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• January 23, 2025
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January 23 marks the birth anniversary of our beloved ‘Netaji’ aka Subhash Chandra Bose. On his birth anniversary, we bring you this literary blog, focused on the popular INA marching song “Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja”. The song, Kadam kadam badhaye ja like Bankim’s Bande Mataram and Iqbal’s Sare Jahan se accha is a remarkable revolutionary poetry. It is a historical artifact which represents Netaji’s blueprint for the freedom struggle and captured the spirit of his “Dilli Chalo” slogan. Let us understand the historical context of the song. 

Historical Context 

In 1939, after his victory as President of Congress Party, Bose said, “I am for a dynamic move from our side – for an ultimatum to the British Government demanding Purna Swaraj…we must utilise the international situation to India’s advantage.”

In 1941, Bose went to Europe to gain access to Indian soldiers in the British Indian Army who were prisoners-of-war in the hands of Germany and Italy. Netaji believed that subversion of loyalty of the Indian soldiers to the Raj had to be an essential condition to embrace the anti-imperialist movement. Netaji was a profound writer. He wrote political essays and some of his writings in his journal Azad Hind. On February 8, 1943 he left Europe and undertook a 90-day submarine journey to reach South East Asia. Nearly two million Indian civilians gave his movement a larger social base of support. On July 5, 1943, he announced the formation of the Azad Hind Fauj in Singapore. 

The INA was formed with the help of Japanese forces to help India gain complete independence from the Britishers. It was a meticulously planned organization manned by volunteers and Indian Prisoners of War (POW) captured by the Japanese after the defeat of the British Army in Singapore.  One such prisoner of war was Captain Ram Singh who hailed from Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. Singh inherited a passion for music from his maternal grandmother, a skill he continued to nurture. As part of the colonial army, he was trained by famous English musicians in various instruments. 

Bose instantly recognized his mastery and skill and gave him the task to come up with a marching song for the INA. As the music director of the INA orchestra, Ram Singh put forward the song Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja. The song was penned by the poet-lyricist Vanshidhar Shukla. 

The song was created with the intention of inspiring soldiers to remain steadfast in their mission. The words were simple yet powerful, meant to resonate deeply with every soldier:

“Kadam Kadam badhaye ja,
Khushi ke geet gaye ja,
Ye zindagi hai kaum ki,
Tu kaum pe lutaye ja.”

(Translation: March forward step by step,
Sing songs of joy,
This life is for the nation,
You must dedicate it to the nation.)

The song was a call to action for achieving the Purna Swaraj. 

What Makes The Song Special? 

Kadam kadam badhaye ja instills motivation in us. Its lyrical simplicity and direct appeal to patriotism aligns with the poetic style of revolutionary poets like Ram Prasad Bismil and Subhadra Kumari Chauhan. The song also connects with India’s rich oral tradition. It serves as a collective memory of the INA. The song also resonates with recurring themes in Indian Literature. The song reiterates themes like sacrifice and duty which have been a part of Mahabharata and Ramayana. Furthermore, the song urges the people to fight for a higher cause. The cultural and nationalist sentiments in this song are in alliance with the works of R.N. Tagore and Sri Aurobindo. 

The repeated phrase Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja symbolizes continual progress and resilience, a theme prevalent in Indian literature dealing with perseverance. The lyrics emphasize the collective over the individual, a recurring motif in Indian literature, especially in works reflecting Gandhian ideals.

The song is a part of revolutionary post-colonial literature as it critiques colonial domination by celebrating the spirit of resistance and self-reliance. In this sense, it complements post-colonial texts like Kanthapura by Raja Rao or Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie, which also explore India’s journey to independence.

This song, therefore, is not just a historical artifact but a living piece of revolutionary literature that continues to inspire and find a place in Indian literary discourse.

The song also adds strength to Netaji’s vision of ‘Dilli Chalo’. 

In one of the stanzas, Shukla wrote: 

“Chalo Dilli Pukar ke

Gam-e-nishan sambhal ke

Laal Quile pe gaadke 

Lahraye ja, Lahraye ja”

Let’s not forget that the song was composed during 1942-43. On March 18, 1944, with ‘Dilli Chalo” on their lips, the Azad Hind Fauj crossed the Indo-Burma frontier, and carried the armed struggle on to Indian soil.  Every line of this song was historically and politically situated. It basically captured the agenda of the INA and its future actions. 

Bose rightly said, “victory or defeat is not important, but the fight itself is everything.” Thus, the song also carried forward Bose’s ideology of surpassing the fruits of actions. For Bose, taking action was more important than worrying about the outcomes. This song captures it sincerely. 

The rich textual imprint of revolutionary nationalist literature makes this song a must read for UGC-NET English Literature aspirants. It will be a part of the Indian Writings in English. So, when preparing for the UGC-NET English Literature exam, do not forget to read revolutionary poets. 

UGC-NET English Paper II includes Indian Writing in English and translations of Indian literature. Many texts reflect nationalist ideologies and the freedom struggle, such as:

• Vande Mataram by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee.
• Anandamath which explores the idea of sacrifice for the nation.
• Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore, emphasizing spiritual and national awakening.

The song’s literary and cultural value is on par with these works. Include this poem in your UGC-NET English literature handwritten notes.

If you need assistance, you may join the best coaching for UGC-NET in Delhi. There are many coaching institutes like Sahitya Classes that provide you with UGC-NET English notes pdf and UGC-NET online classes. At Sahitya Classes, you will receive personalized mentorship from Prof. Vineet Pandey. If you want to join the offline batch, you can enroll yourself before January 27. This is your last chance to receive proper guidance and doubt clearing sessions from the best in the UGC-NET English Literature. So, what are you waiting for? Join now! 

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