Azad Hind Fauz

                               
                          The national movement grew even more strong after the formation of the Indian National Army (INA), popularly known as the ‘Azad Hind Fauj’. A pioneering role in its formation was taken by the Indian Independence League, an association formed by Rash Behari Bose. General Mohan Singh was an important leader of this army. The army comprised largely of Indian prisoners of war who were serving under the British and had been captured by the Japanese during the war. Some Indians settled in South-east Asia also joined this army, raising its strength to about forty-five thousand soldiers.

                               In AD 1943, the leadership of Azad Hind Fauj passed into the hands of Subhas Chandra Bose, also called ‘Netaji’. He was a very popular leader especially among the youth. On 21 October 1943, he proclaimed the formation of the Provisional Government of Independent India in Singapore. He went to the Andamans and hoisted the Indian flag there. In AD 1944, the Azad Hind Fauj took part in the attack on the north-eastern parts of India to free the country from British rule. Netaji also took the help of Japan to organize an anti-British revolt. His slogans of ‘Delhi Chalo’ and ‘Jai Hind’ won many supporters to his cause. Women also joined the army in large numbers. A separate women regiment called the Rani Jhansi Regiment was created. It was led by Lakshmi Swaminathan.

                         The Azad Hind Fauj failed to liberate India from British rule. Subhas Chandra Bose was reportedly killed in an air crash. The brave soldiers of the Azad Hind Fauj, however, become national heroes and songs of their bravery were sung throughout the country.

Indian National Army (INA)

                                                         The Indian National Army was an armed force formed by Indian Nationalists in 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II. The aim of the army was to secure Indian independence with Japanese assistance. Initially composed of Indian Prisioners of war captured by Japan in the Malayan campaign and at Singapore, it later drew volunteers from Indian expatarite population in Malaya and Burma. The INA also was at the forefront of women's equality and the formation of a women's regiment, the Rani of Jhansi regiment was formed as an all volunteer women's unit to fight the British occupiers as well as provide medical services to the INA.

                                                      Initially formed in 1942 immediately after the fall of Singapore under Mohan Singh, the first INA collapsed in December that year before it was revived under the leadership of Subhas Chandra Bose in 1943 and proclaimed the army of Bose's Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind (The Provisional Government of Free India). This second INA fought along with theImperial Japanese Army against the British and Commonwealth forces in the campaigns in Burma, Imphal and Kohima, and later, against the successful Burma Campaign of the Allies. The end of the war saw a large number of the troops repatriated to India where some faced trial for treason and became a galvanising point of the Indian Independence Movement..

                                                       The legacy of the INA is controversial given its associations with Imperial Japan, the course of Japanese occupations in Burma, Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia, its alliance with the Axis in Europe, as well as Japanese War crimes and the alleged complicity of the troops of the INA in these. However, after the war, the Red Fort Trials of captured INA officers in India provoked massive public outcries in support of their efforts to fight for Indian independence against the Raj, eventually triggering the Bombay mutinyin the British Indian forces. These events in the twilight of the Raj are accepted by historians to have played a crucial role in its relatively rapid end.

First INA

             Japan and Southeast Asia were major refuges for Indian nationalists living in exile before the start of World War II. Japan had sent intelligence missions, notably under Major Iwaichi Fujiwara, into South Asia even before the start of the war to garner support from the Malayan Sultans, overseas Chinese, the Burmese resistance and the Indian movement. These missions were successful establishing contacts withIndian Nationalists in exile in Thailand and Malaya, supporting the establishment and organisation of the Indian Independence league... 

              At the outbreak of World War II in South East Asia, 70,000 Indian troops were stationed in Malaya. After the start of the war, Japan's spectacular Malayan Campaign had brought under her control considerable numbers of Indian prisioners of War, nearly 55,000 after the Fall of Singapore alone. The conditions of service within the British Indian Army as well as the conditions in Malaya had fed dissension among these troops. From these troops, the First Indian National army was formed under Mohan Singh and received considerable Japanese aid and support.

Desh Prem Divas

                                     India is a country who always recognized the contributions of its freedom fighters, leaders and martyrs. Their birthdays are celebrated as Jayanti, death anniversary as Punyatithi with great passion. Many leaders like Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Mahatma Gandhi, Chadra Shekhar Azad, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose to name a few. 

                                     Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birthday or Netaji Jayanti is celebrated in the light of patriotism and a breeze of love for country as '' Desh Prem Divas'' on 23rd January.

                                     Bose was one of the most prominent leaders of the Indian Independence Movement. He spread the feeling of national integration, sacrifice and communal harmony among the masses...

Origin

             In the course of struggle for freedom Netaji formed Azad Hind Fauz and led the Indian National Army. He advocated a revolutionary and violent way to protest as opposed to non-violent approach by Mahatma Gandhi.

             Following the differences with Mahatma Gandhi he separated from Indian National Congress (INC) and founded his own party on 3rd May 1939 in the name of “All India Forward Block.”

             The party urged the government to announce the birth anniversary as “Desh Prem Divas” and is celebrated throughout the country with passion. The memories of martyrdom, sacrifices and patriotism became afresh. All over India many celebrations happen on this day.

Celebrations

                       Subhash Chandra Bose birth anniversary is celebrated in a grand way among the party members of Forward Bloc. All the district administration and the local civic body also observe Netaji Jayanti. Many N.G.O.s organizes Blood Donation Camps. Schools celebrate the occasion to instill dedication, sincerity and fighting spirit in the students. The schools organize various activities as exhibition, quiz competition, debates, extempore, sports, cultural programs and annual prize distribution ceremony.

Time To Celebrate

                                   Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary is celebrated as Desh Prem Diwas or Netaji Jayanti is celebrated every year on January 23. Netaji Jayanti is observed as a public holiday in the the state of West Bengal.

                                                                          JAI HIND