Subhas Chandra Bose and the Azad Hind Fauj (INA)
Subhas Chandra Bose, popularly known as Netaji, was one of the most dynamic leaders of India’s freedom struggle. While the Indian National Congress followed a path of non-violent struggle under Mahatma Gandhi, Bose believed that freedom would not come without armed resistance. He rebuilt the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj), formed a Provisional Government of Free India, and gave the nation the unforgettable slogans ‘Jai Hind’ and ‘Delhi Chalo’. His life and the story of the INA are among the most important topics in Indian history for competitive examinations.
Background and Early Life
Subhas Chandra Bose was born on 23 January 1897 at Cuttack in Orissa (now Odisha). His father, Janakinath Bose, was a well-known lawyer, and his mother was Prabhavati Devi. He was a brilliant student. After completing school, he joined Presidency College, Calcutta. In 1916 he was suspended after the famous Oaten incident, in which he was accused of assaulting a European professor. He later completed his B.A. from Scottish Church College, Calcutta in 1919. In 1919 Bose went to England to prepare for the Indian Civil Service examination. He passed the ICS examination in 1920 with a high rank, but he was not willing to serve the British government. He resigned from the ICS in 1921 and returned to India to join the national movement. This decision showed his deep patriotism and his determination to fight for freedom.
Rise in the Congress and the Forward Bloc
After returning to India, Bose came under the influence of the great nationalist leader Chittaranjan Das (C. R. Das) in Bengal. He joined the Swaraj Party founded by C. R. Das and worked for the Congress in Bengal. He became a prominent leader of the radical wing of the Congress, which demanded complete independence and was ready to use force if necessary. In 1930 he was elected Mayor of Calcutta. He was imprisoned by the British many times for his activities.
Bose’s stature in the Congress grew rapidly. He was elected President of the Indian National Congress in 1938 at the Haripura session. In 1939, at the Tripuri session, he was re-elected President, defeating Pattabhi Sitaramayya, who was supported by Mahatma Gandhi. However, due to serious differences with the Gandhian leadership, Bose resigned from the presidency. In 1939 he formed the Forward Bloc to unite the radical elements and continue the struggle for complete freedom. He also wrote the book ‘The Indian Struggle’, which is an important source on the freedom movement.
Escape to Berlin and the Free India Centre
In 1941, while under house arrest in Calcutta, Bose made a dramatic escape in disguise. He travelled through Afghanistan and reached Berlin in Germany. In Berlin he established the Free India Centre and, with German support, raised the Indian Legion (Azad Hind Legion) from Indian prisoners of war in Europe in 1942. He also met the German leader Adolf Hitler. Since Germany could not help him reach India, Bose decided to move to Japanese-held Asia to continue the struggle.
The INA and Bose’s Leadership
The first Indian National Army was founded by Mohan Singh in 1942 among Indian prisoners of war captured by Japan in Malaya and Singapore. It was dissolved later. In 1943 Bose travelled by submarine from Germany to Asia and arrived in Singapore on 2 July 1943. He then took over the leadership of the INA and reorganised it as the Azad Hind Fauj. Its main aim was to liberate India by armed force and to march to Delhi. The INA grew to about 40,000–50,000 soldiers, assisted by Japan with arms, training and money. Bose also formed the famous Rani of Jhansi Regiment, the women’s wing of the INA, led by Captain Lakshmi Swaminathan (Lakshmi Sahgal). He used Azad Hind Radio to spread his message and set up the Azad Hind Bank to issue currency.
Provisional Government of Free India
On 21 October 1943, Bose proclaimed the Provisional Government of Free India (Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind) in Singapore. He became its Head of State, Prime Minister and Minister of War. The government was recognised by Japan, Germany, Italy, the Philippines, Burma and several other countries. On 30 December 1943, Bose hoisted the Indian tricolour at Port Blair and renamed the Andaman Islands as ‘Shaheed’ (Martyr) and the Nicobar Islands as ‘Swaraj’ (Self-rule).
The Imphal-Kohima Campaign and the Flag at Moirang
In March 1944, the INA and Japanese forces launched the Imphal-Kohima campaign and entered India through Manipur. On 14 April 1944, the INA hoisted the Indian flag at Moirang in Manipur. The campaign, however, failed because of the heavy monsoon, shortage of supplies, disease and Allied air superiority. The INA had to retreat. After the surrender of Japan in 1945, the INA too surrendered.
Death and the INA Trials
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose reportedly died on 18 August 1945 in a plane crash at Taipei (then Taihoku, Taiwan). After the war, the British put INA officers on trial at the Red Fort in Delhi (1945–46). The first three officers tried were Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sahgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon. They were defended by an able committee of lawyers including Bhulabhai Desai, Tej Bahadur Sapru, Jawaharlal Nehru and Asaf Ali. The trials created enormous public sympathy; the accused were seen as patriots, not traitors. In February 1946, the Royal Indian Navy Mutiny in Bombay raised the slogans ‘Jai Hind’ and ‘Inquilab Zindabad’. Together with the INA trials, it convinced the British that they could no longer depend on Indian soldiers, and this contributed to their decision to leave India.
Timeline of Subhas Chandra Bose and the INA
- 23 January 1897: Birth of Subhas Chandra Bose at Cuttack.
- 1920: Passes the ICS examination in England.
- 1921: Resigns from the ICS and returns to India.
- 1930: Elected Mayor of Calcutta.
- 1938: Elected Congress President at the Haripura session.
- 1939: Re-elected at Tripuri, defeating Pattabhi Sitaramayya; forms the Forward Bloc.
- 1941: Escapes from India and reaches Berlin.
- 1942: Free India Centre and Indian Legion in Berlin; first INA founded by Mohan Singh.
- 2 July 1943: Arrives in Singapore; takes over the INA.
- 21 October 1943: Provisional Government of Free India proclaimed.
- 30 December 1943: Andaman and Nicobar renamed Shaheed and Swaraj.
- 14 April 1944: INA hoists the flag at Moirang.
- 1944: Imphal-Kohima campaign fails.
- 18 August 1945: Reported death of Netaji at Taipei.
- 1945–46: INA trials at the Red Fort.
- February 1946: Royal Indian Navy Mutiny.
Main Facts about Subhas Chandra Bose and the INA (Quick Revision Bullets)
- Birth: 23 January 1897, Cuttack, Orissa.
- Parents: Janakinath Bose and Prabhavati Devi.
- Famous book: ‘The Indian Struggle’.
- Resigned: from the ICS in 1921.
- Slogans: ‘Jai Hind’, ‘Delhi Chalo’, ‘Give me blood, I will give you freedom’.
- Congress President: 1938 (Haripura) and 1939 (Tripuri).
- Defeated in 1939: Pattabhi Sitaramayya.
- Forward Bloc: founded in 1939.
- First INA founded: by Mohan Singh in 1942.
- Bose took over INA: in 1943 at Singapore.
- Azad Hind Government: 21 October 1943, Singapore.
- Rani of Jhansi Regiment: led by Lakshmi Swaminathan (Lakshmi Sahgal).
- Flag hoisted at Moirang: 14 April 1944.
- Renamed islands: Andaman as Shaheed, Nicobar as Swaraj.
- Reported death: 18 August 1945, Taipei.
- INA trials: Red Fort, 1945–46.
- First three tried: Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sahgal, Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon.
Important Persons and Terms
- Subhas Chandra Bose: Netaji, leader of the INA and the Azad Hind Government.
- C. R. Das: Bose’s political mentor in Bengal and founder of the Swaraj Party.
- Mohan Singh: founder of the first INA in 1942.
- Lakshmi Swaminathan (Lakshmi Sahgal): leader of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment.
- Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sahgal, Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon: INA officers tried at the Red Fort.
- Bhulabhai Desai and Tej Bahadur Sapru: lawyers who defended the INA officers.
- Pattabhi Sitaramayya: defeated by Bose in the 1939 Congress presidential election.
- Azad Hind Fauj (INA): the Indian National Army of Bose.
- Azad Hind Government: the Provisional Government of Free India.
- Rani of Jhansi Regiment: the women’s regiment of the INA.
- Azad Hind Radio: Bose’s propaganda radio service.
- Azad Hind Bank: issued currency for the Azad Hind Government.
- ‘Delhi Chalo’: the INA’s march towards Delhi.
Why This Topic Matters for Exams
Questions on Subhas Chandra Bose and the INA appear regularly in ADRE, APSC, Assam Police, SSC and Railway examinations. Aspirants must remember dates such as 23 January 1897 (birth), 1941 (escape), 1943 (Azad Hind Government and taking over the INA), 1944 (Imphal-Kohima and Moirang) and 1945 (reported death). The names of the INA founders, the Rani of Jhansi Regiment and the three officers tried at the Red Fort are frequently asked. A clear understanding of the INA’s role in weakening British rule and inspiring the Royal Indian Navy Mutiny is essential.
How to Prepare This Topic
- Learn the biography. Birth, education, ICS resignation and entry into the freedom struggle.
- Learn the Congress phase. Haripura (1938), Tripuri (1939), the defeat of Pattabhi Sitaramayya and the Forward Bloc.
- Learn the INA story. Mohan Singh, Bose’s takeover, the Rani of Jhansi Regiment and the Azad Hind Government.
- Learn the campaign. Imphal-Kohima, Moirang and the reasons for failure.
- Learn the aftermath. The reported death, the Red Fort trials and the Royal Indian Navy Mutiny.
- Revise the timeline. Keep the dates in order to avoid confusion.
Common Exam Traps
- The first INA was founded by Mohan Singh; Bose took over its leadership only in 1943.
- Bose was elected Congress President in 1938 (Haripura) and 1939 (Tripuri); he defeated Pattabhi Sitaramayya in 1939.
- The Azad Hind Government was formed on 21 October 1943 in Singapore, not in India.
- The flag at Moirang was hoisted on 14 April 1944.
- Bose’s reported death was on 18 August 1945, not in 1946.
- The INA trials were held at the Red Fort, and the three first accused were Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sahgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Subhas Chandra Bose born?
Subhas Chandra Bose was born on 23 January 1897 at Cuttack in Orissa (now Odisha). His father was Janakinath Bose, a lawyer, and his mother was Prabhavati Devi.
Why did Bose resign from the ICS?
Bose passed the Indian Civil Service examination in 1920, but he did not wish to serve the British government. He resigned from the ICS in 1921 and returned to India to join the freedom struggle.
What was the Forward Bloc?
The Forward Bloc was a political party formed by Subhas Chandra Bose in 1939, after he resigned from the Congress presidency, to unite the radical nationalists and carry on the struggle for complete freedom.
Who founded the first INA and when did Bose take it over?
The first Indian National Army was founded by Mohan Singh in 1942 among Indian prisoners of war in Malaya and Singapore. Subhas Chandra Bose arrived in Singapore in July 1943 and took over the leadership of the INA.
What was the Rani of Jhansi Regiment?
The Rani of Jhansi Regiment was the women’s regiment of the Azad Hind Fauj, led by Captain Lakshmi Swaminathan (Lakshmi Sahgal). It was one of the few all-women combat units raised during the freedom struggle.
What was the impact of the INA trials and the Royal Indian Navy Mutiny?
The Red Fort trials of INA officers in 1945–46 created huge public sympathy and turned the accused into national heroes. The Royal Indian Navy Mutiny of February 1946 showed that the British could no longer rely on Indian soldiers, and together these events contributed to Britain’s decision to leave India.