Indian National Army (INA) / Azad Hind Fauj

 Okay, here are the notes from the lecture on the Indian National Army (INA), covering the key points mentioned by the speaker:

Topic: Indian National Army (INA) / Azad Hind Fauj

Context:

• Follows the discussion of the Quit India Movement (QIM).

• QIM was the last major movement led by Gandhi.

• The lecture positions INA as one of the final two major steps/factors leading to India's independence (the other being Revolutionary Activities, specifically mentioning Bhagat Singh).

• The speaker frames the freedom struggle in terms of "7 steps," with 5 already covered.

Key Figures in INA's Story:

1. Captain Mohan Singh: Initial founder.

2. Rash Behari Bose: Revolutionary leader, organizer in Japan.

3. Subhas Chandra Bose (Netaji): Supreme Commander, revitalized the INA.

Formation of INA - Phase 1 (Mohan Singh):

1. Background (WWII):

   • WWII started on Sep 1, 1939.

   • Viceroy Linlithgow declared India a participant on Sep 3, 1939, without consulting Indian leaders.

   • British Indian troops were sent to Southeast Asia (Malaya, Burma, Singapore, etc.).

   • Japan, allied with Germany & Italy (Axis powers), fought against Britain (Allies).

   • Japan rapidly conquered British territories in SE Asia.

2. Role of Major Fujiwara (Japan):

   • Japanese intelligence officer.

   • Met Captain Mohan Singh (an officer in the British Indian Army captured in Malaya).

   • Encouraged Mohan Singh to raise an army from Indian Prisoners of War (POWs) to fight against the British for India's freedom.

3. Mohan Singh's Initiative:

   • The idea for the INA originated in Malaya.

   • Mohan Singh formed the first INA in Singapore in 1942, primarily with Indian POWs handed over by the Japanese.

4. Challenges & Dissolution:

   • Mohan Singh grew suspicious of Japanese intentions, fearing they wanted to replace British rule with their own.

   • Differences arose between Mohan Singh and the Japanese military command.

   • Mohan Singh ordered the dissolution of the first INA and was subsequently arrested by the Japanese. His attempt failed.

Role of Rash Behari Bose:

• A veteran revolutionary (involved in the 1912 Hardinge Bomb case in Delhi).

• Had escaped India and was living in exile in Japan since 1915.

• Organized Indians living in Southeast Asia.

• Established the Indian Independence League (IIL).

• Held conferences in Tokyo and Bangkok (1942) to consolidate efforts.

• Recognized the need for a dynamic leader and invited Subhas Chandra Bose to lead the movement.

• Became elderly and handed over the leadership of the IIL and the revived INA to Subhas Chandra Bose.

• (Speaker mentions Rash Behari Bose died in 1945, aged and having fulfilled his role by bringing Netaji).

Subhas Chandra Bose (Netaji) & INA - Phase 2:

1. Early Life & Career:

   • Born: Jan 23, 1897, in Cuttack, Orissa. (Speaker notes 125th anniversary celebrated as Parakram Diwas).

   • Passed the Indian Civil Service (ICS) exam in 1920 (ranked 4th).

   • Resigned from the ICS in 1921 in response to Gandhi's Non-Cooperation Movement (NCM).

   • Joined the Indian National Congress (INC).

   • Political Guru: C.R. Das (Chittaranjan Das).

   • Involved with the Swaraj Party.

   • Elected Mayor of Calcutta (1924) and appointed C.R. Das as CEO.

2. Within Congress:

   • Elected INC President at the Haripura Session (1938, Gujarat). Gandhi initially had reservations but eventually agreed.

   • Established the National Planning Committee during his presidency, with Jawaharlal Nehru as its chairman.

   • Re-elected INC President at the Tripuri Session (1939, MP), defeating Gandhi's preferred candidate, Pattabhi Sitaramayya.

   • Gandhi famously stated, "Pattabhi's defeat is my defeat."

   • Faced opposition from the Gandhi-dominated Congress Working Committee (CWC).

   • Resigned from the INC Presidentship due to ideological differences and lack of support from the CWC.

3. Forward Bloc & Escape:

   • Formed the Forward Bloc in 1940 as a socialist faction/party after leaving the Congress mainstream.

   • Arrested by the British for sedition (related to protests against the Holwell Monument in Calcutta).

   • Placed under house arrest in Calcutta.

   • Made a dramatic escape from house arrest (1941) disguised as a Pathan named Ziauddin, with the help of Bhagat Ram Talwar.

   • Travelled through Peshawar, Kabul (Afghanistan), Russia, and finally reached Germany.

4. Activities Abroad:

   • Met Hitler in Germany. (Speaker recounts the famous anecdote of Bose identifying the real Hitler among doubles).

   • Established Azad Hind Radio in Berlin, broadcasting anti-British messages.

   • Travelled by submarine from Germany to Asia.

5. Taking Command of INA:

   • Arrived in Singapore in 1943.

   • Invited by Rash Behari Bose (at the Bangkok conference of IIL).

   • Took over the leadership of the Indian Independence League and the revived Indian National Army (INA).

   • Renamed/reorganized the INA as Azad Hind Fauj.

   • Established the Provisional Government of Free India (Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind) in Singapore (Oct 1943).

   • Gave the famous slogans "Jai Hind" and "Delhi Chalo".

   • Addressed Mahatma Gandhi as the "Father of the Nation" for the first time via Azad Hind Radio (from Rangoon, 1944).

6. Personal Life Mentioned:

   • Met Emilie Schenkl in Austria while writing his book "The Indian Struggle".

   • Fell in love, married her secretly.

   • Had a daughter named Anita Bose Pfaff.

   • Speaker humorously mentions Bose writing love letters.

Summary Points:

• INA formation was a complex process involving multiple figures and phases.

• Mohan Singh initiated the first INA with Japanese help but it failed due to mistrust.

• Rash Behari Bose provided the organizational framework (IIL) and invited Netaji.

• Subhas Chandra Bose revitalized the movement, formally established Azad Hind Fauj in Singapore (1943), and led its military campaigns.

• The context of WWII and Japanese support was crucial but also problematic.

• Subhas Chandra Bose had significant ideological differences with Gandhi and the mainstream Congress leadership, leading to his departure from the party and eventual alliance with Axis powers.