Table of Contents
Foundation and Initial Formation:
- Founded by Mohan Singh, a British Indian Army officer, in September 1942 in Southeast Asia.
- Initially composed of Indian prisoners of war (PoWs) from the British Indian Army captured by Japan during the Malayan campaign and the fall of Singapore.
Early Struggles and Leadership Changes:
- Led by Mohan Singh and Rash Behari Bose.
- Internal conflicts and disagreements with the Japanese military led to its disbandment in December 1942.
Subhas Chandra Bose’s Escape and Arrival in Germany:
- Bose was placed under house arrest by the British Raj at the start of World War II.
- Escaped in disguise, traveled through Afghanistan and Central Asia, and reached Berlin on 2 April 1941.
- In Germany, he aimed to raise an army of Indian soldiers from PoWs captured by Germany, forming the Free India Legion and the Azad Hind Radio.
Japanese Involvement and Bose’s Leadership:
- In early 1943, the Japanese invited Subhas Chandra Bose to lead the Indian nationalist movement in East Asia.
- Bose accepted and left Germany on 8 February 1943, traveling by submarine, stopping briefly in Singapore, and reached Tokyo on 11 May 1943.
- In Tokyo, he met Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo and the Japanese High Command.
- On 4 July 1943, two days after reaching Singapore, Bose assumed leadership of the Indian Independence League (IIL) and the INA in a ceremony at the Cathay Building.
Revival under Subhas Chandra Bose:
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- The INA was reformed in 1943 under Bose’s leadership.
- Declared the military arm of Provisional Government of Free India (Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind).
Military Structure and Regiments:
- Bose named INA brigades after prominent Indian leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Maulana Azad.
- Established an all-women regiment named after Rani of Jhansi, Lakshmibai.
- Set up a special operations group, the Bahadur Group, for operations behind enemy lines.
- Created a motor transport division, though limited by resources.
Composition and Recruitment:
- The reformed INA included former PoWs and many civilian volunteers from Indian expatriate communities in Malaya (modern-day Malaysia) and Burma (Myanmar).
- Local civilians, including barristers, traders, plantation workers, and shopkeepers, joined the INA, doubling its strength.
- Under Bose’s leadership, the IIL membership peaked at 350,000, with almost 100,000 local Indians in Southeast Asia volunteering to join the INA, reaching a force of 50,000.
Campaigns and Battles:
- Fought alongside the Imperial Japanese Army in Burma against British and Commonwealth forces.
- Participated in key battles at Imphal and Kohima and later in the Allied retaking of Burma.
Impact on British Indian Army:
- The INA’s formation and activities led to fears of further defections within the British Indian Army.
- The British implemented a propaganda campaign called “Jiffs” to maintain Sepoy loyalty and banned reports on INA activities.
Post-War Trials and Legacy:
- After the war, 300 INA officers were charged with treason in the INA trials.
- Widespread opposition from the Indian National Congress and other groups led to the British backtracking on these charges.
Influence on Indian Independence Movement:
- The trials and the INA’s actions became a galvanizing force for the Indian independence movement.
- Several INA members later held significant public roles in India and Southeast Asia, including Lakshmi Sehgal, John Thivy, and Janaki Athinahappan.
Controversies and Accusations:
- The INA was accused of collaborating with the Japanese and being complicit in war crimes.
- Viewed as traitors by British forces and non-defecting Indian PoWs but regarded as patriots by many Indians post-independence.
Commemoration:
- Initially celebrated by the Indian National Congress after independence.
- Despite their contributions, some INA members were not granted freedom fighter status by the Government of India.