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Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: Key Facts

I. Early Life & Education

• Born: January 23, 1897.
• Birthplace: Cuttack, Odisha.
• Education: Completed studies at Calcutta University in 1919.
• Indian Civil Services: Was accepted into the ICS in 1920.

II. Political Career & The Forward Bloc

• Indian National Congress: Served as President in 1938 and 1939.
• Formation of Forward Bloc:
  • Founded in 1939 after he broke away from the Congress following the Tripuri Crisis.
  • Co-founded with freedom fighter Sheel Bhadra Yajee.
  • Its creation was a result of his disagreement with the Congress leadership.

III. Activities in Europe (1941)

• Free Indian Legion: In Germany, Bose raised an army called the ‘Free Indian Legion’ from Indian POWs.

IV. The Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj)

• Initial Formation (1942):
  • First formed in 1942 by Capt. Mohan Singh (its first commander) with Japanese support.
  • The idea was the brainchild of Giani Pritam Singh and Japanese Major Iwaichi Fujiwara.
  • It was initially the military wing of the Indian Independence League.
• Leadership under Bose (1943):
  • Ras Behari Bose handed over control to Subhas Chandra Bose in July 1943.
  • Bose re-established and led the INA from 1943 onwards.
• Organization & Structure:
  • Headquarters: Situated in Rangoon (now Yangon, Myanmar).
  • Establishment Location: Set up in Singapore (then part of British Malaya).
  • Regiments: Included the Subash Brigade, Nehru Brigade, Gandhi Brigade, and the Rani of Jhansi Regiment (a women’s unit established by Bose).
  • Key Personnel: Prominent officers included Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sehgal, Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, and Rashid Ali.
    • Mohan Singh was an officer of the INA but did not face the Red Fort trials.
    • B.C. Dutta was not associated with the INA.
• Provisional Government:
  • Bose announced the establishment of the Provisional Government of Free India on October 21, 1943.
• Important Day:
  • Azad Hind Fauj Day was observed on November 12, 1945.

V. Slogans and Recognition

• Famous Slogan: “Tum Mujhe Khoon Do, Main Tumhe Azadi Dunga” (You give me blood, and I will give you freedom).
• Greeting: Created the slogan “Jai Hind” as a greeting for the Azad Hind Fauj. It later became a national slogan of India.
• Titles:
  • Rabindranath Tagore gave him the title ‘Desh Nayak’ (National Leader) in 1938 at Shantiniketan.
  • Mahatma Gandhi referred to him as the ‘Patriot of Patriots’.

The INA Red Fort Trials (1945-1946)

Basic Facts

• The famous trials of INA officers were held at the Red Fort in Delhi in 1945.
• The accused officers were charged with treason, murder, and abetment to murder against the British Emperor during World War II.

The Accused

• The first and most famous trial was of Colonel Prem Kumar Sehgal, Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, and Major General Shah Nawaz Khan.
• Rashid Ali was another officer tried and sentenced to seven years imprisonment.

Verdicts and Impact

• Some officers (Sehgal, Dhillon, Khan) were initially given the death penalty.
• The sentences were later commuted due to widespread nationalist protests and public pressure.
• The trials triggered massive country-wide protests against British rule.

Defence of the INA

• The Defence Committee: The Indian National Congress and the Muslim League formed a defence committee of prominent lawyers.
• Key Defence Lawyers:
  • Bhulabhai Desai was the lead advocate heading the defence team.
  • Other notable advocates included Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Dr. Kailash Nath Katju.
  • Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was not among the advocates in the INA trials.

Indian National Congress and World War II

• Stance on Japan: At the Congress Working Committee meeting in Allahabad (April-May 1942), Jawaharlal Nehru secured majority support for a plan of guerilla war against the Japanese.
• This stance was based on India’s unequivocal opposition to Nazism, Fascism, and imperialism.

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