Netaji at India gate: The revolutionary’s due

Source– The post is based on the article “Netaji at Indian gate: The revolutionary’s due” published in The Indian Express on 8th September 2022.

Syllabus: GS1- The freedom struggle

Relevance– About subhash Chandra Bose and Indian National Army

News: The article explains Netaji Subash Chandra Bose contribution for Indian independence and events related to Indian National Army. If it succeeded; Indian would have attained freedom and not transfer of power.

How do Britishers look at the Indian national army?

Britishers tried to black out the news related to the Indian National Army. Thy termed it as “Japanese inspired force”. When INA trials began, Indians came to know about it.

Britishers depended on armed forces to control India; so they did not want the feeling of patriotism to seep into the army.

What was Subash Bose’s plan?

He wanted to capture Imphal which would have provided him with a large number of Indian soldiers for recruitment. He wanted to raise three more divisions from these soldiers. There were already three divisions. The six divisions would have made INA the single largest force in the region.

With rapid advance into India; the army would have switched sides and it could create revolutionary conditions. The military push by Bose needed to be backed by Japanese air force but it did not materialised.

How did the idea of the Rani Jhansi regiment materialised?

The idea was mooted in a three hour conversation with Laxmi Shegal on 12th July,1943. It was to be a fighting unit.

The Rani Jhansi Regiment started with 500 women volunteers in Singapore and 30 were selected for officer training. Those who were not combat ready were put into the Nursing Corps. After completion of the course, the recruits were moved to Rangoon in Burma. Their numbers went up to 1500. 1,000  were in the fighting unit and the rest in  other roles. From Rangoon, the regiment shifted to Maymyo, Bose’s advance headquarters.

What are other facts about the Indian National Army?

The provisional Government of Azad Hind was formed on October 21, 1943.

Bose did not want to be seen as collaborating with enemy forces occupying their country. So, he explained  in great length that Japan has nothing to do with formation of government in India.

The financing of Azad hind was mainly through contribution from Indians living in South East Asia. There was no tax or levy.

It declared war against Britain and America. Bose maintained that the Congress leaders wanted freedom in their lifetime. Expecting freedom in one’s lifetime was bound to lead to compromises.