Perhaps, one of the most talked about freedom fighters in India and undoubtedly the most controversial one, it is the 119th birthday of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. The defiant patriot, who is a national hero is often known for his troubled legacy.He had traveled war and wide outside India to seek help for the freedom of country.
In his quest for foreign support, Netaj had even made attempts to ally with Nazi dictator, Adolf Hitler. While some have criticized such steps, some believe that he did whatever it took to bring India its freedom. A fearless revolutionary, a formidable military leader and a politician, Netaji had one more fascinating talent – the art of masquerading.
1. A Bong dressed as Pathan
Alarmed by the revolutionary demonstrations by Bose, the British authorities threw him behind bars only to release him after a hunger strike of seven days. This time, Bose was a prisoner in his own house as he was under the constant surveillance of British appointed soldiers. It was during this time that Bose grew a beard, the kind that you see on the hipsters these days but only for a cause much higher.
All this while, he made sure not to be spotted by the guards and remained within the confines of the walls of his house. Finally, on January 14, 1941, Bose stepped out, dressed as a Pathan and with a deceiving beard. He was accompanied by his brother, Sisir Bose, who drove him out in a car. Thus, began the historic journey of Netaji with British authorities having no clue about it. Bose set out for Peshawar.
2. The Deaf and dumb Maulvi
On January 26, 1941, Bose started his journey to Russia. He had to traverse the the Northwest Frontier with Afghanistan which was under British control back then. This called for another disguise as the area would be full of Pashtun speaking  workers working under the British. However, dressing up and adapting the gestures of a Pashtun was not a big deal for the master of disguise but there was a little problem that had to be taken care of. The Bengali revolutionary did not speak a word of Pashtun and if interrogated, he would give away his identity right away.
Now, it was not just the time for good make up but great acting skills as well. So, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, put on the clothes of an old Maulvi and pretended to be deaf as a post and dumb as a rock so that he doesn’t have to speak. If asked, his accomplish, Bhagat Ram Talwar, also dressed as a Maulvi, would say they were going to the Addashareef shrine to seek blessings for the cure of the old man’s hearing and speech impairment. By that time, Bose’s beard had grown really lumber-sexual, in case you were wondering.
3. A nobleman from Italy
Moscow was still to be reached and the final disguise of Bose was yet to come. This, time, Bose was a man of aristocratic lineage from Italy named, Count Orlando Mazzotta. The sophisticated upbringing, western education and remarkable facial features of Bose helped him assume the role of the Italian nobleman easily.
He finally reached Moscow unnoticed. However, the Soviets were not very keen on helping India out. Therefore, Bose set out for Berlin where he formed the Free India Center and the Indian Legion.
The journey from Calcutta to Berlin was full of perils. Escaping house arrest in Calcutta under the nose of British surveillance, travelling through a British occupied Northern India to Peshawar, sneaking through an unfamiliar land of forceful Pashtuns and travelling to Moscow with a fake passport, all in disguise, could have resulted in his death or worse, prison, at any time. However, Bose never fumbled on any of the occasions. With nerves of steel and the skills of an artist, this master of disguise fooled all his enemies on his quest for freedom.
Putting aside the conspiracies and controversies, let us just pay our respect to this genius on his birthday.