Indian National Army in Singapore

rdf:langString Indian National Army in Singapore

rdf:langString In the name of God, in the name of bygone generations who have welded the Indian people into one nation, and in the name of the dead heroes who have bequeathed to us a tradition of heroism and self-sacrifice we call upon the Indian people to rally round our banner and strike for India’s freedom. We call upon them to launch the final struggle against the British and their allies in India and to prosecute that struggle with valour and perseverance and full faith in final victory until the enemy is expelled from Indian soil and the Indian people are once again a Free Nation.

rdf:langString The Indian National Army (INA) was an Indian military wing in Southeast Asia during the World War II, particularly active in Singapore, that was officially formed in April 1942 and disbanded in August 1945. It was formed with the help of the Japanese forces and was made up of roughly about 45 000 Indian prisoner of war (POWs) of British Indian Army, who were captured after the fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942. It was initially formed by Rash Behari Bose who headed it till April 1942 before handing the lead of INA over to Subhas Chandra Bose in 1943. INA was involved in various military operations fighting alongside the Japanese forces and against the British and Allied forces. They are notable for their contributions to the battle fought in Burma, Imphal and Kohima. Following the defeat of the Japanese, the INA was dissolved in August 1945. However, its effects continued to be felt in the Indian Independence Movement. Some scholars believe that the INA acted as a catalyst for the Indian Independence movement. During the INA trials in 1945 and 1946, the nationalistic sentiments aroused by the INA led to the various mutinies in the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) and Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF). Similarly, political parties such as the Indian National Congress have been said to have appropriated the legacy of the INA in order to gain political favour with the general population.