Bose : The End of an Enigma?

[Continued from the last article....]

In Germany, Subhas Chandra Bose met Adolf Hitler and other high-ranking Nazi officials, securing their support for the creation of the Indian Legion (Legion Freies Indien). This unit, largely composed of Indian prisoners of war captured by the Germans in North Africa, was intended to fight against British rule in India. Bose believed that by advancing through the Soviet Union, the Indian Legion could enter British India, sparking a revolution against colonial rule. However, Bose's strategy faced significant challenges. The German high command, though willing to support his cause, prioritized the war in Europe and was reluctant to divert significant resources to his campaign. Furthermore, Hitler himself was skeptical of Bose's plan to invade India via the Soviet Union, as he viewed the British Empire as a potential future ally against the USSR. As Operation Barbarossa (the German invasion of the Soviet Union) progressed, Bose realized that Germany's war efforts were increasingly concentrated on the Eastern Front. His hopes of marching through Soviet territory to India became unrealistic.

By late 1942, recognizing that Germany would not be able to assist in his immediate goal, Bose shifted his focus to Japan, which was advancing rapidly in Southeast Asia and had already captured British territories such as Singapore and Burma. With German and Italian assistance, Bose was transported to Japan in 1943 via submarine, marking a crucial shift in his strategy. Upon arriving in Japan in 1943, Subhas Chandra Bose found a more receptive ally in the Japanese leadership. Unlike Nazi Germany, which had been hesitant to fully commit to his plans, Japan saw Bose as a valuable figure in their Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere - a vision of an Asia free from Western colonial rule (though ultimately under Japanese dominance).

With Japanese backing, Bose took control of the Indian National Army (INA), originally formed in 1942 under Captain Mohan Singh from Indian prisoners of war captured in Singapore and Malaya. Bose reorganized the INA into a disciplined force, instilling nationalist fervor with the slogan "Chalo Dilli” (Onwards to Delhi). On October 21, 1943, Bose formally established the Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind Government) in Singapore. This government was recognized by Axis powers, including Japan, Germany, Italy, and their allies. The Azad Hind Government also had its own currency, postage stamps, and even a national anthem, signifying its aspiration for full sovereignty.

In early 1944, the Indian National Army (INA), alongside the Japanese Imperial Army, launched its offensive into British India through Burma. The INA’s 1st Division, under Major General Shah Nawaz Khan, led the attack on Imphal in Manipur, while another unit advanced towards Kohima in Nagaland. Among those marching towards the frontlines was a soldier in the Gandhi Brigade - my grandfather’s uncle - who, like many of his comrades, carried the dream of a free India in his heart. In April 1944, the INA successfully captured Moirang, where Colonel Shaukat Ali Malik hoisted the Indian tiranga (tricolour), marking the first time Indian forces had reclaimed Indian territory from the British. However, the offensive faced significant challenges, including harsh terrain, supply shortages, and the onset of the monsoon, which severely hampered movement and reinforcements. By mid-1944, the British Indian Army, supported by superior air power and logistics, launched a powerful counteroffensive. The Siege of Imphal and Kohima turned into a disaster for the INA-Japanese forces, as British troops cut off supply lines and inflicted heavy casualties. By July 1944, the INA was forced into a retreat, and by early 1945, with the fall of Rangoon, the INA’s campaign collapsed.

As Japan faced defeat after defeat in 1945, and following the two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States, the Japanese had no choice but to surrender. The INA was left in disarray. The British forces recaptured Burma, and many INA soldiers surrendered. Bose, however, refused to give up and sought a new strategy. He planned to escape to Manchuria, where he hoped to seek Soviet assistance for India's independence. On August 18, 1945, the fateful day came when Bose reportedly died in a plane crash in Taipei, Taiwan, while en route to Manchuria. However, his death remains shrouded in mystery, with multiple theories suggesting that he may have survived and lived in secrecy.

As the INA collapsed, the British arrested thousands of its soldiers, leading to the infamous Red Fort Trials in late 1945, where key officers - Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Sahgal, and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon - were charged with treason. The trials sparked nationwide protests, with widespread public and military dissent forcing the British to reconsider their hold on India. The INA’s sacrifice, coupled with the Royal Indian Navy mutiny of 1946 and mounting civil unrest, made it clear that British rule was unsustainable. By August 15, 1947, India finally achieved independence, with many believing that Bose and the INA’s defiance had accelerated the end of colonial rule.

In one of Shyam Benegal’s films, a biopic based on Bose, Om Puri famously said, “Agar woh na hote aur unke Azad Hind Fauj to Hind na jaane kab aazad hota” (If it weren’t for him and his Azad Hind Fauj, who knows when India would have become free.)

Not the end - but the beginning of a free India ;)