LETTERS EXCHANGED BETWEEN BOSE AND NEHRU IN 1939

IN-DEPTH ELIMINATING TB FROM INDIA BY 2025 AMBITIOUS BUT ACHIEVABLE

March 24 was World TB Day. The fight against the scourge has been global and relentless, ever since the discovery of bacterium causing tuberculosis in 1882. The bacterium is yet to be vanquished as it has survived all human endeavour mainly because of its late detection and lack of awareness and proper nutrition. Otherwise TB is totally curable. India has now fixed a target of eliminating the disease by 2025, which is five years before the global deadline of 2030. The goal is very ambitious because India has the highest incidence of TB with 28 percent global cases and is way ahead of Indonesia (9.2 percent) cases and China (7.4 percent).

The author is Former Minister of External Affairs of India

During the nineteen thirties, apart from Gandhiji, Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose were the leading lights of the Congress. Temperamentally they were like cheese and chalk. Subhas Bose wrote thirty nine page letter to Nehru. In some way Bose over did functioning of Nehru and was too personal. Nehru’s reply was restrained and more statesman like. Bose lacked Nehru’s element style.

I HAVE BRIEFLY QUOTED FROM EACH LETTER...

My dear Jawahar,

Jealgora P.O, Dt. Manbhum, Bihar, March 28, 1939

I find that for some time past you have developed tremendous dislike for me. I say this because I find that you take up enthusiastically every possible point against me; what could be said in my favour you ignore. What my political opponents urge against me you concede, while you are almost blind to what could be said against them. In the course of what follows I shall try to illustrate the above.

What you should have developed this strong dislike for me remains a mystery to me. On my side, ever since I came out of internment in 1937, I have been treating you with the utmost regard and consideration, in private life and in public. I have looked upon you as politically an elder brother and leader and have often sought your advice.

When you came back from Europe last year, I went to Allahabad to ask you what lead you would give us. Usually, when I approached you in this way, your replies have been vague and non-committal. I am sorry that my letter has become so long. It will no doubt tire your patience. But I could not avoid it-there was so many things to say.

If I have used harsh language or hurt your feeling at any place, kindly pardon me. You yourself say that there is nothing like frankness and I have tried to be frank-perhaps brutally frank. I am progressing steadily though slowly. Hope you are all right.

Yours affectionately Subhas