An important development in the struggle for freedom during the Second World War was the formation and activities of the Azad Hind Fauj which was also known as the Indian National Army or INA. Rash Behari Bose who was an Indian revolutionary had escaped from India and had been living in Japan for many years. He set up the Indian independence league with the support of Indians living in the countries of south-east Asia.
In the meantime, Subhas Chandra Bose had escaped from India and gone to Germany to work for India's Independence. In 1943, he came to Singapore to lead the Indian Independence league and he rebuild the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) to make it effective for the freedom of India. The Azad Hind Fauj comprised of about 45 thousand soldiers, among who were Indian prisoners of war as well as Indians who were in various countries of South Asia.
On 21 October 1943, Subhas Bose, who was known as Netaji, proclaimed the formation and making of the provisional government of Independent India in Singapore. Netaji went to the Andaman which had been taken by the Japanese and hoisted there the flag of India. In early 1944, three units of the Azad Hind Fauj actively took part in the attack on the north-eastern part of India to oust the British from India. According to Shah Nawaz Khan, one of the most prominent officers of the Azad Hind Fauj were the soldiers who had entered India and had laid themselves flat on the ground and passionately kissed the sacred soil of their motherland. However, the attempt to liberate India by the Azad Hind Fauj failed.
However, the Indian nationalist movement did not view the Japanese government as a friend of India. Its sympathies were with the people of those countries who had fallen victims to Japan’s lethal aggression. Netaji, however, believed that with the help of the Azad Hind Fauj, supported by Japan, the British rule over India could be ended. The Azad Hind Fauj with the slogan of ‘Delhi Chalo’ and the salutation Jai Hind was a source of inspiration to Indians. Netaji rallied together the Indians of all religions and regions living in south-east Asia for the cause of India's freedom.
A women’s regiment of Azad Hind Fauj was formed which was under the command of Captain Lakshmi Swaminathan. It was called the Rani Jhansi regiment. The Azad Hind Fauj became a symbol of unity and heroism to the people of the country. Netaji, who had been one of the greatest leaders of India's struggle for freedom was killed in an air crash a few days after Japan had surrendered.
• Azad Hind Fauj.
Under the leadership of Subhas Chandra Bose, the provisional government of free India had declared war against the British and the United States. Bose also convinced the Japanese to allow the Azad Hind Fauj to be an integral part of Japan's offensive against the British empire in Manipur. In the ‘U-Go offensive' a military operation was aimed at capturing Manipur and Naga Hills from the British the Azad Hind Fauj had played an important role. However, the Azad Hind Fauj lost a large number of men, which weakened the army. In 1945, the Azad Hind Fauj was a part of the Japanese deployments during the ‘Burma Campaign’. It was a series of battles held in the British Colony of Burma. Unfortunately, the Azad Hind Fauj and the Japanese army were overpowered by the British forces, forcing many to either surrender or retreat. The Azad Hind Fauj had no other option but to retreat to safety.
• Trials
Approximately ten trials were held in the Red Fort against a number of officers and soldiers from the Azad Hind Fauj. Since the trials were held in Red Fort, Delhi their trials also came to be known as ‘Red Fort Trials'. In the first of these trials, Colonel Prem Sahgal, Major General Shah Nawaz Khan and Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillion, who had previously worked in the British Indian Army were charged on multiple accounts. The Muslim League and the Indian National Congress pressurised the British Government to release the Azad Hind Fauj soldiers. The Indian National Congress also came up with the ‘INA Defense Committee' to defend the ex-INA members. The defence committee, along with the protests of many, made sure that none were charged with treason after the end of the first trial.
Immense pressure from the public forced Auchinleck to release Prem Sahgal, Nawaz Khan, and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillion. Within three months, more than 11,000 members of the Azad Hind Fauj were set free. However, they were not allowed to join the new armed forces of India as per one of the Lord Mountbatten's conditions before independence.
• Achievements
Though the achievements of the Azad Hind Fauj were less than anticipated, the impact that it had on the independence of India was massive. The first Azad Hind Fauj trial became a rallying point for the Indian independence movement in 1945. British historian Christopher Bayly later started the INA which had become a much more powerful enemy to the British after its fall in 1945.
• End of the Azad Hind Fauj
A total of 16,000 soldiers belonging to the Azad Hind Fauj were captured by the British from various places. By July 1945, a host of them was shipped back to India, while a number of volunteers who had come from Malaya and Burma returned to their respective civilian life. By November 1945, around 12,000 Azad Hind Fauj soldiers were kept as transit camps in Chittagong and Calcutta. By December, the process to choose people who would send to face the trials had started. The British- Indian Army wanted to execute a disciplinary action against the British – Indian Army soldiers who had joined the Azad Hind Fauj. The British administration had also selected a few of its soldiers who would later be selected to trials and a few others were punished for their acts. In November 1945, it was reported that the British had executed a number of Azad Hind Fauj which led to violent confrontations between the police and the protestors.
Due to varying understanding of our country's history and freedom struggle, the role of the INA in the National movement may have been relegated to the background. But nothing can downplay the sheer courage and determination with which Subhash Chandra Bose and his army led one of the most crucial and notable struggles for Indian Independence.
Want to become a leader and develop your skillset? Here is an opportunity to join the Board of Young Leaders Program by Eat My News. Click here to know more: bit.ly/boardofyoungleaders
Social