Subhas Chandra Bose Family Tree: The Story Behind Netaji of India's Freedom Struggle

Subhas Chandra Bose, born 23 January 1897 in Cuttack, Bengal Presidency (now Odisha), British India, was an Indian nationalist who led the Indian National Army (INA / Azad Hind Fauj) during World War II against British rule — addressed as "Netaji" ("Respected Leader"). His official death is recorded as 18 August 1945 in a plane crash in Taiwan, though disputed by some.

The Family's Roots: A Bengali Kayastha Lawyer Family

The Bose family is Bengali Kayastha with deep legal-political roots. Father Janakinath Bose was a prominent lawyer in Cuttack (then in the Bengal Presidency).

His Parents

Father: Janakinath Bose (1860–1934) — Cuttack-based lawyer; Public Prosecutor; appointed as a Rai Bahadur by the British (later returned the title in protest); Member of the Bengal Legislative Council.

Mother: Prabhabati Bose (1869–1943) — homemaker; strong religious-cultural influence.

His Siblings

Subhas was the ninth of fourteen children of Janakinath and Prabhabati Bose, including:

Sarat Chandra Bose (1889–1950) — eldest brother (of significance); Calcutta High Court barrister; Indian National Congress leader; leader of the Forward Bloc after Subhas; was Subhas's lifelong political and financial backer.

Sisir Kumar Bose (1920–2000) — nephew (son of Sarat); paediatrician; founder of Netaji Research Bureau.

His Wife: Emilie Schenkl

Emilie Schenkl (1910–1996) — Austrian; was Subhas's secretary in Vienna from 1934; the couple were married secretly around 1937–1942 (date never officially confirmed; Schenkl always insisted they were married). They lived together in Berlin.

Their Daughter

Anita Bose Pfaff, born 29 November 1942 — daughter; born in Vienna; University of Augsburg economics professor; lived in Germany; the only child Subhas had.

The Bose Family Tree at a Glance

Family Origins: Bengali Kayastha; Cuttack, then Calcutta.

Father: Janakinath Bose (1860–1934) — Cuttack lawyer; Public Prosecutor.

Mother: Prabhabati Bose (1869–1943).

Siblings: 13 — most notably Sarat Chandra Bose (1889–1950), Calcutta barrister and Subhas's lifelong political backer.

Nephew: Sisir Kumar Bose (1920–2000) — paediatrician; founder of Netaji Research Bureau.

Wife: Emilie Schenkl (1910–1996; Austrian; private wedding around 1937).

Daughter: Anita Bose Pfaff (b. 29 November 1942) — Augsburg economics professor.

Subhas Chandra Bose:

  • Born 23 January 1897, Cuttack
  • Ravenshaw Collegiate School, Cuttack; Presidency College, Calcutta (suspended for nationalist activism); Scottish Church College, Calcutta (BA 1918)
  • Indian Civil Service (ICS) examination: 1920 — placed 4th; resigned April 1921 to join the freedom struggle
  • Indian National Congress (INC): from 1921
  • President of the INC: 1938 (Haripura), 1939 (Tripuri) — second term resigned after disputes with Gandhi
  • Founded the All India Forward Bloc within Congress (1939)
  • House arrest 1940–41; escape via Afghanistan to Berlin (1941)
  • Free India Centre in Berlin (1942)
  • Submarine voyage to Japan (1943)
  • Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind): 21 October 1943, Singapore
  • Commander-in-Chief, Indian National Army (INA / Azad Hind Fauj): from 1943
  • Plane crash death officially recorded: 18 August 1945, Taihoku Airport, Taiwan (disputed by many historians; multiple commissions of inquiry)
  • 2018: Indian government declassified Netaji files

What the Bose Family Story Teaches Us

A Cuttack lawyer father with 14 children. A homemaker mother. A devoted elder brother (Sarat) who funded his political work for two decades. An Austrian secretary who became his secret wife. A daughter in Germany who has spent her life as an economics professor. A career that became one of the most-debated chapters of India's freedom story.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Bose story carries the same lesson. Long-distance and secret marriages still count. The Subhas-Emilie marriage and Anita's German life are on the Bose family tree alongside every speech and battle. Write down which family members lived overseas. Their lives are part of the family record too.

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