Travel back in time a few months after Japan catapulted into the Second World War on December 7, 1941. For the allies, the red flags were tagged as with lightning speed, Japan dribbled past Malaya, overran Rangoon and took over Singapore. Simultaneously, Germany and allies were dealing shattering blows to enemies of Europe and someone needed to intervene the points on the circle.

Roosevelt and Chiang Kai Shek prevailed upon the British for the Indian scenario and thus was deputed Sir Stafford Cripps to win over the Congress. Cripps promised dominion status and rights of provinces to secede, which was not in line with Congress’s demand for full transfer of power and without any secession. The curtains were drawn leading to Gandhi defining it as a “post-dated check on a crushing bank". The proposal unknowingly did a favour though.

Failure of the mission had a catalytic effect on the mood of the official leadership of the Congress. That perhaps gave rise to the slogans—Quit India and Do or Die. At last Gandhi and Netaji converged. Subhas wanted to take advantage of the war while Gandhi did not. This convergence was the most significant landmark in the march of Indian people to freedom. So, while the Quit India movement was taking small footsteps, Subhas was on the prowl.

Alongside, brothers in the Far East were also involved for the same purpose with Rash Behari Bose starting the Indian Independence League while a branch of the same organisation was established by Swamy Satyanand Puri at Bangkok in 1936. It was in Bangkok that a representative conference of around Eleven Nations was held at the Silapkon Theatre from June 15-23, 1942. To gather impetus, a proper structure of the IIL was also floated headed by a ‘Council of Action’ steered by President Rash Behari and four members comprising of N Raghavan, Captain Mohan Singh, KPK Menon and Col Gillani. There someone gave an idea that a gentleman was lurking around somewhere in Germany and perhaps would be much more dangerous in the Eastern flank.

Point No. 20 of the Bangkok Resolution thus requested “Sjt Subhas Chandra Bose to be kind enough to come to East Asia and appeal to the Imperial Government of Japan to use its good office to obtain the necessary permission from the Govt of Germany to enable Sjt Bose to reach East Asia safely."

The Indians abroad needed a flame to take their political arousal to the next level and destroy the last vestige of the unhappy rule. So, on July 5, 1943, as Netaji announced the arrival of his Azad Hind Fauj to the world, it was as if Singapore was lifted by a magic wand. Courtesy the charisma of Subhas and more importantly, his ability to walk the talk. Next week, he stood upright amongst a crowd of 60,000 of which around 25,000 were women. The outpouring of love there only had the heavy rains to compete. Not a soul moved. Not an umbrella needed. This led Prime Minister Tojo to prophesise that Azad Hind Fauj would be counted in future amongst the greatest of armies. Three days later on the 12th, the women’s wing was established. With blue-bordered sarees and guns above the head in hand, Netaji’s glowing words inspired them from the ardour burning in his own breast.

Eyebrows were raised in some quarters with C in C of the Southern Expeditionary army Count Hisaichi Terauchi, for one, feeling that the Fauj should be left in Singapore and that only espionage and propaganda groups be used in war forms. For Netaji, any liberation secured through Japanese sacrifice was worse than slavery and he would not settle for anything less than INA to be the spearhead. The balance was drawn and the Japanese at last consented to the employment of one INA regiment as a trial. That was the Subhas Brigade under Shah Nawaz Khan.

Subhas Chandra Bose met Premier Tojo and Foreign Minister M Shigemitsu of Japan on July 15, 1943, and conveyed to them his plan, securing the government’s assurance the very next day.........

© News18