Commemorating the Formation of Azad Hind Government
On October 21, 2018, the 75th anniversary of the formation of the Azad Hind Government was celebrated at the Red Fort in Delhi. This historic day marks the moment when 75 years ago, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, one of India’s most revered freedom fighters, announced the establishment of the provisional government of Azad Hind (also known as Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind). This significant event occurred in occupied Singapore in 1943, a former stronghold of the British Empire.
Supported by the Axis powers – Imperial Japan, Nazi Germany, the Italian Social Republic, and their allies – this provisional government was the centerpiece of Bose’s struggle to free India from British rule amid the turmoil of the Second World War.
The Conviction of Subhash Chandra Bose
In the late 1920s and 1930s, Subhash Chandra Bose emerged as a leader of the radical wing of the Indian National Congress. He was convinced that armed struggle was the only way for India to achieve independence. Despite becoming Congress president in 1938 and 1939, he was eventually ousted due to differences with Mahatma Gandhi and the Congress leadership.
Unifying Indians Abroad
Under his provisional government, Bose succeeded in uniting the Indians living abroad. The Indian National Army (INA) comprised ex-prisoners and thousands of civilian volunteers drawn from the Indian expatriate population in Malaya (now Malaysia) and Burma (now Myanmar).
Bose’s Leadership Roles
In the provisional Azad Hind Government, Bose held multiple positions. He was the head of state, the prime minister, and also the minister for war and foreign affairs. The women’s organization was led by Captain Lakshmi Sahgal, while S A Ayer headed the publicity and propaganda wing. Revolutionary leader Rash Behari Bose was appointed as the supreme advisor.
Formation of the Government in Occupied Territories
The provisional government was also established in the Japanese-occupied Andaman and Nicobar Islands. However, these islands were reoccupied by the British in 1945.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1943 | Formation of Azad Hind Government |
| 1945 | British reoccupy Andaman and Nicobar Islands |
| 1945 | Bose’s death and end of Azad Hind movement |
End of Azad Hind Movement and the Legacy
The demise of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose marked an end to the Azad Hind movement. The Second World War also concluded in 1945 with the defeat of the Axis powers. Despite these events, the existence of the Azad Hind Government conferred greater legitimacy to India’s struggle for independence. Notably, the role of Azad Hind Fauj or the INA was fundamental in providing much-needed momentum to India’s quest for freedom.
