Subhas Chandra Bose & the INA
Key Pointers
- Early life: Born 23 January 1897, Cuttack; resigned from the ICS (1921); disciple of C.R. Das; Mayor of Calcutta (1930).
- Congress politics: President at Haripura (1938); re-elected at Tripuri (1939) defeating Pattabhi Sitaramayya (Gandhi's candidate); resigned and formed the Forward Bloc (May 1939). Advocated militant struggle; favoured the National Planning Committee (1938).
- Escape: House arrest (1940); escaped in January 1941 via Kabul to Germany; formed the Free India Centre and Indian Legion in Berlin; Azad Hind Radio; titled 'Netaji'; travelled by submarine to Japan (1943).
- First INA (1942): Formed by Captain Mohan Singh with Japanese help from Indian POWs after the fall of Singapore; Indian Independence League (Rash Behari Bose); dissolved in Dec 1942.
- Second INA / Azad Hind Fauj (1943): Bose took over at Singapore (July 1943); set up the Provisional Government of Free India (21 October 1943); recognised by Axis powers. Slogans 'Jai Hind' and 'Delhi Chalo'; ('Give me blood and I will give you freedom').
- Organisation: Brigades named after Gandhi, Nehru, Azad, Subhas; Rani of Jhansi Regiment (women) under Captain Lakshmi Swaminathan (Sahgal).
- Campaigns: Took over Andaman and Nicobar (renamed Shaheed and Swaraj); Imphal–Kohima campaign (1944) alongside Japan; Moirang flag hoisting (April 1944); defeated due to supply issues and Japanese retreat; surrendered at Rangoon (1945).
- Death: Reported plane crash at Taipei (Taiwan) on 18 August 1945 (disputed).
- INA trials (Red Fort, Nov 1945): Officers Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Sahgal, Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon tried; defended by Bhulabhai Desai and Nehru; sparked nationwide protests.
- Impact: Contributed to the Royal Indian Navy Mutiny (Feb 1946) and weakened the loyalty of Indian forces, speeding British withdrawal.
MCQs
Q1. Subhas Chandra Bose formed the Forward Bloc in: (a) 1938 (b) 1939 (c) 1941 (d) 1943 Answer: (b).
Q2. The Provisional Government of Free India was established at: (a) Rangoon (b) Singapore (c) Berlin (d) Tokyo Answer: (b). On 21 October 1943.
Q3. The INA trials of 1945 were held at: (a) Calcutta High Court (b) Red Fort, Delhi (c) Lahore Fort (d) Bombay Answer: (b).