Eternal India Encyclopedia

FREEDOM MOVEMENT

Eternal India encyclopedia

(Now we shall have to forget all pleasures and face sorrows for the sake of our country. Oh free Indians, arise and gird up your loins. We shall have to save our land which is being looted by foreigners. - Song of the legionaries ) The German army was to provide the necessary training, staff and facilities to the Legion. Its emblem was the springing tiger which once adorned the flag of Tippu Sultan. Learning about Japan's spectacular victories in South-East Asia, Bose decided to solicit Japan's help for his cause. Bose left Berlin by train for Kiel on February 8, 1943 to board the German submarine B-190. The voyage took nearly three and a half months, Bose being later transferred to the Japanese submarine 1- 29 at a pre-arranged rendezvous, 400 miles SSW of Madagascar. After an uneventful but hazardous voyage, he landed on the west coast of Sumatra, where Col. Yamamoto received him. He then flew to Singapore and from there to Tokyo, to consult the Japanese government and finalise his plans. Japan promised him all aid to expel the British from India and enable India to achieve full independence. On July 5, 1942 in Singapore Bose took over as the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian National Army and addressed his soldiers. Bose then gave the INA its battle cry “Comrades! My soldiers! let your battle cry be 'To Delhi! To Delhi! ” We stand up with Arms in our hands! Our war cry is Delhi Ko! Delhi ko ko... there, there is the Distance... beyond that river, beyond those jungles, beyond those hills, lies the promised land... the soil from which all sprang... the land to which we shall now return. Hark! India is calling ... India's metropolis is calling... 380million of our countrymen are calling.... Blood is calling to Blood.... Get up, we have no time to lose. Take up your arms there in front of you is the road that our pioneers have built. We shall march along that road. We shall carve our way through enemy's ranks or if God wills, we shall die a martyr’s death, and in our- last sleep we shall kiss the road that will bring our army to DELHI. The road to DELHI is the road to Freedom... A5 soldiers you will have to cherish and live upto the three ideals of faithfulness, duty and sacrifice. Provisional Government of Free India

Meanwhile the war raged ferociously. The INA took part in the Japanese offensive in the Imphal and Kohima sector.

Soldiers who are always faithful to the nation, who perform their duty under all circumstances and who are prepared to sacrifice their lives are INVINCIBLE. Conduct yourself that your countrymen may bless you and posterity may be proud of you. I assure you that I shall be with you in darkness and sunshine, in sorrow and in joy, in suffering and in victory’. For the present I can offer nothing except hun- ger, thirst, forced marches and death.. But if you follow me in life and death... as I am confident that you will.... I shall lead you to victory and freedom. ” A provisional government of Free India was formed. Subhas took the oath : “ In the name of God, I take this sacred oath that to liberate India and 38 crores of my countrymen, I, Subhas Chandra Bose, will continue this sacred war of freedom till the last breath of my life...”

PROVISIONAL AZAD HIND GOVERNMENT

Declares war on Britain and U.S.A

“The Syonan Sinbun ” 24, Oct, 1943

The battle was one of the most prolonged and hard fought battles of the Second World War, and it ultimately proved catastrophic for the Japanese Armyin South East Asia. The Japanese soldiers fought with their customary bravery and reckless courage. But they were outgeneralled, outgunned and outfought. In June 1944, the battered and exhausted Japa- nese army started its disastrous retreat. Fifty thousand Japanese were killed. In Europe the Allies under the Americans and the Soviet Union were driving back the Nazis. In August 1945, Russia declared war on Japan. On August 15,1945 Japan surrendered. Bose left Singapore in a plane bound for Saigon, on August 16,1945. With him were his close associates of the INA. At Saigon he got into a plane bound for an un- known destination (probably Manchuria, China). A few days later his plane was re- ported to have crashed killing Bose. “Future generations would read the amazing story of his life with pride and reverence, and salute him as one of the great heroes who heralded India's dawn. ” - Dr. S. Radhakrishnan With his death, the curtain finally dropped on the provisional government of Free India and the Indian National Army.

FREE INDIA GOVERNMENT FORMED Bose made head of Provisional Administration.

Tribune... Manila

Meanwhile Japan's Prime Minister, made the historic declaration at the Assembly of Greater East Asiatic Nations' in Tokyo on 6th November, 1943 .... that the Andaman and Nicobar islands would be transferred to the Provisional Government of Azad Hindustan. It was renamed by Bose as 'Shahid and 'Swaraj islands' respectively.