Indian National Army [INA] | History Notes for UPSC State PSC

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:

• 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.

---