The Indian National Army (INA), also known as the Azad Hind Fauj, was a military organization formed during the Second World War with the aim of securing India’s independence from British rule. It became a symbol of patriotic zeal and inspired the Indian freedom struggle.
Background
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During the Second World War, thousands of Indian soldiers fighting for the British were taken as prisoners of war (POWs) by Japan in Southeast Asia.
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Rash Behari Bose, an Indian revolutionary in Japan, first attempted to organize them into a fighting force in 1942.
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The INA gained real momentum when Subhas Chandra Bose took charge in 1943 after arriving in Singapore.
Formation and Leadership
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First INA (1942): Formed under Mohan Singh with support from Japan but collapsed due to differences.
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Second INA (1943): Revived by Subhas Chandra Bose with greater discipline and organization.
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Bose set up the Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind Government) in October 1943 in Singapore, which was recognized by countries like Japan, Germany, and Italy.
Key Features of the INA
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Slogan: “Give me blood, and I will give you freedom.”
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Organized into divisions and battalions with around 40,000 soldiers at its peak.
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Created a women’s regiment named the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, led by Captain Lakshmi Swaminathan.
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The INA fought alongside Japanese forces in the Imphal and Kohima campaigns (1944), but the advance failed due to supply shortages and Allied resistance.
Impact of INA
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Though militarily unsuccessful, the INA inspired Indians with a new sense of nationalism.
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INA trials (1945–46) at the Red Fort created a massive wave of public sympathy. Leaders like Bhulabhai Desai, Tej Bahadur Sapru, and Jawaharlal Nehru defended INA officers.
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Triggered widespread unrest in the Royal Indian Navy Mutiny (1946) and among soldiers, which alarmed the British.
Contribution
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Showed that Indians were willing to fight with arms against colonial rule.
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Boosted the image of Subhas Chandra Bose as a charismatic leader and patriot.
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Intensified pressure on the British to quit India, as loyalty of Indian armed forces was now uncertain.
Key Takeaway
The INA and Azad Hind Fauj, despite military defeat, became a political and psychological victory for the freedom struggle. It stirred patriotic feelings, weakened British confidence in Indian troops, and accelerated the march toward independence.