Volume-03 ISSN: 2455-3085 (Online) Issue-12 RESEARCH REVIEW International Journal of Multidisciplinary December -2018 www.rrjournals.com [UGC Listed Journal] Mobilization of Indians for Total War of Independence in South-East Asia Dr. Harkirat Singh Associate Professor, Head, Department of History, Public College, Samana, Punjab (India) ARTICLE DETAILS ABSTRACT Article History The formation of Indian National Army in South East Asia was milestone in Indian freedom Published Online: 10 December 2018 struggle. Subhas Chandra Bose organized the Indian National Army and established the Provisional Government of Azad Hind to mobilize the Indians for the cause i.e. freedom. It Keywords was to be a mass movement of the three million Indians in East Asia, a movement in which Chalo-Delhi, Hindustani, Jai-Hind, every man, woman and child contributed their utmost. The entire movement was to be Azad Hind Fauz. financed and supported by Indians in East Asia. With the mobilized sources S.C. Bose led * the war of liberation against the British at Indo-Burma front. Corresponding Author Email: 73sidhu[at]gmail.com 1. Introduction mobilize all the resources of the Indian people and to lead the The Indian independence movement in South East Asia is fight against the British.” a fascinating and soul-stirring chapter in the history of Indian freedom struggle, which created deep interest and desire in the After S.C. Bose had reorganized the INA and established minds of the Indians to know more and more about it. The the Provisional Government of Azad Hind, he had started purpose of the study is to explore the historical dimensions of working for a Total Mobilization for a Total War with great the Indians who moved to South East Asia, stressing on the vitality, working day and night and knowing no rest or sleep as need to study their contribution to the Indian freedom he was preparing for the last struggle with a view to ensuring movement from outside the country. There is hardly any the solidarity of all Indians in East Asia as well as to have systematic historical research on the topic in an exhaustive support of countries like Japan, Burma, Thailand and Indo- manner. For writing the research paper I have used a variety China for the Indian independence movement. He undertook of original and secondary sources including Indian National an extensive tour of these countries. All the resources of the Army Files, contemporary newspapers and magazine etc. Indian in East Asia, in men, money and material were required for the successful struggle against the British. From the very The countries of South-East Asia with large population of beginning S.C. Bose was calling the Indians for Total Indians had assumed significance in the struggle for freedom Mobilization. of India. A large number of Indians, who left India in the early years of 20th century, went to Japan, China, Malaya, Burma After the declaration of war on Britain, on October 24, and other parts and started revolutionary activities with the 1944 S.C. Bose addressed the audience of 50000 Indian at object to liberate India from the foreign yoke. They established Singapore. The air was rent with lusty shouts of 'Inqilab Indian Independence League and its branches throughout Zindabad', 'Azad Hind Zindabad' and 'Netaji Ki Jai.' The South- East Asia with the objective of trying „utmost for liberty audience of 50,000 rose to its feet, wild cheering broke out fifty of India.‟ 1 The Indian patriots in South-East Asia were waiting thousand throats shouted revolutionary slogans for full fifteen for an opportunity to accelerate Indian independence minutes without a break. The civilian men, women and children movement. At the out broke of Second World War , a section raised both their hands and went on cheering their solemn of Indian leadership came out with an express idea why not to assurance to S.C. Bose. To boost the mass S.C. Bose made seek foreign help for the freedom of the country, particularly the following speech at the mass rally:- from the enemy of the British viz. Japan and Germany. With this thinking Gen. Mohan Singh with other Indians formed the “……………. the Provisional Government having now Indian National Army in September 1942, from among the risen an a natural sequence to the organization of Indian prisoners of war lodged in South-East Asia by the British three millions of Indians in East Asia and the and Indian civilian residents of the region. The first INA was establishment of the powerful Indian National Army, disbanded in December, 1942 after disagreement between even our enemies would have to think twice before Japanese and Gen. Mohan Singh, who came to believe that calling it a propaganda stunt. The present Provisional Japanese was using the INA as a mere propaganda tool. In Government of Azad Hind is not a plaything; it is a 1943, Subhas Chandra Bose reached in East Asia and took solid and powerful body having as its sanction the will over the command of the Indian National Army and of the three millions of Indians united as a granite wall Presidentship of the Indian Independence League. After the by the Indian Independence League and having as its reorganization of the INA, S.C. Bose established the support the Indian National Army…………I would Provisional Government of Azad Hind at Singapore in 1943. once again reiterate that our programme of Total The one of the task of the Provisional Government was “ to Mobilization must be carried out with greater vigor as a sequel to the formation, of our Provisional Government. I would once again repeat my appeal for RRIJM 2015, All Rights Reserved 898 | P a g e Volume-03, Issue-12, December -2018 RESEARCH REVIEW International Journal of Multidisciplinary Men, Money and Materials. It is the duty of the Malaya, Thailand and Burma started women's section. But it Indians in East Asia to see that there is continuous was with the arrival of Subhas Chandra Bose that movement stream of men, money and materials forthcoming till underwent a revolutionary change and gathered a fresh we achieve final victory……..”2 momentum. As early as 9th July 1943, Subhas Chandra Bose asked for men as well women volunteers. He felt that women The finance was main consideration for the Provisional must be ready to share the burden of freedom's battle. "This Government. The average monthly income from this sources, caught the imagination of the Indian women folk" and a before S.C. Bose, was assessed to be Rs. 30,00,000 to Rs. beginning to start a women's Regiment was made, which later 40,00,000. After S.C. Bose's departure it had fallen to down to popularly came to be known as the "Rani Jhansi Regiment.''5 Rs. 15,00,000 to Rs. 20,00,000 which was considered to be very much less to run the Provisional Government. To collect On October 22, 1943, Indians gathered, to celebrate the the fund for Provisional Government a committee called "Netaji Birthday of Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi in Singapore. The Fund Committee"3 was formed, which had following members:- entire audience composed mostly of women, young and old, rose to its feet and broke out into delirious cheering when S.C. 1. Lt. Col. A.C. Chatterji Chairman Bose called upon the Indian women to march shoulder to 2. Civilian Nizami Vice Chairman shoulder with their brothers of the Azad Hind Fauj and be 3. Civilian Butai Vice Chairman ready to lay down their lives on the battlefield for the sake of' 4. Civilian Karim Ghani Secretary 6 India's freedom. On that day Rani of Jhansi Regiment was 5. Civilian S.M. Bashir Joint Secretary officially opened. Subash Chandra Bose inspected the guard of 6. Civilian Baruth Joint Secretary 7. Civilian Dina Nath Member honour presented by an armed unit of the Rani of Jhansi 8. Civilian Khanna Member Regiment, in the company of Capt. Mrs. Lakshmi. On the same 9. Civilian Kalidas Member day S.C. Bose formally opened the training camp for the 10. Civilian Lall Khan Member regiment, and put it incharge of the Secretary of the League for its training.7 Dr. Lakshmi Swaminathan was appointed the first The funds for the movement was obtained by following Commandant of the Regiment. three main ways:- 1. From monthly subscriptions and donations. The opening of the Training Camp of the Rani Jhansi 2. By donations to Netaji Fund. Regiment was a land mark in the history of the Indian 3. Annual registration of members. independence movement in South-East Asia. Women of all castes, creeds and provinces of India joined up. There were The committee was under the Revenue Minister of the Tamils, Telgus, Sikhs, Bangalees, Muslims, Christians and Provisional Government S.N. Sircar. A complete report on the Gurkhas.8 When Subhas Chandra Bose visited Shangahi finance of the Provisional Government was prepared by remarkable enthusiasm was shown. Not only did men enlist as Raghvan. He explained the difficulties, which the Provisional volunteers, but nearly 150 women volunteered for the Rani of Government was facing, related to finances. After a careful Jhansi Regiment.9 They were given training in nursing, social deliberation on the subject it was decided to start a collection service and general welfare works. The military part of the of funds campaign by adopting various methods. The apparent training consisted of drill, weapon training, tactics, map reading function of the committee was to raise funds for the celebration and general subjects. They were trained to use rifles, of Bose's birthday, but the idea behind it was to collect funds bayonets, sub-machine guns, machine guns, revolvers, under this pretence, to replenish the dwindling finances of the grenades, swords, and daggers.