When the Quit India Movement was gradually losing strength, the fight for India’s freedom continued outside the country under the leadership of Subhash Chandra Bose.
Subhash Chandra Bose had differences with Gandhiji regarding the methods of the Indian National Movement. Because of this, he left Congress and began his own struggle for independence. In 1939, he was arrested by the British Government. However, in 1941, he escaped from India and went to Berlin to seek help from Germany for India’s freedom. Soon, he realised that Germany was not interested in supporting his cause. Therefore, he travelled to Japan to organise an armed struggle against the British with Japanese assistance.
Rash Behari Bose, an Indian revolutionary, had been living in Japan since 1915. He wished to unite Indians for an armed movement against British rule. He gathered Indian soldiers who had been defeated and captured by the Japanese while fighting for the British army. Later, Subhash Chandra Bose was invited to lead this movement. He reached Tokyo in June 1943 and finally arrived in Singapore on July 2, 1943. There, he was given the leadership of the Azad Hind Fauj, also known as the Indian National Army (INA). Subhash Chandra Bose came to be called Netaji and became the supreme commander of the INA. Around 40,000 Indian prisoners of war, held by Japan, were transformed into freedom fighters under his leadership.
Netaji established the Provisional Government of India in Singapore on October 21, 1943. Along with him, A.C. Chatterjee, S.A. Nair, and Mrs. Lakshmi Swaminathan took oath as cabinet ministers. This government declared war against Britain and America.
The Provisional Government was recognised by Japan, Germany, Italy, Nationalist China, Burma, and Thailand. Japan also handed over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to this government, which were renamed Shaheed and Swaraj Islands.
Indians living abroad donated large amounts of money and supplies to support the INA. Netaji gave inspiring slogans like “Jai Hind” and “Dilli Chalo.” His most famous statement was, “Tum Mujhe Khoon Do, Main Tumhen Azadi Doonga” (Give me blood and I will give you freedom). Later, the INA joined the Japanese army in its advance towards India from Burma. They crossed the Indian border on March 18, 1944, and the Indian tricolour flag was hoisted in Kohima (Nagaland).
The INA captured Kohima on March 18, 1944, and the Japanese military praised its bravery and patriotism. However, the INA was forced to retreat because of heavy rains, shortage of supplies, lack of air support, and attacks by American bombers.
In the end, Japan was defeated, and the INA had to surrender. Subhash Chandra Bose and his associate Habib-ur-Rehman managed to escape. It is believed that on their way to Tokyo, their plane crashed, and Subhash Chandra Bose died. This marked the end of the INA’s activities.
