RAS question
The famous quote 'Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom' was said by:
Correct answer: (D) Subhas Chandra Bose.
Subhas Chandra Bose gave the famous call, "Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom," to inspire Indians in the freedom struggle.
Explanation
Subhas Chandra Bose gave the call because the Press Information Bureau release, carrying the President's 2017 Independence Day-eve address, directly attributes it to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. It records that Bose exhorted people with the words, "Give me blood and I will give you freedom," and links that appeal to Indians joining the freedom movement under his leadership. Bose used the call to mobilise Indians, including the Indian National Army and the Indian diaspora in Southeast Asia, for India's freedom. The slogan is therefore tied to Bose rather than to Gandhi, Bhagat Singh or Chandrashekhar Azad.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Mahatma Gandhi is the wrong choice because he is associated with non-violence, while the quoted call for blood and freedom is attributed by PIB to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
- (B) Bhagat Singh is not the answer because he is associated with "Inquilab Zindabad", whereas Press Information Bureau names Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose for this blood-and-freedom appeal.
- (C) Chandrashekhar Azad is incorrect because his remembered vow was never to be captured alive, not this mobilisation slogan, which PIB attributes to Bose.
Concept
Modern Indian History includes the association of major freedom-struggle leaders with their slogans and methods of mobilisation. RAS often repeats such items because slogans are compact markers of ideology, leadership style and phases of the national movement.