Indian National Army and Subhash Chandra Bose - Modern India History Notes

The Indian National Army also known as the Azad Hind Fauj was an armed force that was formed by imperial Japan and the Indian Nationalists in the year 1942. This army was formed during World War II to help in the independence movement of India against British rule. The Indian Prisoners of War of the British Army that were captured by Japan first formed this army under Mohan Singh in 1942. The INA eventually disbanded but was formed again under the guidance of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Subhash Chandra Bose, as an Indian Nationalist, made enormous efforts to resist colonialism. He is one of the great freedom fighters who will always be remembered by the nation. In this article, we will discuss the phases of the Indian National Army and the life of Subhash Chandra Bose which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Indian National Army - Background

• Southeast Asia and Japan were the major refugee nations for the exiled Indian Nationalists before the outbreak of World War II.
• 70,000 Indian troops were stationed along the Malayan coast at the start of World War II in Southeast Asia.
• After the Japanese army succeeded in their campaign on the Malayan coast, many Indian soldiers were taken as Prisoners of War. Nearly 45,000 soldiers alone were captured after the fall of Singapore.
• From these PoWs, the first Indian National Army was born. This army was formed under Mohan Singh who was an officer in the British-Indian Army captured in the Malayan Campaign.
• The degrading conditions in the camps for the PoWs and the strong resentment towards the British army led to the rise of volunteers that wanted to join the INA.
• An Indian Nationalist, Rash Behari Bose was given the overall leadership of the army.
• The INA received whole-hearted support from the Japanese Imperial Army as well as from the people belonging to the Indian ethnicity living in Southeast Asia.
• However, disagreements between the Japanese and the INA (Mohan Singh in particular) led to the disbandment of the INA in 1942

Indian National Army - First Phase

• With the outbreak of the Quit India Movement in India, the INA received a boost.
• The INA's first division was formed in September 1942, with 16,300 men.
• With the Japanese considering an Indian invasion, the idea of an armed wing of the INA seemed more appealing.
• However, serious disagreements soon arose between the Indian Army officers led by Mohan Singh and the Japanese regarding the role to be played by the INA.
• In reality, the Japanese only wanted a token force of 2,000 soldiers, whereas Mohan Singh wanted to raise a much larger army.
• Mohan Singh was apprehended by the Japanese.

Indian National Army - Second Phase

• The second phase began with Subhas Bose's arrival in Singapore. But, before that, in June 1943, Subhas Chandra Bose (as Abid Hussain) arrived in Tokyo and met with Japanese Prime Minister Tojo.
• Rashbehari Bose, another great freedom fighter, should also be recognized here. Following the failure of his revolutionary activities, he fled to Japan in 1915.
• Rashbehari Bose eventually became a naturalized citizen of Japan. He worked hard to pique the Japanese interest in the Indian independence movement.
• He became involved in Pan-Asian circles, established the Indian Club of Tokyo, and lectured on the evils of Western imperialism.
• Subhas Chandra Bose influenced him from an early age. Rashbehari Bose was ecstatic when Mohan Singh established the Indian National Army in Singapore, and he immediately left Tokyo for Southeast Asia.
• It was decided at a conference in Bangkok (also under Japanese occupation at the time) to incorporate the INA into an Indian Independence League, the chairman of which would be Rashbehari Bose himself.
• In 1942, he founded the League in Tokyo.
• When the Japanese approached Subhash Bose to lead the INA, he was prepared.
• He traveled to Singapore and met Rashbehari Bose, who gladly handed over control and leadership of the Indian Independence League and the INA to Subhash in July 1943.
• It should be noted that Subhas Bose was able to build the Indian National Army thanks to the organizational work done by Rashbehari Bose.
• On August 25, Subhas Bose was appointed Supreme Commander of the INA.
• Subhas Bose formed the Provisional Government for Free India in Singapore on October 21, 1943, with H.C. Chatterjee (Finance portfolio), M.A. Aiyar (Broadcasting), Lakshmi Swaminathan (Women Department), and others.

Subhash Chandra Bose and INA

• Despite the fact that Mohan Singh's actions had enraged the Japanese Army Command, they agreed to form a second Indian National Army.
• Mohan Singh himself suggested Subash Chandra Bose for the position of leader.
• Both the Indian diaspora in South East Asia and the Imperial Japanese Army were aware of his reputation as a devoted nationalist.
• As a result, they were more open to the idea of Subash Chandra Bose leading a nationalist army.
• Subash Chandra Bose's activities in India had forced the British authorities to imprison him, but he escaped and arrived in Berlin in 1941.
• Although the German leadership was sympathetic to his cause, logistical issues prevented them from supporting his efforts to raise an army to fight the British.
• However, the Japanese were ready to back him up, and on their invitation, Subash Chandra Bose turned up in Singapore in July 1943 to take command of the second Indian National Army, now known as the Azad Hind Fauj.
• There was a surge of volunteers looking to join the INA after Subash Chandra Bose assumed control of the Azad Hind Fauj.
• The Axis powers recognized this provisional government, which declared war on Britain and the United States.
• Recruits were trained, and funds for the INA were collected. The Rani Jhansi Regiment, a women's regiment, was also formed.
• In January 1944, the INA headquarters were relocated to Rangoon (Burma), and army recruits were to march from there with the war cry "Chalo Delhi!" on their lips.
• The Japanese army handed over the Andaman and Nicobar islands to the INA on November 6, 1943; the islands were renamed Shahid Dweep and Swaraj Dweep, respectively.
• Subhas Bose addressed Mahatma Gandhi as "Father of the Nation" from the Azad Hind Radio on July 6, 1944 (the first person to address Gandhi as "Father of the Nation").
• He sought Gandhi's blessing for "India's final war of independence."
• Although Subash Chandra Bose agreed to the INA remaining subordinate to the Japanese Army, he saw it as a necessary measure towards the ultimate goal of liberating India from the British Empire.
• One INA battalion, led by Shah Nawaz, was permitted to accompany the Japanese Army to the Indo-Burma front and take part in the Imphal campaign.
• However, the Japanese treated the Indians unfairly, denying them rations and arms and forcing them to do menial work for Japanese units, which disgusted and demoralized the INA units.
• Following that, Japan's steady retreat dashed any hopes of the INA liberating the country. The retreat lasted until mid-1945.
• On August 15, 1945, Japan surrendered in the Second World War, and with it, the INA surrendered as well.
• According to reports, Subhas Bose died mysteriously in an air crash near Taipei (Taiwan) on August 18, 1945.

Azad Hind Radio

• This radio station was created to encourage countrymen to fight for freedom under the leadership of Subhas Chandra Bose.
• The radio station used to broadcast news at weekly intervals in various languages like English, Hindi, Tamil, Punjabi, Urdu, etc.
• The main aim of the formation of the Azad Hind Radio was to counter the broadcast of allied radio stations and to fill Indian nationals with pride and motivation to fight for freedom.

Subhash Chandra Bose - Background

• Subhash Chandra Bose was one of India's most illustrious liberation fighters.
• Born into an affluent family in Cuttack, Bengal province, he received his education in Calcutta, where he earned a degree in philosophy.
• Subhash Chandra Bose was chosen for the Indian Civil Services (ICS), but he declined because he did not want to work for the British administration.
• In 1921, Bose became a member of the Indian National Congress, which was founded on December 28, 1885.
• He also founded the 'Swaraj' newspaper.
• He was also the Secretary of the Bengal State Congress and the President of the
• All India Youth Congress. He was appointed CEO of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation in 1924 and was elected Mayor of Calcutta in 1930.
• The Indian Struggle, written by Bose, recounts the Indian independence movement from 1920 to 1942. The British government outlawed the book.
• He was the one who invented the phrase "Jai Hind."
• Many people were motivated by his charisma and tremendous personality to join the liberation war, and he continues to inspire Indians. He is also famously known as Netaji.

Role of Subhash Chandra Bose in India's independence

• In 1925, Bose was imprisoned in Mandalay for his nationalist activities. In 1927, he was liberated and became the general secretary of the INC.
• He collaborated with Jawaharlal Nehru, and the two became the Congress Party's young leaders, achieving widespread recognition.
• He campaigned for total Swaraj and supported the use of force to achieve it.
• He disagreed with Gandhi and was not a fan of nonviolence as a means of achieving freedom.
• Bose ran for and was elected president of the party in1939, but was forced to resign due to disagreements with Gandhi's supporters.
• Bose's ideology was influenced by socialism and leftist authoritarianism. In 1939, he founded the All India Forward Bloc as a faction within Congress.
• At the start of World War II, Bose protested the government for not asking Indians before pulling them into the conflict.
• He was arrested after organizing protests in Calcutta against the removal of a monument commemorating the Black Hole of Calcutta. He was eventually released after a few days, but he was under constant surveillance.
• He then fled the country in1941, making his way to Germany via Afghanistan and the Soviet Union. He'd previously visited Europe, where he met with Indian students and European political leaders.
• He met with Nazi leaders in Germany and hoped to stage an armed struggle against the British to seek independence. He hoped to make friends with the Axis powers because they were fighting his 'enemy,' the British.
• He founded the Indian Legion with the help of approximately 4500 Indian soldiers who were serving in the British army and had been captured by the Germans in North Africa.
• He left Germany for Japan in 1943, disillusioned with Germany's lukewarm support for Azad Hind.
• Bose's arrival in Japan resurrected the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj), which had been formed with Japanese assistance previously.
• The Provisional Government of Free India, or Azad Hind, was established as a government-in-exile, with Bose as its leader. Its headquarters were located in Singapore. Its military was the INA.
• Bose's fiery speeches energized the troops. "Give me blood, and I will give you freedom!" he famously said.
• The INA aided the Japanese army's invasion of northeast India and gained possession of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• However, following the Battles of Kohima and Imphal in 1944, British forces forced them to retreat.

Fate of the Indian National Army after World War II

• After the second world war, the British Colonial government planned to try the surviving members of the INA for treason. The trials were to be held at the Red Fort.
• However, the British's choice to make the Red Fort trials public proved to be a severe miscalculation, as it resulted in a new wave of nationalism unseen during the entire Independence Struggle.
• The Indians saw them as patriots fighting for independence, not betrayers to an empire they never wanted to fight for.
• The trial's progress also resulted in mutiny within the British Indian Army, most notably in the Royal Indian Navy.
• Despite the fact that the mutiny was quickly put down, the British realized they were losing the support of the very institution that had kept them in power for so long – the army.

Conclusion

With the launch of the Quit India Movement, the British sought to quicken India's independence, which was the ultimate goal of the Azad Hind Fauj from the start. It is safe to say that the Indian National Army won against its colonial oppressors even in defeat. Subhash Chandra Bose will always be remembered for his courage and heroic activities. The government recently decided to erect a large statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at India Gate to commemorate his 125th birthday and as part of the year-long celebrations. On January 23rd, his Jayanti is celebrated as 'Parakram Diwas.'

FAQs

MCQs

1. Who reorganized the Indian National Army and led it during World War II?

A. Mohan Singh
B. Jawaharlal Nehru
C. Subhash Chandra Bose
D. Mahatma Gandhi

2. Where was the Provisional Government of Free India established by Subhash Chandra Bose?

A. Tokyo
B. Singapore
C. Rangoon
D. Berlin

3. What was the significance of the INA Trials held in 1945-46?

A. They led to the execution of INA officers
B. They sparked nationalist protests across India
C. They resulted in the arrest of Subhash Chandra Bose
D. They were conducted by the Japanese government

4. Who was the leader of the Rani Jhansi Regiment in the INA?

A. Sarojini Naidu
B. Annie Besant
C. Lakshmi Sahgal
D. Vijayalakshmi Pandit

5. Which battle is associated with the military campaigns of the INA in India?

A. Battle of Plassey
B. Battle of Kohima
C. Battle of Panipat
D. Battle of Seringapatam

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

1. Analyze the role of Subhash Chandra Bose in India’s struggle for independence and his contributions through the Indian National Army (INA).

Answer: Subhash Chandra Bose played a pivotal role in India’s independence movement by advocating for a more militant approach to ousting British rule. Dissatisfied with the Congress Party’s non-violent strategies, Bose sought foreign assistance and established the Indian National Army (INA) to wage an armed struggle against the British. His leadership revived the INA, which had been initially formed by Mohan Singh.
Bose’s creation of the Provisional Government of Free India and his military campaigns alongside the Japanese in Southeast Asia represented his commitment to securing India’s freedom. Although the INA’s military efforts were unsuccessful, the movement’s impact on Indian society was profound. The INA Trials (1945-46) galvanized national sentiment, leading to widespread protests and demonstrating the weakening hold of the British Empire over India. Bose’s legacy endures as a symbol of revolutionary leadership in India’s freedom struggle.

2. Discuss the impact of the INA Trials on the Indian independence movement.

Answer: The INA Trials held between 1945-46 were a turning point in the Indian independence movement. The British government decided to try the officers of the Indian National Army (INA) for treason, murder, and torture. However, these trials provoked widespread protests across India, as they were seen as unjust attempts to punish soldiers who had fought for India’s independence.
Nationalist leaders, including Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, defended the INA officers, and the trials sparked unprecedented levels of public outrage. The trials not only unified Indians against British rule but also exposed the British inability to maintain control over India. The intense backlash and the public sympathy for INA soldiers contributed significantly to the hastening of British plans for leaving India.

3. Evaluate the significance of women’s participation in the Indian National Army, with special reference to the Rani Jhansi Regiment.

Answer: The participation of women in the Indian National Army (INA) under the leadership of Subhash Chandra Bose was a revolutionary aspect of India’s struggle for independence. The formation of the Rani Jhansi Regiment, an all-women’s military unit led by Captain Lakshmi Sahgal, was a significant step toward gender equality in the freedom movement.
The regiment symbolized Bose’s belief in the equal contribution of women to the cause of India’s freedom. Women in the regiment were trained as soldiers and were ready to engage in combat, challenging the traditional gender roles of the time. The participation of women in the INA not only empowered them but also sent a powerful message of unity and inclusivity in the fight for independence. The regiment’s formation remains a landmark in the history of women’s involvement in India’s liberation struggle.

Previous Year Questions on INA

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2018

Question: Who among the following was the leader of the Indian National Army (INA)?
A. Bhagat Singh
B. Mahatma Gandhi
C. Subhash Chandra Bose
D. Jawaharlal Nehru

Answer: C

Explanation: Subhash Chandra Bose was the leader of the Indian National Army (INA), which he reorganized in 1943 to fight for India’s independence.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2016 (GS Paper 1)

Question: "The Indian National Army and Subhash Chandra Bose played a crucial role in the final phase of the Indian independence struggle." Discuss.

Answer: The Indian National Army (INA) and Subhash Chandra Bose played a pivotal role in the final phase of the Indian independence struggle by adopting a militant approach against British rule. Bose’s leadership and his establishment of the Provisional Government of Free India inspired many Indians to actively resist British control.
Although the INA’s military campaigns were not successful, its efforts energized the independence movement, particularly through the INA Trials of 1945-46, which sparked nationwide protests. Bose’s vision of a free India, his call for armed resistance, and his efforts to internationalize India’s independence movement were crucial in hastening the British decision to leave India.