Chapter 9: Subhas Chandra Bose & The INA

Created by Team Vardaan with Powered by

Chapter Overview

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was one of the most dynamic revolutionary leaders of the Indian freedom struggle. Dissatisfied with Gandhi's non-violent methods during World War II, he founded the Forward Bloc in 1939 and later led the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) to launch an armed struggle against British rule from abroad.

1. Subhas Chandra Bose & Congress Politics (1938–1939)

Haripura & Tripura Sessions

1. Haripura Session (1938)

Subhas Chandra Bose was unanimously elected President of the INC. He set up the National Planning Committee (headed by Jawaharlal Nehru) to prepare a blueprint for post-independence economic development through rapid industrialization.

2. Tripura Session (1939) & Rift with Gandhi

Bose stood for re-election in 1939. Mahatma Gandhi supported Pattabhi Sitaramayya. Bose won by 1,580 votes to 1,377. Gandhi declared: "Pattabhi's defeat is my defeat."
Bose proposed giving a 6-month ultimatum to the British government to grant independence, failing which a mass struggle would be launched. Gandhi and the Working Committee opposed this. Unable to form an executive committee due to ideological differences, Bose resigned as Congress President in April 1939 (replaced by Dr. Rajendra Prasad).

2. Formation and Objectives of the Forward Bloc (May 1939)

Forward Bloc Aims

After resigning from the INC Presidency, Netaji founded the Forward Bloc on 3 May 1939 as a left-wing radical faction within the Congress.

Main Objectives:

To liberate India from British imperialism through revolutionary mass action.
To rally all left-wing and radical socialist elements inside the national movement under one platform.
To establish a socialist state in post-independence India.
To reorganize agricultural and industrial economy on socialist lines, including abolition of zamindari system.

3. The Indian National Army (INA / Azad Hind Fauj)

Origin and Organization

Genesis of INA

Captain Mohan Singh The idea of creating an Indian army out of Indian soldiers of the British Indian Army captured by Japan was first conceived by Captain Mohan Singh in Malaya in 1941.
Rash Behari Bose Veteran revolutionary Rash Behari Bose organized the Indian Independence League at Tokyo (March 1942) and Bangkok (June 1942) and invited Netaji to assume command.

Netaji's Leadership & Provisional Government (1943)

Azad Hind Government

Bose made a thrilling escape from house arrest in Calcutta (January 1941), reached Germany, met Hitler, and traveled by submarine to Singapore in July 1943.

Provisional Government of Free India: Formed by Netaji on 21 October 1943 at Singapore. Recognized by 9 Axis nations (including Japan, Germany, Italy).
Historic Slogans:
- "Jai Hind" (Victory to India)
- "Dilli Chalo" (March to Delhi)
- "Give me blood, and I will give you freedom!"
INA Motto: Unity, Faith, Sacrifice (Ittehad, Etmad, Qurbani).
Regiments of INA: Gandhi Regiment, Nehru Regiment, Azad Regiment, and the pioneering all-female combat unit — Rani of Jhansi Regiment led by Captain Lakshmi Swaminathan (Sahgal).

Military Campaigns & INA Trials

Military Struggle & Impact

Imphal & Kohima Campaign (1944): The INA along with Japanese forces advanced into Indian territory, hoisting the Tricolour at Moirang in Manipur. Japan handed over Andaman & Nicobar Islands to Netaji, who renamed them Shaheed (Martyr) and Swaraj (Self-Rule) islands. However, bad monsoon, supply failure, and Japan's defeat forced the INA to retreat.

Red Fort Trials (1945–46): The British put three INA officers — Major General Shah Nawaz Khan, Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, and Colonel Prem Sahgal — on trial at Red Fort, Delhi. Top Congress lawyers (Bhulabhai Desai, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru) defended them. Public outcry was so intense that the Commander-in-Chief was forced to remit their sentences. The trials triggered the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) Revolt in 1946, convincing the British that Indian armed forces could no longer be trusted to maintain empire.