Azad Hind Sarkar: Netaji

Azad Hind Sarkar: Netaji

In 1943, Subhas Chandra Bose established the Azad Hind Sarkar (Provisional Government of Free India) during the Second World War. This was a government based in other countries aimed at gaining independence for India from British rule with the Axis powers' assistance especially Japan, and Germany. The headquarters was situated in Singapore, which was under Japanese occupation, and the Indian National Army (INA) which was the military division of this government, focused its endeavors with respect to war activities primarily against the British.

Azad Hind Sarkar: Netaji

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Important Points Concerning the Azad Hind Sarkar:

The Azad Hind Sarkar officially came into existence on the 21st of October in the year 1943. This sovereign government was founded by Subhas Chandra Bose with the aim of fighting for India’s independence during the Second World War. Its operations were mainly based in Japan-occupied regions with Singapore as its busiest office.

Key Details on the Formation:

• Head of Government Subhas Chandra Bose: Commonly addressed as Netaji, Bose was centrally involved in the formation of the government and adopted the official title of Head of State, the Prime Minister, and Commander in Chief of the Indian National Army (INA).
• Support from Axis Powers: The Azad Hind Sarkar received recognition and support from Japan, Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and other Axis nations. Japan had a key role, in providing military and logistical support to Bose's efforts.
• Territory Under Control: Although the government was symbolic in nature, it did manage to exercise control over certain regions of north-eastern India including Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which were temporarily surrendered to the Azad Hind Sarkar by Japan.
• Objective: The Azad Hind Sarkar’s main purpose was also to challenge the British reign over India with their help, more specifically through the Indian National Army (INA), which, by then, had been established by the Indian soldiers captured in the course of the hostilities.

The imposition of Azad Hind Sarkar was a notable turning point in the Indian Nationalist Movement as it showed the readiness to seek alliances with joists in the quest for deliverance. Even though it did not last for long, it was a tool in the Indian struggle for freedom that motivated people for the cause and created tension in the British government after the Second World War.

Structure:

• The Azad Hind Sarkar's ambition of becoming an independent state was highlighted by the establishment of its cabinet, military, and currency. 
• It also made declarations and adopted the national anthem of "Subh Sukh Chain" while the national flag was the Indian tricolor with a tiger drawn on it leaping forward.

The Indian National Army (INA) Contribution:

• The INA was an important component in the military calculus of the Sarkar. Made up of Indian troops who had fought for the British in Southeast Asia, the army attacked Japanese forces in Burma (Myanmar) and northeast India with the Japanese.

Members of the Azad Hind Fauj

Indian National Army was created by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and included some distinguished personalities who were key in building the Azad Hind Fauj. Here are a few of them:

1. Subhas Chandra Bose (Netaji):

• Position: Supreme Commander of the INA and the Head of State of the Azad Hind Sarkar.
• Role: Bose was the visionary leader who restructured than Indian National Army (INA) to fight against the British Rule which had dominated India.

2. Shah Nawaz Khan:

• Position: Lieutenant Colonel.
• Role: Shah Nawaz was one of the senior commanders of the INA and commanded several military engagements, the most prominent being the Burma campaign against the British forces.

3. Captain Lakshmi Sahgal:

• Position: Head of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment.
• Role: The Captain made a noticeable difference in the women’s regiment of the INA in having women attendees and leadership to fighter women units.

4. Prem Kumar Sahgal:

• Position: Officer in the INA.
• Role: After joining the INA Prem Kumar Sahgal held a high rank position and fought in military campaigns in Southeast Asia within the Kapurthala Contingent.

5. General Mohan Singh:

• Position: Original leader of the INA before the advent of Subhas Chandra Bose.
• Role: Mohan Singh was amongst the individuals who were involved in the very first steps of creating the Indian National Army (this happened in 1942) in the period when British Malaya and Singapore were overrun by the Japanese.

6. Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon:

• Position: Colonel.
• Role: Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon was another senior officer of the INA and, together with Shah Nawaz Khan and Prem Kumar Sahgal, took part in the Red Fort trials that were conducted after the war.

7. Rash Behari Bose:

• Position: One of the first supporters and collaborators.
• Role: As an Indian revolutionary, Rash Behari Bose was involved in transferring Subhas Chandra Bose to the INA leadership in 1943 and to a large extent, helped to bring together Indians settled in Japan.

These members of the Azad Hind Fauj were very instrumental to the INA’s struggle to free India, especially during World War II in the campaigns against British colonial powers in Southeast Asia. The Red Fort trials of INA officers stirred the rage of the people of India against British rule which further invigorated the independence struggle

Decline and Legacy:

• The Azad Hind Sarkar suffered a setback after the loss of Japan in the war. By 1945, when the Allies succeeded in Southeast Asia, the INA was already dissolved, and after an alleged plane crash of Bose, his location was no longer certain. However, the actions of the INA helped precipitate a change in the attitude of the British vis-a-vis India’s independence.
• The Azad Hind Administration remains an important part of Indian history as a courageous initiative of Subhas Chandra Bose to free India and continues to be a symbol of India’s fight for freedom.

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Frequently Ask Questions

What does the term Azad Hind Fauj refer to?

In other words, the Azad Hind Fauj which stood for Indian National Army (INA) was organized by Indian patriots in World War II to get rid of British rule over India. It was under the leadership of Subhas Chandra Bose, who had ties with the Japanese during the war.

When was the Azad Hind Fauj established?

The presentation of the Indian National Army (INA) was mooted on two fronts in 1942 by General Mohan Sing, however, this did not take on full shape until the advent of Subhas Chandra Bose in 1943. It was Subash Bose who rebranded the army as the ‘Azad Hind Fauj’ and announced the formation of a provisional government called the Azad Hind Sarkar.

What was the main object of the Azad Hind Fauj?

The primary aim of the INA however was to assist the Japanese and army of the Axis in the Second World War in liberating India from the colonial power of Great Britain. The slogan of ‘Chalo Dilli’ made famous by Bose, defined the objective of the INA in military terms presenting the Indian struggle as one that needed to be fought out.

What is the size of the Azad Hind Fauj?

The INA had estimated numbers of about 40,000 soldiers and most of these were former Indian military personnel who had been taken prisoners of war by the Japanese forces. It also had a ladies' regiment known as the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, headed by Captain Lakshmi Sahgal.

What did the Azad Hind Fauj do after the war?

After the dissolution of the Axis alliances at the close of World War II, the Indian National Army was reconstituted. In Arjuna's case, they remained put — as did several other officers of the INA, for example, Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sahgal, and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, who were later almost semi-heroically tried in the Red Fort trials of British India contributing to the cause of the Indian independence struggle.