THE INDIAN NATIONAL ARMY AND SUBHASH BOSE

1. SUBHASH CHANDRA BOSE: EARLY LIFE AND IDEOLOGY
- Brilliant student; secured 4th rank in the ICS examination.
- Resigned from the ICS in 1921 to join the freedom movement.
- Political mentor: Chittaranjan Das (“Deshbandhu”).
- Became Mayor of Calcutta in 1923.
- Ideological differences with Gandhi:
  - Bose believed in militant nationalism and immediate independence.
  - Congress, under Gandhi, preferred constitutional struggle and non-violence.
- Bose decided to pursue an independent revolutionary path.

2. ANTI-COMPROMISE CONFERENCE (RAMGARH, MARCH 1940)
- Joint initiative of the Forward Bloc and Kisan Sabha.
- Resolution:
  - Launch worldwide struggle from April 6 (National Week).
  - Demand Indians withdraw support and resources from the Imperialist War.
- Aim: Resist exploitation of Indian resources for British war interests.

3. EVENTS LEADING TO HIS ESCAPE
- July 1940: Arrested for protesting against Holwell monument.
- December 1940: Released, placed under house arrest; began fast.
- January 1941:
  - Escaped house arrest.
  - Traveled to Peshawar disguised as "Ziauddin" with help of Bhagat Ram.
  - Attempted to seek Soviet support; Russia joined Allies in June 1941 → plan failed.

4. BOSE IN GERMANY
- Reached Germany under the alias “Orlando Mazzotta.”
- Created the “Freedom Army” (Mukti Sena) from Indian POWs captured by Germany & Italy.
- Established the Free India Centre in Berlin.
- Popularised the slogan “Jai Hind.”
- Began broadcasts on Berlin Radio motivating Indians.
- Early 1943: Left Germany by submarine → transferred mid-ocean → Japanese submarine → Japan → Singapore.

5. ORIGIN & FIRST PHASE OF INA (MOHAN SINGH)
- Idea originated with Captain Mohan Singh, an Indian officer who refused to retreat with the British in Malaya.
- Japanese handed over Indian POWs to Mohan Singh.
- Rapid recruitment:
  - After fall of Singapore, nearly 40,000 POWs joined.
- Aim:
  - INA to fight only after approval of Congress & Indian people.
- Boost from Quit India Movement (1942).
- Conflict:
  - Mohan Singh disagreed with Japanese over INA’s role.
  - Result: Mohan Singh arrested by Japanese.

6. ROLE OF RAS BEHARI BOSE
- Revolutionary who escaped to Japan (1915); later became Japanese citizen.
- Key contributions:
  - Popularised Indian independence movement in Pan-Asian circles.
  - Founded Indian Club of Tokyo.
  - Lectured against Western imperialism.
- INA transfer:
  - Convened Bangkok Conference.
  - INA placed under Indian Independence League (IIL) chaired by Ras Behari.
- Health declined; died in January 1945.

7. SECOND PHASE OF INA UNDER SUBHASH BOSE
- June 1943: Bose (as “Abid Hussain”) reached Tokyo; met PM Tojo.
- July 1943: Arrived in Singapore; Ras Behari handed over INA + IIL leadership.
- August 25, 1943: Became Supreme Commander of INA.
- October 21, 1943:
  - Provisional Government of Free India formed in Singapore.
  - Ministers included:
    - H.C. Chatterjee – Finance
    - M.A. Aiyar – Broadcasting
    - Lakshmi Swaminathan – Women’s Wing
- Key slogans and actions:
  - “Give me blood, I will give you freedom.”
  - Declared war on Britain & USA.
  - Rani Jhansi Regiment formed (all-women unit).
  - HQ shifted to Rangoon (January 1944).
  - INA marched with the cry: “Chalo Delhi!”

8. INA ACHIEVEMENTS
- November 6, 1943: Japanese handed over Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
  - Renamed:
    - Andaman → Shahid Dweep
    - Nicobar → Swaraj Dweep
- July 6, 1944:
  - Addressed Gandhi as “Father of Nation” via Azad Hind Radio.
- Imphal Campaign:
  - INA battalion under Shah Nawaz joined Japanese offensive.
- Challenges:
  - INA soldiers faced racism, poor rations, forced labour by Japanese → demoralisation.
- March 18, 1944: Reached Indian soil (Burma border).
- April 14, 1944:
  - INA flag hoisted at Moirang (Manipur) by Col. Malik.
  - Massive morale boost.

9. FALL OF INA
- Three months INA administered Moirang.
- Allied counteroffensive overwhelmed Japanese + INA.
- July 18, 1944: Forced withdrawal began.
- Continued retreat till mid-1945.
- August 15, 1945: Japan surrendered.
- INA officially collapsed; soldiers captured.

10. DEATH OF BOSE (AUGUST 18, 1945)
- Reported to have died in an air crash at Taipei (Taiwan).
- Remains controversial in Indian history.
- INA soldiers brought to India and court-martialled.
- Their trial sparked a nationwide mass movement, energising the freedom struggle.

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Subject: Modern History

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