{"id":6074,"date":"2026-01-04T11:19:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T05:49:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/?p=6074"},"modified":"2026-01-05T11:20:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T05:50:18","slug":"azad-hind-fauj-and-indian-national-army","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/azad-hind-fauj-and-indian-national-army\/","title":{"rendered":"Azad Hind Fauj and INA Trials &#8211; Red Fort Trials and Naval Mutiny"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The revival of the<strong>\u00a0Indian National Army (INA) or Azad Hind Fauj\u00a0<\/strong>under the leadership of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose constituted a momentous part of India's freedom struggle. During World War II, Bose envisioned leveraging the global turmoil to launch a militant nationalist revolt against British rule in India.<\/p>\r\n<p>The INA emerged as a powerful symbol of India's resolve to fight for independence by any means necessary, including violent confrontation if needed. Its\u00a0<strong>secular nationalist ideology\u00a0<\/strong>bridged religious, regional and ethnic divides, forging a sense of unity against the imperial oppressor. Along with the Quit India Movement, the INA's remarkable saga generated a revolutionary fervour that re-energized the independence movement.<\/p>\r\n<h2>Subhash Chandra Bose and Revolt against British Rule<\/h2>\r\n<p>Subhash Chandra Bose, a leader of the <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/foundation-of-indian-national-congress\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Indian National Congress<\/strong><\/a>, advocated uncompromising and militant resistance against the British instead of moderation or compromise with the colonial regime.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Bose escaped British house arrest in Calcutta in January 1941 and travelled to Germany\u00a0<strong>to seek Hitler's support<\/strong>\u00a0in forming an Indian army to fight the British.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>With the\u00a0<strong>Nazi regime<\/strong>\u00a0focused on Europe, Bose next moved to\u00a0<strong>Japan,<\/strong>\u00a0which had expanded its imperial interests in South East Asia after attacking Pearl Harbor in December 1941.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Bose envisioned leveraging the World War to mount a nationalist revolt against the British in India through a liberation army raised with\u00a0<strong>Axis support.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li>He rejected\u00a0<strong>race theories,<\/strong>\u00a0considering all Asian peoples as members of one family who should unite to overthrow colonial dominance in Asia.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Indian Independence League under Rash Behari Bose<\/h2>\r\n<p>Rash Behari Bose, a veteran Indian revolutionary living in exile in Japan, headed the<strong>\u00a0Indian Independence League (IIL)<\/strong>. In coordination with Japanese authorities, the IIL sought to nurture anti-colonial nationalism among expatriate Indians to weaken British hold in Asia.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>After the<strong>\u00a0fall of Singapore in February 1942<\/strong>, the IIL formed links with around 45,000 Indian troops who had surrendered to the Japanese after fighting for the British. It urged them to join the freedom struggle.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The IIL provided protection to\u00a0<strong>Indian civilian settlers\u00a0<\/strong>and<strong>\u00a0Prisoners of War (PoWs)\u00a0<\/strong>against Japanese excesses in territories occupied by the Japanese army. These factors helped in mobilising support.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>First INA under Mohan Singh<\/h2>\r\n<p>The<strong>\u00a0first <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/azad-hind-fauj-and-indian-national-army\/\" target=\"_blank\">Indian National Army<\/a> (INA)<\/strong>\u00a0was formed in September 1942 under\u00a0<strong>Captain Mohan Singh.<\/strong>\u00a0It comprised around 12,000 Indian PoWs willing to secure independence from British rule in alliance with Japanese assistance.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Foundation of th\u0435 First INA<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Th\u0435 Japan\u0435s\u0435 sought cooperation with nationalists in Southeast Asia, including Indians, to h\u0435lp th\u0435m in th\u0435ir war \u0435ffort.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Giani Pritam Singh\u00a0<\/strong>of IIL initiated contact with th\u0435 Japan\u0435s\u0435, leading to cooperation.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Captain Mohan Singh<\/strong>\u00a0was task\u0435d with organising an Indian national army using Indian prison\u0435rs of war.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Mohan Singh's l\u0435ad\u0435rship and th\u0435 promis\u0435 of control by Indian offic\u0435rs ralli\u0435d Indian soldi\u0435rs to join th\u0435 INA.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Th\u0435 r\u0435asons for Indian soldi\u0435rs and civilians joining th\u0435 INA includ\u0435d<em><strong>\u00a0nationalism, f\u0435\u0435lings of b\u0435trayal by th\u0435 British, racial discrimination, and f\u0435ar of Japan\u0435s\u0435 atrociti\u0435s.<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\r\n\t<li>However,\u00a0<strong>disagreements and distrust<\/strong>\u00a0arose between Mohan Singh and IIL's Council of Action under Rash Behari Bose over control of the army's leadership and roles.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Conflict also emerged over policies of the Japanese military administration in occupied territories. Mohan Singh\u00a0<strong>refused to provide INA soldiers for Japan's campaign in Burma against the British<\/strong>. This led him to resign and dissolve the first INA by December 1942.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Revival of INA under Subhas Chandra Bose<\/h2>\r\n<p>In July 1943, Bose arrived in Singapore and took leadership of the INA, reshaping it as a nationalist force rather than just supporting Japanese military goals.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>The Azad Hind Fauj, or second INA,<\/strong>\u00a0was formed by unifying the residual soldiers of the first INA with the large influx of Indian civilian volunteers in Southeast Asia electrified by Bose's leadership and call to arms against British oppression.<\/p>\r\n<h3>Structure and Composition of INA<\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Unlike the first INA, which had multiple centres of authority, the second INA, under Bose's leadership, was solely committed to him.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Ethnic and regional loyalties were subsumed under national sentiments through mixed regiments and political training. The practice of naming regiments after nationalist leaders continued, fostering a sense of unity.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The INA was structured into\u00a0<strong>three brigades<\/strong>\u00a0-\u00a0<strong>Gandhi, Azad and\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Nehru<\/strong>. At its peak strength, the INA had around 60,000 troops, including the\u00a0<strong>Rani Jhansi regiment\u00a0<\/strong>comprising\u00a0<strong>women\u00a0<\/strong>soldiers headed by<strong>\u00a0Captain Lakshmi Swaminathan<\/strong>\u00a0(<strong>Lakshmi Sehgal<\/strong>).<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Motivated civilian volunteers from the Indian Independence League were also attached to the INA formations. The soldiers took an\u00a0<strong>oath of loyalty<\/strong>\u00a0to both Netaji and the national cause.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The INA had its<strong>\u00a0own currency, postage stamps and symbols<\/strong>\u00a0portraying a vision of a liberated India.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Subhas Chandra Bose, through the first national army, introduced the Indian tricolour as the national flag and Tagore's song\u00a0<strong>'Jan Gan Man Adhinayak'<\/strong>\u00a0as the national anthem.\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>The INA flag with the\u00a0<strong>springing tiger symbol<\/strong>\u00a0and the motto\u00a0<strong>'Ittefaq, Etemad, Qurbani'<\/strong>\u00a0inspired nationalist sentiment.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li>He also established\u00a0<strong>'Jai Hind'<\/strong>\u00a0as the national greeting, cultivating unity among all Indians regardless of caste and creed.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Military Campaign of INA as Part of Azad Hind Fauj<\/h2>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>The Azad Hind Fauj, led by Subhas Bose, controlled the\u00a0<strong>Andaman islands\u00a0<\/strong>and parts of\u00a0<strong>Manipur\u00a0<\/strong>briefly.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>In 1944,<\/strong>\u00a0the INA attempted to invade India from<strong>\u00a0Imphal and Kohima in Northeast India<\/strong>, moving down the coast toward Burma. However, this campaign ultimately ended in\u00a0<strong>failure<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>However, the\u00a0<strong>defeat of Japan\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0<strong>Germany in <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/world-war-2\/\" target=\"_blank\">World War II<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0dashed its hopes as INA lacked the resources to continue independently. Its major ambition of creating a march on Delhi remained unfulfilled.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>While the INA did not achieve its\u00a0<strong>military objectives<\/strong>, it made significant political strid\u0435s. Bos\u0435's l\u0435ad\u0435rship and th\u0435 INA's commitm\u0435nt to th\u0435 caus\u0435 of Indian ind\u0435p\u0435nd\u0435nc\u0435 inspir\u0435d g\u0435n\u0435rations.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The INA played a pivotal role in building a\u00a0<strong>coll\u0435ctiv\u0435 consciousn\u0435ss\u00a0<\/strong>of Indian identity and th\u0435 d\u0435sir\u0435 for fr\u0435\u0435dom.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>End of World War and Trial of INA Soldiers<\/h2>\r\n<p>After World War II ended in 1945 with the defeat of the Axis powers, the British conducted a\u00a0<strong>series of court-martial proceedings<\/strong>\u00a0known as the\u00a0<strong>INA trials or Red Fort trials\u00a0<\/strong>between November 1945 and May 1946.<\/p>\r\n<p>These trials involved several officers of the Indian National Army (INA) who were charged with various offences, including treason, torture, murder, and abetment to murder, during their association with the INA during World War II.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>Early Trials of INA Personnel:<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li>In 1943 and 1944,\u00a0<strong>courts-martial<\/strong>\u00a0were held in India for former members of the British Indian Army who had joined the INA or supported its activities.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Initially, these trials did not receive much attention or sympathy from the public and were based on charges of\u00a0<strong>\"Committing a civil offence\"<\/strong>\u00a0as per the Indian Army Act and Burma Army Act.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The primary charge in these earlier trials was\u00a0<strong>\"Waging War against the King,<\/strong>\" as per the Indian Penal Code.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Public INA Trials and the Red Fort:<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Due to the increasing number of INA troops captured by Commonwealth forces towards the end of the\u00a0<strong>Burma Campaign<\/strong>, a selective approach was adopted to prosecute those accused of the gravest allegations.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The first notable public trial involved INA officers\u00a0<strong>Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Sahgal, and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Recognising the political significance of these trials, they were conducted at the iconic Red Fort in Delhi, attracting widespread attention.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>INA Defence Committee:<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>The Indian National Congress<\/strong>\u00a0played a crucial role in making the release of these three defendants a significant political issue during the 1945-46 independence agitation.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The<strong>\u00a0INA Defence Committee<\/strong>\u00a0was established by Congress in 1945 to provide legal defence to the accused INA officers.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Besides<strong>\u00a0legal defence<\/strong>, the committee coordinated information about INA troops held captive and arranged relief efforts for them.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Eminent lawyers<\/strong>\u00a0of the time, including Bhulabhai Desai, Asaf Ali, Sharat Chandra Bose, Tej Bahadur Sapru, and Kailash Nath Katju, were part of this committee.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Impact of INA Trials on Nationalist Sentiments<\/h2>\r\n<p>The INA shook the foundations of the British Empire in India. It demonstrated the possibility of a united armed resistance movement transcending religious and ethnic divides in the cause of freedom.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>The\u00a0<strong>Red Fort trials<\/strong>\u00a0introduced many Indians to the INA's role in the fight for independence, generating sympathy for the INA nationwide.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Demonstrations in solidarity<\/strong>\u00a0with the captured troops began to emerge in different parts of India.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The Congress recognised the widespread support for INA soldiers as an opportunity to rekindle\u00a0<strong>enthusiasm for independence<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The INA Defense Committee presented a robust defence, arguing that the actions of the INA troops were within the legal framework of the\u00a0<strong>Indian National Army Act<\/strong>, exempting them from the\u00a0<strong>Indian Penal Code\u00a0<\/strong>and<strong>\u00a0the Indian Army Act<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>In 1946, public pressure led to the release of the soldiers, spurring nationalist sentiments.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The experience and stories of sacrifice also impacted the\u00a0<strong>Royal Indian Navy mutiny in 1946,<\/strong>\u00a0which further weakened British control.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Despite compelling arguments by the defence, the three INA members were found guilty of waging war but were<strong>\u00a0not sentenced to death<\/strong>. Instead, they were dismissed from service and sentenced to transportation for life, which was later remitted.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Upon their release, the three officers were hailed as heroes, and Congress wholeheartedly supported their celebration.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>In response to the explosive situation arising from the INA trial and the growing nationalist sentiments, the British government expedited the idea of transferring power to India.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>To decide the modalities of this transfer, the\u00a0<strong>Cabinet Mission\u00a0<\/strong>was dispatched, marking a crucial step toward India's eventual independence.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The INA showed the possibility of armed resistance against colonial rule. This inspired many later anti-colonial struggles in\u00a0<strong>Asia and Africa.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2>Royal Indian Naval Mutiny<\/h2>\r\n<p>The Royal Indian Navy (RIN) mutiny of 1946, significantly contributed to the anti-colonial struggle in India. The\u00a0<strong>World War II'<\/strong>s impact on Indian soldiers led to the RIN's expansion, including recruits from diverse backgrounds.<\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Serving abroad exposed them to democratic principles, prompting questions about India's colonial status and realising their capabilities.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Post-war challenges<\/strong>\u00a0like demobilisation, unemployment, and British racism led to minor mutinies and labour movements.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Memories of the\u00a0<strong>'Quit India'<\/strong>\u00a0movement and\u00a0<strong>INA trials<\/strong>\u00a0fueled nationalist sentiments and anti-colonial attitudes.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>The mutiny began at\u00a0<strong>HMIS Talwar in Bombay<\/strong>\u00a0on February 18, 1946, when 1,500 ratings demanded better conditions. It spread to other locations, gaining public support and evolving into a call for freedom from British rule.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Ultimately, on February 23, 1946,\u00a0<strong>all ships surrendered,\u00a0<\/strong>leaving a lasting legacy in India's struggle for independence. The RIN mutiny, alongside other movements, weakened British rule in India.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse;width: 81.2209%;height: 225px\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 25px\">\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\" style=\"width: 100.09%;text-align: center;height: 25px\" colspan=\"2\"><strong>Other Related Posts<\/strong><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 25px\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%;text-align: center;height: 25px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/freedom-fighters-of-india\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Freedom Fighters of India<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50.0895%;text-align: center;height: 25px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/pingali-venkkaya\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Pingali Venkayya<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 25px\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%;text-align: center;height: 25px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/subhash-chandra-bose\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Subhash Chandra Bose<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50.0895%;text-align: center;height: 25px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/madan-mohan-malaviya\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Madan Mohan Malviya<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 25px\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%;text-align: center;height: 25px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/forward-bloc\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Forward Bloc<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50.0895%;text-align: center;height: 25px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/dadabhai-naoroji\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Dadabhai Naoroji<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 25px\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%;text-align: center;height: 25px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/azad-hind-fauj-and-indian-national-army\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Azad Hind Fauj<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50.0895%;text-align: center;height: 25px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/gopal-krishna-gokhale\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Gopal Krishna Gokhale<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 25px\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%;text-align: center;height: 25px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/jawaharlal-nehru\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Jawaharlal Nehru<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50.0895%;text-align: center;height: 25px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/surendranath-banerjee\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Surendranath Banerjee<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 25px\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%;text-align: center;height: 25px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/sardar-vallabhbhai-patel\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50.0895%;text-align: center;height: 25px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/rabindranath-tagore\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Rabindranath Tagore<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 25px\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%;text-align: center;height: 25px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/sarojini-naidu\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Sarojini Naidu<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50.0895%;text-align: center;height: 25px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/acharya-vinoba-bhave\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Acharya Vinoba Bhave<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 25px\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%;text-align: center;height: 25px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/bhikaji-cama\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Madam Bhikaji Cama<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50.0895%;text-align: center;height: 25px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/sarvodaya-movement\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Sarvodaya Movement<\/strong><\/a><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Indian National Army was led by Netaji Subhas Bose during India&#8217;s struggle for freedom. This article delves into reasons of its defeat and the ensuing contentious trials.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":8418,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[239],"tags":[758,40],"class_list":{"0":"post-6074","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-quest-level-4","8":"tag-azad-hind-fauj-and-ina-trials","9":"tag-quest"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6074","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6074"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6074\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18707,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6074\/revisions\/18707"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8418"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6074"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6074"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}