Subhash Chandra Bose, Indian National Army and Indian Freedom Struggle

 Subhash Chandra Bose, Indian National Army and Indian Freedom Struggle

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Subhash Chandra Bose and Indian Freedom Struggle

Subhash Chandra Bose was born on January 23, 1897 in a well to do Kayastha family. His father Janakinath Bose was an eminent lawyer. His mother was Prabhavati. Subhash Chandra Bose had his School Education at Cuttack. He was admitted in the Baptist Mission School in 1902. In the fourth standard, he joined Ravenshaw Collegiate School, Cuttack where he was there up to 1913. He learnt Bengali in this school.

On religious point of view Subhash Chandra Bose said that the Government should be impartial towards all religions and religion should be a private matter of the human beings. On economic issues, Bose said that Economic issue affects the people across communal lines. Subhash Chandra Bose promised that India would proclaim its Independence from the Red Fort, from where the Mughals once ruled the Sub-continent.

Subhash Chandra Bose was arrested in July 1940 and was put behind the bars. He was removed from the jail on ground of health issues and was in termed in his own house. On January 26, 1941, Bose made his escape from India with the motive of achieving freedom of India with the help of opponents of England. He reached Germany via Afghanistan and Russia and met Hitler. The Azad Hind Radio and the free India Legion were started. Subhash Chandra Bose realized that he could do better from the eastern front – where Indian Independence League was already started by Rash Behari Bose. He persuaded Captain Mohan Singh, a former officer of the Indian army, to organize an Indian National Army (INA) to fight for the Independence of India of the Indian prisoners of war in Japanese hands. About 25000 agreed to join the Indian National Army (INA). By the end of 1942, the number of Indian National Army (INA) personnel was up to 40000. The Indian National Army (INA) was formally established on September 1, 1942.

In Japan, Subhash Chandra Bose was welcomed by Mr. Tojo, the Prime Minister of Japan and in August, he assumed the leadership and the supreme command of the Indian National Army. He reorganized it into an excellent fighting force with the help of Japanese government. Mr. Tojo, Prime Minister of Japan assured to extend all possible help in throwing out the British and achieving independence of India. Inspiring from the personality and sacrifices of Subhash Chandra Bose, a sizable number of Indian soldiers who had fallen prisoner in Japanese hands, joined the Indian National Army (INA). On October 21, the provisional government of free India was proclaimed at Singapore with Subhash Chandra Bose as its head. The Government was quickly recognised by nine nations – Japan, Germany, Italy, Croatia, Burma, Thailand, Nationalist China, the Philippines and Manchuria. It declared war against the British.

After the Quit India Movement, most of the national leaders were behind the bars. During this time, Subhash Chandra Bose kept aloft the flame of the freedom struggle from outside the boarders of India. Despite his earlier differences with Mahatma Gandhi and other Congress leaders, Subhash Chandra Bose named the Indian National Army (INA) brigades after their names. Three of the Indian National Army (INA) brigades were the Gandhi Brigade, the Nehru Brigade and the Azad brigade. Some of the other brigades were, the Rani Jhansi brigade and the Subhash brigade. From time to time the Azad Hind Radio of the Provisional Government of Free India exhorted the people of India to keep up their courage and fight on for the freedom of their motherland. In the early stages of its advance towards the Indian boarders, the Indian National Army (INA) got big success. The British forces were pushed back at many places. The Andamans and Nicobar islands captured by the Japanese earlier were handed over to Netaji’s Government in November 1943 and their territories were formed. Indian Tricolor was hoisted at these places. Subhash Chandra Bose renamed these islands as ‘Shaheed’ and ’Swaraj’ islands. He secured the Japanese firm assurances that ‘every inch of Indian Territory liberated would be handed over to the Indian National Army (INA) for administration’ and the Indian Tricolour would fly over the Indian Territory. In a speech to the Indian National Army (INA), Subhash Chandra Bose  said, “Blood is calling blood! Arise! We have no time to lose. Take up your arms. We shall carve our way through the enemy’s ranks, if God wills, we shall die a martyr’s death. The road to Delhi is the road to freedom, on to Delhi.”

Indian National Army (INA) Attack to liberate India from British clutches

On March 19, 1944, Indian National Army (INA) troops crossed the Indo-Burma frontier and installed the Indian National Tricolor flag for the first time on the liberated Indian soil. There was tremendous enthusiasm and rejoining among the Indian National Army (INA) Personnel. On March 21, 1944 Subhash Chandra Bose proclaimed the whole world that the Indian National Army (INA) had crossed the Eastern frontier of India and was fighting on the sacred soil of India. Mr. Tojo, the Prime Minister of Japan declared that the Provisional Government would administer the occupied territory.

The Slogans of the Indian National Army (INA) were ‘On to Delhi’ (Delhi Chalo) and ‘Jai Hind.’ Subhash Chandra Bose hoped that when the Indian National Army (INA) enters India, not only the civil population but also the Indian army would rise in revolt against the British and India would be liberated. Before the dream of Subhash Chandra Bose could be fulfilled, came the atomic holocaust in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the surrender of Japan.

Although, Subhash Chandra Bose and his Indian National Army (INA) failed in their mission to liberate India but it must be remembered that their great sacrifices would always be remembered. They would be remembered and have an honoured place in the history of India’s freedom struggle.