon Do, Main Tumhe Azaadi Doonga for he genuinely believed that nothing is impossible, if we make up our mind.” Here Ravi adds that he is no part of the cynic brigade which claims that all today’s leaders are bad rather, “I say we need to introspect. Have we voted? If not then what right have we got to blame others? My funda is a bit different. I think India can change if we do. Every morning we should try to imbibe some of the positive nation building qualities which Netaji stood for, then the country will surely be heading for a positive future.” Pooja Bedi goes on to share, “I support what Rahul Gandhi recently said that we need to groom 40/50 leaders who can have qualities like Nehru, Bose and others.” She also feels that given the current level of politics where everything is subject to vote bank considerations, “we might soon need some kind of benevolent dictator who will rule for the better of the nation with an iron fist. Netaji had those types of qualities.” Rajendra Gupta aka babuji of Chidiya Ghar (SAB TV) reasons, “We have to accept Netaji did not get his due. May be it was because he had differences with other Congress leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. Something similar is even happening today, where really honest leaders are sidelined and the old wrong flow continues.” He also does not feel it would be right to just distinguish Gandhi and Bose over violence/non-violence idea. “There were many other layers that forced Netaji to think of taking up gun to gain azaadi. We need to accept that sometimes you need force to bring in a change. Otherwise why today people are clamoring for death sentences for rapists?” Gaurav Chopraa says, “What Netatji did was huge because it goes against the Indian grain of being soft. It was no mean feat that he raised an army. Even today our foreign policy continues to be soft. We arrested a terrorist who had invaded our city and yet it took us four years to hang him in an attempt to win international public opinion.” However here he goes on to aver, “History rightly gives more importance to Gandhi for his satyagraha movement played a very important role in channelizing anti-colonial public opinion in the West after World War 2 which got us our independence. We need to understand that what Netaji and Bhagat Singh kind of revolutionaries did was to trouble the British but they did not really force them to quit.” Finally, Dimple Jhangiani (Amrit Manthan on Life OK) on her part refuses to speculate on the controversy regarding Netaji’s death in a plane crash in August 1945. “This is a matter of research. Over the years we have heard several theories floating around. Some say he died in Russian and Japanese jails. While others claim that he is still alive as a sadhu. What I also liked about him was his personal simplicity. He was a man of frugal needs unlike today’s leaders who love to flaunt their wealth.” Tellychakkar.com remembers and wishes Subhash Chandra Bose on his birthday. Lam Salaam…as they say!!!