The formation of the Azad Hind Government is commemorated on the 21st of October each year. This eventful day marks the declaration of India’s first self-governing provisional government, renowned as the Azad Hind Government.
The Establishment of the Azad Hind Government
On the 21st of October, 1943, Subhash Chandra Bose publicly declared the establishment of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind (Free India) in Singapore. In this new provisional government, he held the positions of head of state, prime minister, and minister of war.
More than just a symbolic move, this new government allowed Bose to engage in negotiations with the Japanese as a legitimate entity. Furthermore, it aided in mobilizing Indians based in East Asia to join and support the Indian National Army (INA).
Subhash Chandra Bose’s Fight for Independence
Subhash Chandra Bose’s struggle for Indian independence was waged from overseas. He leveraged the breakout of the Second World War (1939-45) as a strategic opportunity to fight for Indian freedom. Despite being placed under house arrest in 1940, Bose skillfully escaped to Berlin on the 28th of March, 1941.
In Berlin, Bose was warmly received and hailed as a leader (Netaji). His arrival was greeted with the patriotic chant ‘Jai Hind’ (Salute to the motherland). By 1942, the Indian Independence League was established and plans were underway to form the INA with the objective of liberating India.
The Formation of the Indian National Army
Subhash Chandra Bose arrived in East Asia on the 13th of June, 1943, on an invitation from Ras Bihari Bose. He was appointed as the president of the Indian Independence League and as the leader of the INA, now colloquially known as the ‘Azad Hind Fauj’.
Originally, the INA was created by Mohan Singh and Japanese Major Iwaichi Fujiwara. It was composed of Indian prisoners of war from the British-Indian Army who had been captured by Japan in the Malayan (modern-day Malaysia) campaign and at Singapore. Post the attempted trial of INA soldiers by the British in November 1945, widespread demonstrations were triggered across India.
Subhash Chandra Bose’s most famous call to arms was ‘Chalo Dilli’ and his rallying promise to Indians was ‘tum mujhe khoon do, main tumhe Azadi dunga’ (You give me blood, I will give you freedom).
Subhash Chandra Bose: A Brief Overview
Subhas Chandra Bose was born on January 23rd, 1897, in Cuttack, Orissa Division, Bengal Province. His birthday is celebrated as ‘Parakram Diwas’. In 1919, he passed the Indian Civil Services examination but resigned later due to his political aspirations. Throughout his life, he drew spiritual guidance from Vivekananda’s teachings and political mentorship from Chittaranjan Das.
Bose took an active role in Congress, advocating for unqualified Swaraj (independence). He even contested and won the presidential elections of the Congress twice, in 1938 and 1939. Owing to ideological differences with Gandhi, however, he later resigned and parted ways with the Congress.
Bose is said to have died in a plane crash in Taiwan in 1945, though several conspiracy theories about his death persist.