Indian National Army & Subhas Chandra Bose

Subhas Chandra Bose and the INA

• In March 1940, Bose organized an anti-compromise conference at Ramgarh, a joint effort of the Forward Bloc and Kisan Sabha. This conference resolved that a worldwide struggle would begin April 6, challenging the exploitation of Indian resources by the empire.
• Bose was arrested in July 1940 for protesting against a proposed monument for Holwell, and later placed under house arrest in December 1940 after a hunger strike. He escaped in January 1941.
• Bose sought assistance from Russia, but Russia's involvement in the war with the Allies dissuaded Bose, who then travelled to Germany.
• In Germany, Bose, using the alias Orlando Mazzotta, met Hitler and organised the "Freedom Army" (Mukti Sena). The army consisted of Indian prisoners-of-war captured by Germany and Italy.
• Bose's organisation adopted the slogan "Jai Hind" while based in Germany.
• In early 1943, Bose left Germany, travelling via German and Japanese submarines to Singapore in July.
• Bose arrived in Singapore to lead the second phase of this independence movement.
• He met the Japanese Prime Minister, Tojo, in June 1943 in Tokyo. He subsequently became Supreme Commander of the INA (Indian National Army), or Azad Hind Fauj, on August 25.

Formation of the INA

• The INA was a key development in the Second World War's struggle for Indian independence.
• Rash Behari Bose, an Indian revolutionary living in Japan, founded the Indian Independence League, with the support of other Indians in Southeast Asia, which was vital in organizing the Indian people.
• The INA emerged from the Indian prisoners-of-war captured by the Japanese in Southeast Asia.
• The INA was formed with the goal of liberating India from British rule.
• General Mohan Singh initially held significant influence, but by December 1942 differences arose between the Indian army officers and the Japanese regarding the role of the INA.
• Bose arrived in Singapore in 1943 to lead the Indian Independence League.
• The INA comprised an estimated 45,000 soldiers, including Indian prisoners of war.
• In October 1943, the Provisional Government of Free India was established. The Provisional Government declared war on the British and U.S. with the support of the Axis powers and was recognized by some.
• INA headquarters were set up in Rangoon and Singapore, and the INA was reorganized.
• INA raised funds, recruited soldiers and organized a women's regiment called the Rani Jhansi Regiment.
• Bose gave a famous speech, "Give me blood, I will give you freedom" in Malaya.
• The Japanese also occupied the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in 1942 and subsequently renamed them after Independence and a martyr, becoming a symbol of India's will to fight for freedom.

Significance of the INA

• The INA issue prominently captured public attention, especially the imprisoned INA members.
• The campaign for the release of INA prisoners was significant due to the wide-spread participation of social groups (e.g. students, laborers, merchants) and political parties.
• The INA campaign generated a wave of unified nationalist sentiment across diverse Indian social groups.
• The demand for the release of the prisoners spread far beyond large cities, reaching distant areas such as Coorg, Baluchistan, and Assam.
• The INA's impact extended to the traditional pillars of the Raj. Government officials and even some segments of the military were significantly affected.
• During the negotiations, the British recognized the political importance of the INA issue and the rising sentiment in favor of independence.
• The matter of the INA's actions regarding the struggle for independence was intensely debated and did not end with the war's surrender, instead it sparked events in the next years.
• The issue was about the right of the British to make decisions about the INA, demonstrating the growing nationalist sentiment during the INA campaign and resulting in growing demands for independence.

Explore the pivotal role of Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army (INA) in India's independence struggle. Understand the objectives of the Anti-Compromise Conference, Bose's plans, and the INA's impact. Discover the key events, geographical reach and the INA agitation.