PIB Bhubaneswar along with State Culture Department organise a Joint Press Conference on Netaji’s Azad Hind Government

What is the News?

​​Press Information Bureau (PIB) Bhubaneswar in association with the Language, Literature and Culture Department, Government of Odisha organised a joint press conference at Netaji Birth Place Museum on the anniversary of the formation of Netaji’s Azad Hind Government

Background

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose arrived in Singapore on July 4, 1943. At that time, the Indian Independence Movement had already been launched in East Asia by the late Rash Behari Bose, a veteran nationalist exiled in Japan. 

The old leader handed over charge to the new arrival, Subhas Chandra Bose, who was acclaimed as ‘Netaji’. Netaji then took charge of the Indian National Army.

Formation of Azad Hind Government

On October 21, 1943. Bose announced the formation of the Provisional Government of Free India (PGFI) also known as Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind, or in short, Azad Hind Government, an Indian government-in-exile. 

The Azad Hind Government started functioning from Singapore, with 11 ministers and eight representatives from the INA.

The Azad Hind Government had ​​its own currency, court and civil code.

The provisional government was also formed in the Japanese-occupied Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The islands were reoccupied by the British in 1945.

The provisional capital of the Azad Hind Government was Port Blair, while its capital-in-exile was Rangoon and Singapore.

Ministers in Azad Hind Government

The Provisional Government of Free India consisted of a Cabinet headed by Subhas Chandra Bose as the Head of the State, The Prime Minister and the Minister for War and Foreign Affairs.

Captain Doctor Lakshmi Sahgal was the Minister in Charge of the Women’s Organization.

S A Ayer headed the publicity and propaganda wing.

Rash Behari Bose was designated as the supreme advisor.

Who recognized the Azad Hind Government?

The Azad Hind Government was recognised by nine Axis-aligned countries: Japan, Germany, Italy, Croatia, Burma, Thailand, Philippines, Manchukuo (Manchuria), and the Republic of China (Wang Jingwei regime). 

How did the Azad Hind Government come to an end?

Bose’s death was seen as the end of the Azad Hind government. The Second World War, also, ended in 1945 with the defeat of the Axis powers.

Source: This post is based on the article “PIB Bhubaneswar along with State Culture Department organise a Joint Press Conference on Netaji’s Azad Hind Government” published in PIB on 25th October 2021.