1921: Withdraws his name from the list of probationers in the Indian Civil Service as he can not undermine his ideals and principles by becoming a member of the British Administrative Services. Passes the Mental and Moral Sciences Tripos Examination from Cambridge but returns to India and plunges into national struggle. Calls on Mahatma Gandhi in Bombay. Makes his way to Calcutta to report to Deshbandhu Chittaranajan Das. Offers Deshbandhu his services in three areas: a) Teaching at the National College, b) Writing for the English edition of the newspaper Swaraj, and c) Conducting research for the Congress party.

Mahatma Gandhi's call for boycott and non-cooperation generates tremendous patriotic fervour. Netaji is put in charge of publicity for the Bengal Provincial Congress Committee and the National Volunteer Corp and also appointed Principal of the newly started National College, Calcutta.

Congress calls upon people to observe a total hartal on the day of the Prince of Wales' landing in Bombay, and is declared illegal by the government. The Congress Working Committee vests all its powers in its president, Deshbandhu Chittaranajan Das, who in turn puts Netaji in charge of the movement. Netaji is taken into custody along with Deshbandhu and other leaders and later sentenced to six months' imprisonment.

1922: Mahatma Gandhi suspends the Civil Disobedience movement after the Chauri Chaura incident while Netaji is still in jail. Mahatma Gandhi is arrested and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment on charges of sedition.

Devastating floods occur in the northern districts of Bengal. The Congress rises to the occasion and Netaji heads the first batch of volunteers.

Two events - the session of the All India Trade Union Congress in Lahore at which Deshbandhu presided and declared Swaraj as India's aim; and the Yong Men's Conference in Calcutta - serves as major influence on Netaji's political career.

1924: Swaraj Party wins a comfortable majority in the elections to the Calcutta Municipal Corporation. Deshbandhu is elected the first Mayor of Calcutta. Netaji is appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Calcutta Corporation and provides a new direction to the city's administration.

1924: Netaji is arrested and sent to Rangoon to curtail the popularity of the Swaraj Party.

1928: The annual session of the Indian National Congress is held in Calcutta. Netaji emerges as the principal spokesman of the younger and leftist forces in the national movement.

1929: Mahatma Gandhi moves a resolution on complete independence at the historic Lahore session of the Indian National Congress. Netaji urges that a positive programme of action be adopted to enforce the national demand and moves a resolution that the Congress should aim at setting up a parallel government in the country and take up the task of organising workers, peasants and youth. Resolution is defeated, and Netaji is excluded from the Congress Working Committee.

1930: Netaji forms the Congress Democratic Party to promote his militant programme but is arrested on return to Calcutta and sentenced to a year's rigorous imprisonment. Elected Mayor of Calcutta while in prison. He is arrested again after a brief period and lodged in a small jail in the Central Provinces. His health deteriorates rapidly. Gets shifted from place to place ostensibly for medical diagnosis and treatment - first to Madras, then to Bhowali and to Lucknow. Sister-in-law Bivabati negotiates with the government in Delhi to send him to Europe for treatment.