Question

Discuss about the formation of Indian National Army and the INA’s fight for Indian’s freedom.

Answer 1

 On 8th July, 1943, the Indian Independence League announced the formation of the Indian National Army popularly known as ‘Azad Hind Fauz’. It was organized by a large number of Indian soldiers who fell prisoners into the Japanese hands in Malaya, Singapore and Burma. A large number of Indian residents in South East Asia joined the INA. He was called Netaji by the soldiers. He gave the call to his soldiers, ‘Give me blood and I shall give you freedom.’ He set up Recruitment and Training Departments as well Training camps were open for men and women.
Subhash Chandra Bose started his military campaign against Britisher and Netaji got support from Japan to make his mission possible. Japan was recognized as one of the nine world powers. Subhash was able to capture Andaman and Nicobar Islands. After that he gave a tough fight to the British forces in Assam Hills. The main objective of the INA was to capture Imphal but failed to seize Imphal because of Japan’s withdrawal of their forces from the Indo-Burma Border because of their entanglement with the Americans in the Pacific Ocean and another reason was the early onset of rainy season. The bombardment of Hiroshima and Nagasaki forced Japan to surrender in 1945. It was believed that Subhash was killed in an aeroplane accident on his way to Tokyo.
The INA failed in its mission but it set an inspiring example of patriotism before the Indian people. The heroic deeds and sacrifices of the soldiers of INA led to political consciousness among the Indian forces. Thus INA played an important role in Britisher’s final decision to quit India.