Indian National Army- 75 Years of India's Independence (Qadam- Qadam- Barahae Ja..I.N.A. Soldier on The March)

Essays in this collection deal with the struggle for freedom which Indians waged in South East Asia. As Major General A.C. Chatterjee, close associate of Subhas Chandra Bose remarks that he has not been able to divulge fully some facts regarding the struggle, which it may be possible to disclose later. Perhaps, this volume echoes his remarks.

Formation of Indian National Army bear the hallmark of the supreme organising ability of Subhas Chandra Bose and which is really unparallel in modern military history of India. Subhas Bose had no military training but could grasp the essentials of strategy and man-management with ease. His unique leadership quality, charismatic and transparent personality and his explanations of the cause to the public all over South-East Asia mesmerized the audience.

In one of his broadcasts Bose reminds his army..."your military and political. responsibilities are increasing day by day and you must be ready to shoulder them competently."

Giving the call for the establishment of a Government for Free India, Netaji said, "It is, therefore, the duty of the Indian Independence League in East Asia, supported by all patriotic Indians at home and abroad, to undertake this task - the task of setting up a Provisional Government of Azad Hind (Free India), and conducting the last fight for freedom, with the help of the Army of Liberation, (Azad Hind Fauj) organised by the League."

Bose wanted to have a free world, where different nations and countries would live in an atmosphere of mutual love and amity.

According to Bose, India's was the mission to fulfil the universal unity of the nations - there is a certain element in the Indian culture which is indispensable for the world, without which the world civilization cannot really flourish.

Prof. Purabi Roy is a retired Professor of Jadavpur University, Kolkata. She has served as member of Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi (2015-2018). She is one of leading scholar in India and the world who is searching for the truth about Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's mysterious death. She was the backbone of the Mukherjee Commission. As a research Professor of the Asiatic Society, she published volumes on Russo-Indian Relations. She is the author of many articles and a remarkable book on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, The search for Netaji: New findings.

Dr. Saradindu Mukherji has taught Modern History at Hansraj College, Delhi University, and for some time, at Delhi University's (P.G.) North and South Campus. He has written on peasants' movements, freedom struggle and other historical aspects. Currently, he is a Member of the Indian Council of Historical Research. He has been a Post Doctoral Research Scholar at the Department of History, Birkbeck College, University of London and a Charles wallace Visiting Fellow at the Centre for Indian Studies, Department of Politics, University of Hull.

I have great pleasure in placing before the reading public the Proceedings of an ICHR's National Seminar under the title of Indian National Army, especially when the entire nation is celebrating 75 years of India's Independence passionately, under AZADI KA AMRIT MAHOTSAV. The present Volume is a great revelation for a part of obliterated history which remained untouched and unchallenged for last 75 years. I consider that this is an unparallel contribution and scholarly presentation from civilians and military desks. The collection of articles reveals an indispensible scrutiny of archival information, narratives and personal experiences and memoirs are unique of their content. As Major General A. C. Chatterji, a close associate of Netaji remarks that he has not been able to divulge fully some facts regarding the struggle, which it may be possible to disclose later. I feel this publication is of that kind which is going to bring new facts and narratives based upon the sources recently sought.

I am grateful to the editors - Prof. Purabi Roy and Dr. Saradindu Mukharji for taking up the task of editing the volume meticulously. At the same time, I appreciate the efforts of Dr. Md. Naushad Ali for assisting the editors in proof-checking and other formalities. I also wish to thanks sincerely to all the contributors of the Volume.

I compliment the officials and staff of the ICHR for extending their services in bringing out this publication with care and attention. My Thanks are also due to Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Director (Journal, Publication & Library), Dr. Omjee Upadhyay, Director (Research & Administration), Dr. Saurabh Kumar Mishra, Dy. Director (Journal) and Shri Nardey Sharma for the sincere efforts they put in during the process of this publication. Last, but not the least, I thank Smt. Lila Devi and Shri Ashok Kumar Pandey of the Agam Kala Prakashan to give their personal to help in bringing out the publication in a neat and presentable format.

Japan's victory over Russia in the 1904-1905 Russo-Japanese war was the first harbinger of Asian resurgence. A new era started and brought about Anglo- Japanese friendship. That victory was hailed with great joy not only by the Japanese but also by the Indians. Indian people looked upon the awakening of Japan with admiration. Japan's 1905 victory strongly influenced the freedom movement of India, which got a new impetus thereafter. The Indian revolutionary Rash Behari Bose set his eyes on Japan, a nation in the Far East that had secured a victory and was expanding its military power for the reconstruction of Asia. Any Indian participating in the struggle for liberating India was bound to be friendly with that country which would support his cause. Japan welcomed the willing revolutionaries and gave shelter to them. As a result Japan not only gave shelter to Rash Behari Bose but also to other Indian revolutionaries and extended her support to their activities.

In 1915, Rash Behari Bose escaped to Japan and established contact with the Black Dragon Society of Mitsuru Toyama. With Toyama's help, Bose could meet the important personalities of Gadar Party (which was formed by the Indians in San Francisco in 1912) living in Japan. Amongst them Bhagwan Singh became a close associate of Rash Behari Bose, Bhagwan Singh was also close to Abani Mukherjee, another revolutionary, who later became one of the eminent figure of Commintern Third International, and spent a lot of time with him. A.H Mohammad Barkatullah a muslim Independence activist, who went from India in 1909 as a teacher of Urdu at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies and Sabharwal was another young Indian revolutionary were two other persons with whom Bhagwan Singh had regular contact In September 1915 Heramba Lal Gupta was sent to Japan by the Berlin Committee of Indians in Germany. These revolutionaries were with the only one vision as to how to liberate India.

To liberate India, Rash Behari Bose was in exile in Japan for twenty five years, and the question of India's Independence always ignited his deep patriotism, which did not want the least. He visited all the South Asian countries and convinced the Indians there that freedom could be obtained only if those living overseas could organize: train, arm themselves and fight for Independence. With Japan's victory over the British Indian territory in South East Asia, Japanese intelligence came in touch with Pritam Singh, an ex-soldier of the Indian army. Through him, the Japanese wanted to make a dent into the Indian Army stationed in asia and win them over.

**Contents and Sample Pages**