Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose shared a profound bond with East Singhbhum district in Jharkhand, with Jamshedpur being his workplace. From 1928 to 1935, he held leadership in the labour union at the Tata Company in Jamshedpur. During his time here, he also spent time inspiring the spirit of freedom among the people of Dhalbhum.
In 1936, when the oppressive policies of the Kalikapur police station's inspector led to tyranny, the villagers took a stand and Haricharan Bhagat was the first to assault and attack the sub-inspector of police. The courage of the villagers reached Netaji, and he expressed his desire to visit Kalikapur. With the efforts of Congress leaders Kamal Lochan Bhagat and Atul Krishna Dutt, Netaji arrived in Kalikapur from Jamshedpur on 5th December 1939.
During his visit to Kalikapur, despite the bitter cold, many people gathered to listen to Netaji's speech, where he conveyed a message to the British to leave the country. The memories of Netaji's visit have been cherished by the people of Kalikapur to this day. The chair on which Netaji sat, the table cloth, and the Memorial Letter presented to him are still preserved as heritage.
From 1928 to 1937, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose served as the President of the Tata Labor Association, where he fought for the respectable rights of the Tata workers, leaving a lasting impact on the labour movement. His association with Jamshedpur and his visit to Kalikapur remain a cherished part of the district's history and a testament to his dedication to the cause of freedom and workers' rights.
Netaji’s chair at Kalikapur Sabha
Source: Ajay Kumar Thakur, Contributor for CCRT