Indian National Army

The British lost Singapore, a major British military stronghold in the Battle of Singapore to the Japanese on February 17, 1942, in the Second World War. After the battle, around 45000 Indians, who had been a part of the British Army, were handed over to the Japanese as prisoners of war. However, the Japanese welcomed them and rallied them to support their resistance against the British. This was the start of INA.

The Indian National Army was subsequently revived and taken over by Subhash Chandra Bose, a fervent Indian revolutionary, who believed a violent resistance was the only way towards independence from the British. The INA found its mojo under Bose. With Japanese support, it even managed to capture Imphal, Arakan and Kohima. However, adverse circumstances and low supplies forced them to retreat.

History

The Indian National Army was formed in 1942, by the Indian prisoners of war in Singapore. They were captured by the Japanese. The Japanese aided these prisoners in creating a force of resistance against the British. With their help, the Indian Independence League was formed, with the Indian National Army as its military organ. Mohan Singh, a former captain in the British Indian Army, called upon the Indian prisoners to take arms against the British. The message went through and 20000 members volunteered immediately. INA was placed in command of Rash Behari Bose, an Indian revolutionary. The IIL founded a provincial Indian government based in Singapore. 

In 1942, tensions began to rise between Mohan Singh and the Japanese, who questioned the true intention of the Japanese behind aiding Indians. He was relieved of his duties and Rash Behari also lost popular support. The INA was as good as disbanded.

However, in 1943, the arrival of an Indian revolutionary by the name of Subhash Chandra Bose effectively revived the INA. He took over the reins from Rash Behari and reinstalled faith and boosted the morale of his comrades. In 1944, he even managed to convince the Japanese of helping INA with the invasion of India through Burma. They managed to capture Imphal, Arakan and Kohima. Their progress was halted due to poor supplies and a lack of air support. They were forced to retreat. Many from the INA were captured and others surrendered. The INA had fought bravely, but a large number of its soldiers died in their retreat from diseases and poor supplies. Subhash Chandra Bose, popularly called ‘Netaji’ tried to approach the Soviet Union for help against the British, but his plane crashed over Taiwan and the INA was disbanded.

Structure and Strength of Troops

In most estimates, the size of the INA is estimated to be close to 40000. 

The INA was divided into several ranks and their brigades were named after Gandhi, Nehru, Maulana Azad and Bose himself. There was also an all-female regiment called the Rani Jhansi Regiment, named after the famous Queen Manikarnika, who had resisted the British. 

The INA was mainly composed of Indian prisoners of war, who had been captured by the Japanese. The INA had deployed three battalions of five companies each in the invasion of India, during the Second World War.

The INA headquarters was initially based in Singapore but was later relocated to Rangoon.

Leaders

Mohan Singh

Mohan Singh was a former British Indian Army officer who had become disillusioned by the unfair, unethical, racist and exploitative nature of the British occupation in India. The British used to suspect Indians in their service, the soldiers in the British Indian Army often had to face racism and were very often discriminated against. Mohan Singh founded the INA, after the fall of Singapore to Japanese hands and with the support of the Japanese. However, in 1942, the Japanese removed him from his position as he had begun to suspect their true intentions behind their help.

Rash Behari Bose

Rash Behari Bose, is perhaps the lesser-known Bose among the two leaders of the INA with like surnames. He was an Indian revolutionary, who was residing in Japan at the time of the fall of Singapore. He established the Indian Independence League and was the leader of the first INA, founded by Mohan Singh.

Subhash Chandra Bose

The most famous among the leaders of the INA was undoubtedly Subhash Chandra Bose, affectionately called Netaji by his comrades. He was an Indian revolutionary, who was also a member of the Indian National Congress. He often had conflicts with other Congress leaders regarding the scope of action against the British occupation. He was the first to call Gandhi, the ‘Mahatma’. He was also elected as the Congress president in 1938 and 1939. 

Rash Behari Bose had handed over the reins of the disbanded first INA to him. Subhash reorganised the force and convinced the Japanese of an invasion of India. He gave the slogan “Delhi Chalo” to his comrades.

Major Military Operations

The most important operation the INA was a part of, was undoubtedly its operations in the Indian theatre in the Second World War. The Japanese were initially reluctant to take INA troops with them but Bose convinced them to take a small INA force which was used, much to the frustration of Bose, for secondary operations by the Japanese.

The first and the second battalion of INA, in fact, had fared remarkably well in battle.

The Subhash Brigade was divided into three battalions. The first contingent advanced and was able to successfully capture the banks of Kaladan, which included Paleroa, Doletmai and Mahdek (a British border outpost).

The second and third contingent was given responsibility for the Hafa-Kalan borderline. The INA even advanced to Kohima, after the fall of Imphal. The INA, in total, advanced up to 241 km in the territory of India, before being forced to retreat by logistical issues and Commonwealth forces.

Conclusion

The INA, although it couldn’t secure the whole of Indian territory, did manage to contribute its fair share in the Indian freedom struggle. The Red Fort trials of INA members managed to unite masses of Indians against British rule. The INA is remembered for its exceptional bravery and indomitable spirit in the Indian National Movement.