HOWRAH-KALKA MAIL RENAMED AS NETAJI EXPRESS

HOWRAH-KALKA MAIL RENAMED AS NETAJI EXPRESS

Context

The Indian Railways has renamed one of its oldest trains, the Howrah-Kalka Mail, as the ‘Netaji Express’.

Howrah-Kalka Mail:

• It was started in the 19th Century as one of the early commercial passenger train services in India.
• This train has always enjoyed a steady patronage and popularity connecting Howrah with Kalka.
• It is said in 1941, Bose took this train from Gomoh in Bihar after he escaped from his house in Kolkata.

About Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose:

• He cleared the Indian Civil Service examination in 1920 in England. Later, he resigned from his civil service job on April 23, 1921 after hearing about India's struggle for freedom.
• Netaji joined the Indian National Congress in 1921.
• Netaji started a newspaper called “Swaraj”. He had written a book called “The Indian Struggle”. The book covers the Indian Independence movement between 1920 and 1942.
• He established the Azad Hind Radio station in Germany and led the Indian nationalist movement in East Asia.
• The term “Jai Hind” was coined by Netajji Subhash Chandra Bose.