A TRIBUTE TO NETAJI SUBHASH CHANDRA BOSE ON HIS 115th BITH ANNIVERSARY

Subhash Chandra Bose (1897 –1945)

Subhash Chandra Bose was one of India’s most prominent nationalist leaders who advocated armed struggle as the only way to free India. Born in Bengal, Bose was educated at the universities of Calcutta and Cambridge. He gave up a civil service career in the early 1920s to join the nationalist movement. A popular leader who was imprisoned several times by the British, Bose became President of the INC in 1938. However, political differences with Gandhi led him to resign the following year.

"It is our duty to pay for our liberty with our own blood. The freedom that we shall win through our sacrifice and exertions, we shall be able to preserve with our own strength"

Escape to Germany

In 1940, Bose was imprisoned by the British for his anti-colonial activities. While in prison, Bose went on a hunger strike. The British put him under house arrest. He subsequently escaped to Germany through Afghanistan by pretending to be a deaf-mute Pathan. Bose reached Berlin on 2 April 1941, where he began advocating India’s Independence through radio broadcasts

Arrival in Tokyo

By early 1943, Bose had turned his attention to Southeast Asia. With its large overseas Indian population, Bose recognised that the region was fertile ground for establishing an anti-colonial force to fight the British. In January 1943, the Japanese invited Bose to lead the Indian nationalist movement in East Asia. He accepted and left Germany on 8 February. After a three-month journey by submarine, and a short stop in Singapore, he reached Tokyo on 11 May 1943. In Tokyo, he made a number of radio broadcasts to the Indian communities and exhorted them to join in the fight for India’s Independence.

Military parade of the INA at the Padang on 5 July 1943.

New leadership

Between December 1942 and February 1943, Rash Behari Bose tried but failed to keep the IIL and INA going. Thousands of INA soldiers returned to the status of POWs again and most of the IIL leaders resigned. To save the situation, the Japanese held meetings with the INA leaders and were told only Subhas Chandra Bose could lead the IIL and INA. On 2 July 1943, Subhas Chandra Bose reached Singapore. Two days later, he assumed leadership of the IIL and INA in a ceremony at Cathay Building. With his fiery speeches and charisma, Bose quickly revived the demoralised IIL and INA. The INA, which previously comprised mainly POWs, doubled in strength as local civilians joined. Many Indians who joined – ranging from barristers to plantation workers – had no military experience.

To ensure a well-trained army, Bose established an Officers’ Training School for INA officers and the Azad School for the civilian volunteers. Some 45 youths were also sent to Japan’s Imperial Military Academy for advanced training. The IIL was reorganised to unite the efforts of all its branches in Southeast Asia.

Declaring its Formation

On 21 October 1943, Bose announced the formation of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind (Free India), with himself as the Head of State, Prime Minister and Minister of War.

The Provisional Government not only enabled Bose to negotiate with the Japanese on an equal footing but also facilitated the mobilisation of Indians in East Asia to join and support the INA. Soon after the announcement, the Provisional Government received recognition from various countries.

Bose announcing the Proclamation of the formation of the Provisional Government of 

Azad Hind at Cathay Building, 21 October 1943.

Members of the Cabinet:
Lt Col A C Chatterjee	Minister of Finance
Dr (Capt) Lakshmi Sahgal	Minister of Women’s Organisation
Shri A M Sahay	Secretary with Ministerial Rank
Shri S A Ayer	Minister of Publicity and Propaganda
Lt Col J K Bhonsle	Representative of INA
Lt Col Loganathan	Representative of INA
Lt Col Ehsan Qadir	Representative of INA
Lt Col N S Bhagat	Representative of INA
Lt Col M Z Kiani	Representative of INA
Lt Col Aziz Ahmed	Representative of INA
Lt Col Shah Nawaz Khan	Representative of INA
Lt Col Gulzara Singh	Representative of INA
Rash Behari Bose	Supreme Advisor
Karim Giani	Advisor from Burma
Debnath Das	Advisor from Thailand
Sardar Ishar Singh	Advisor from Thailand
D M Khan	Advisor from Hong Kong
A Yellappa	Advisor from Singapore
A N Sarkar	Advisor from Singapore

Total Mobilisation

“Time has come for three million Indians living in East Asia to mobilise all their available resources including money and manpower. Half-hearted measures will not do. …Out of this total mobilisation I expect at least three hundred thousand soldiers and three crores that is thirty million dollars.” 

Subhash Chandra Bose speaking at the Padang on 9 July 1943.

With the formation of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind, mobilisation of the Indian communities for armed struggle was stepped up. Many Indian civilians from Malaya, Thailand and Burma responded enthusiastically. Others contributed money and gold generously to the INA Fund. The gold came mostly from women who readily gave up their jewellery while wealthy Indian families donated large sums of money after attending Bose’s rallies and meetings. Other forms of contributions included clothing, foodstuffs and other supplies that the INA could use.

By April 1944, the Azad Hind Bank was established in Rangoon to manage the overwhelming donations from the Indian communities.

Subhash Chandra Bose in his uniform as Chief of the INA