History of the Indian National Army
The Indian National Army was established in the year 1942, by the prisoners of war of India in Singapore. They were captured by the Japanese and the Japanese aided them in creating a force of resistance against the British imperial rule. With the help, the Indian Independence League was founded, and the main base was Indian National Army. Mohan Singh, who was a former captain in British Indian Army, called upon prisoners from India to take up the arms against the unjust rule of the Britishers. Over 20,000 members have volunteered and INA was placed under Rash Behari Bose, who was a leading Indian revolutionary.
With the arrival of Subhas Chandra Bose in 1943, he actively revived INA, which was kind of put under pressure in 1942 due to tensions between Indians and knowing the true intentions of the Japanese. In 1944, he successfully convinced the Japanese to help in the invasion of India through Burma and managed to capture Imphal, Arakan, and Kohima. Due to poor supplies and a lack of air support, they had to retreat. Subhas Chandra Bose, popularly known as “Netaji” tried to approach the Soviet Union for help but his plane crashed and as a result, the INA was inflicted with defeats.
Indian National Army and First Phase
The Quit India Movement in India acted as a catalyst for the INA to grow and expand. The first division of INA was founded in 1942, with about 16300 men. Serious disagreements occurred between the Indian army officers which were led by Mohan Singh and the Japanese about various aspects of INA. Japanese wanted a token army but Mohan Singh wanted a bigger army.
Indian National Army and Second Phase
The second phase began with the arrival of Subhas Chandra Bose in Singapore. Before this, however, Subhash arrived in Tokyo and met with the then Prime Minister Tojo. Rashbehari Bose also following failures of his revolutionary zeal, fled to Japan in 1915. He also became involved in Pan-Asian circles.
It was decided at a conference in Bangkok to incorporate INA into the Indian Independence League. When the Japanese approached Subhas to lead INA, he was prepared for the same. He traveled to Singapore and met Rashbehari, who handed the leadership of INA to Subhas in July 1943. On August 25, Subhas was appointed as the Supreme Commander of INA. Subhas Bose formed Provisional Government for Free India in Singapore in October 1943.
Indian National Army
The Indian National Army, which is also known as Azad Hind Fauj; is referred to as an armed force that was founded by the Indian nationalists in the year 1942, with the help of the Imperial Japanese Army; for the attainment of independence for India.