The INA Trials, held at the Red Fort in 1945-46, were court-martial proceedings against officers of the Indian National Army for treason and other charges. The trials sparked widespread nationalistic fervor, unifying Indians across communities and contributing to the eventual withdrawal of British colonial rule. This article aims to study in detail the INA Trials, their proceedings, and their impact on India’s freedom movement.
Formation of INA
- The INA was established in December 1941 when Captain Mohan Singh, an officer of the Punjab Regiment in the British Indian Army, surrendered to the Japanese in Malaya.
- Alongside Mohan Singh, numerous Indian soldiers were taken as Prisoners of War (POWs) after the British defeat.
- Recognising an opportunity, Major Fuziwara, a Japanese army officer, persuaded Mohan Singh to collaborate for India’s freedom by creating an Indian army with these POWs.
Initial Developments in INA
- The Indian Independence League, a civilian political body, was formed to oversee the army between March and June 1942.
- Rashbehari Bose, a revolutionary who had taken refuge in Japan, was elected president of the League.
- A formal decision to raise the INA was taken, with Captain Mohan Singh as its commander. By the end of 1942, the INA’s strength reached 40,000 soldiers.
- In 1943, Subhas Chandra Bose, who had escaped from India in 1941, was invited to lead the INA. Bose established the Provisional Government of Free India, recognized by eight nations, including Germany and Italy, and assumed the role of Supreme Commander of the INA.
Struggle of INA
- The INA’s struggle began when Japan handed over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration to it in June 1943.
- Bose renamed Shaheed and Swaraj islands and envisioned using them as a base for India’s liberation.
Key Features of INA Struggle
- The INA was organized into three brigades: Gandhi Brigade, Azad Brigade, and Nehru Brigade.
- A women’s regiment, the Rani Jhansi Brigade, commanded by Captain Lakshmi Sehgal, was also established, symbolising a revolutionary step in women’s involvement in armed struggle.
- In 1944, INA regiments marched alongside the Japanese army to enter India through Burma, with a plan to capture Imphal and advance into Assam.
Reasons for INA’s Failure
Despite their valiant efforts, the INA campaign ended in failure due to several reasons:
- Lack of air power and logistical support from the Japanese.
- Disruption of supply lines and poor coordination between Japanese and INA forces.
- The outbreak of the monsoon which hindered troop movements.
- The strong Allied counter-offensive overpowered INA and Japanese forces.
- Breakdown of the chain of command and insufficient resources to sustain the campaign.
- In March 1944, INA troops reached Indian soil but failed to capture Imphal, leading to a retreat. By 1945, after their last attempt at Mount Popa in Burma, over 20,000 INA soldiers surrendered to the British Indian Army.
Role of Women in INA
The INA marked a pivotal moment in the participation of women in India’s national movement.
- Fifteen hundred women from various socio-economic backgrounds volunteered for the Rani Jhansi Brigade.
- Though initially assigned non-combat roles, they earned recognition as combatants during the Imphal campaign of 1945.
- This involvement significantly transitioned from passive resistance to heroic activism, setting a precedent for women’s role in future movements.
INA Trials
- Post-surrender, the British government initiated trials against INA officers, intending to charge them with treason, murder, and conspiracy against the British Crown.
- These trials at the Red Fort became a national spectacle and fueled widespread agitation across India.
Objectives of INA Trials
- To punish treason and prevent future disloyalty in the British Indian Army.
- To reveal INA’s alleged cruelty against British forces to discredit it.
- To control public opinion against the INA and maintain the British Raj’s authority.
Notable Trials and Public Reaction on INA Trials
The first trial involved P.K. Sahgal, G.S. Dhillon, and Shah Nawaz Khan, representing Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh communities. Instead of discrediting the INA, the trials turned them into symbols of patriotism, uniting Indians across religious and political divides.
- Congress Support: The Congress formed a Defence Committee led by leaders like Bhulabhai Desai, Tej Bahadur Sapru, and Jawaharlal Nehru to defend INA soldiers.
- Public Agitation: Massive protests, processions, and strikes took place across India, transforming the trials into a mass movement against British rule.
Anti-INA Trials Agitations
The agitations against INA trials were significant for multiple reasons:
- They united diverse communities across India in a display of communal harmony.
- Protests even reached remote areas like Coorg, Baluchistan, and Assam.
- Government employees and sections of the armed forces, traditional supporters of the British, joined the agitation.
- Public celebrations of INA Week (November 5-11, 1945) and INA Day (November 12, 1945) highlighted national solidarity.
- The agitations forced the British government to remit the sentences of the first batch of INA officers, marking a moral victory for the Indian people.
Significance of INA Struggle
- Unity Across Communities: The INA demonstrated remarkable communal harmony among Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh soldiers, fighting as Indians rather than representatives of specific religions.
- Women’s Empowerment: The Rani Jhansi Brigade symbolized a shift in women’s roles, showing their potential as combatants in the national struggle.
- Overseas Support: The INA received immense contributions from expatriate Indians, highlighting their dedication to India’s freedom.
- Impact on British Confidence: The INA’s campaign shattered the British illusion of Indian soldiers’ unwavering loyalty, undermining a key pillar of their imperial rule.
Critical Analysis of INA
- Demonstrated Indian resilience and determination to fight for independence.
- Inspired a wave of nationalist sentiment, uniting people across the country.
- While visible, communal unity was often organizational rather than intrinsic, as in Captain Abdur Rashid Khan’s case.
- The Congress’s support was sometimes opportunistic, focusing on leveraging the trials for electoral gains in 1946.
Conclusion
The INA’s efforts, despite their military failure, left a lasting legacy. They challenged British colonial authority, inspired mass agitations, and united Indians across diverse backgrounds. The INA trials and subsequent public upheavals played a crucial role in weakening British resolve, contributing significantly to the final push for India’s independence.
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