Re-Reading Netaji Subhas in the Context of Imphal Expedition
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ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review Re-Reading Netaji Subhas in the Context of Imphal Expedition Dr. Somarani Chand Call him ‘Desh Nayak’ (Tagore) or ‘Modern sent a long secret report to the German leaders Ulysses’ (Hayashida), an impartial enquiry into entitled “Role of Axis Powers and the Possible Subhas Bose’s achievements can be evaluated in Cooperation of India” where he categorically either of the two ways or both. As a macro study, emphasized the importance of Japan as a this can be done vis-a-vis the belligerent power against the entire scenario of the Indian British. Freedom Struggle; or Ultimately he arrived in microscopically, his singular Japan in 1943 from Europe successes can be seen in their after ninety days of dangerous individual perspectives. The aim sub-marine voyage through the of this paper is to re-read Netaji enemy infested waters to launch Subhas in the context of Imphal expedition of the I.N.A in 1944. his campaign for India’s freedom. Once he reached Giving a slip to the Japan, he showed super human British intelligence hawks, he skill in organising the Indian vanished from the Indian soil in National Army raising the 1941. Proceeding through inferior elements to a northern India and Afghanistan, magnificent stature in South he managed to meet the Axis East Asia, a region under colonial hegemony heroes – Hitler and Mussolini – who were very craving for its own political identity. much convinced with his cause. Even the German foreign ministers Ribbeontrop, Field Marshal The meeting of Subhas Bose with the Romel were prepared to extend their Japanese Premier Tojo on 10 June 1943 is indeed wholehearted cooperation. But Subhas was very significant because after the meeting Netaji aware of the emergence of Japan as a super did not have to look back. Tojo was struck by power in the South East Asian Politics. Just six not only his depth of knowledge and oratory but days after his arrival in Berlin on 9 April 1941, he by his iron will reflected through his eyes and 22 August - 2016 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 granite desire expressed through his voice. Preparatory Committee. A Japanese-Indo- (“Netaji…and Japan”, 100) Burmese military liaison group was formed for A provisional government called Azad facilitating the joint operation of I.N.A and the Hind Government was formed on 21 October, Japanese army. By early March, three divisions under the Japanese 15th Army Command had 1943. As the President, he took the oath saying, been deployed on the left bank of the Chindoween “I swear by God that I will do my best to river. Of these, the 31st division was deployed so emancipate India and its 380 million people. I will as to aim at Kohima, north of Imphal. Lt. Gen. abide by this oath till my death.” (Hayashida, 58) Mutaguchi was in overall charge of the Kohima- With a few days of the formation of this Imphal expedition. provisional government, independent countries It was the desire of Subhas Bose that the like Germany, Croatia, China (Nanking), I.N.A. with its thirty thousand strong infantry and Manchukuo, Burma, Philipines, Italy, Japan and twenty thousand trained volunteers would fight Shyam gave their recognition. As a mark of separately from different areas of the frontier. He friendship, Tojo gave the authority of Andaman wanted the I.N.A to fight in the Arkan regions so and Nicober Islands to the Azad Hind that from there it would spread to Chattagram Government. It was renamed as Independent and (now in Bangladesh) and then to whole of Bengal Swaraj Islands. But due to the unfriendly attitude by guerilla tactics. Then getting local support, they of the Japanese naval authorities, the Azad Hind would rampage airfields, train lines and other Government became master only by name and routes of communication. He had in his mind the not by practice. Yet it was not merely a puppet memories of the Battle of Remu where the government in the Japanese hands as claimed by Burmese army had humiliated the British. the British and their allies – a fact accepted by (Bannerji, 358) the recent Western researchers. (Peter Fey, 260- The accuracy of his plans bore its result 261) during the first phase of the “Operation U”, which Within ten months of the formation of the was the blueprint of the Japanese attack on government a new lease of life was inflicted into Kohima-Imphal where to sidetrack the Britishers, the dry veins of a weak army who were now first attack was made on the Arkan frontiers and prepared to implement the plan and programme the second phase would be Kohima-Imphal annexation. of their leader. On 7 January 1944, the Azad Hind Government proceeded to Rangoon because In the first phase, one battalion of the Netaji had planned to use Burma as a springboard I.N.A. under Major R.C. Raturi occupied the for his military operations in India. He visited Moudak areas with such extraordinary skill that Andaman and Nicober islands where he the Divisional Commander of the British army reiterated his determination to save the region from Gen. Frank Massarvee was disqualified from their age-old humiliation and developed it as an service till September 1944. (Barker, 85) integral part on India. Lt. Col. A.D.Loknathan When Subhas could not get the promised was appointed as the Chairman of Administrative support and assistance from the Japanese chiefs, August - 2016 23 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review he wanted to spread the campaign to the plains BATS meaning Burma Area Turned Spies. The of Assam including Dimapur, because he was well government announced huge rewards to catch aware that once he could reach there his either the JIFCS or the BATS. The government unbounded popularity would automatically also opened a counter movement called accelerate his progress. And Dimapur being a ‘Operation Denial’ to spread anti-I.N.A. central place, there would be no dearth of food information. Pro-British bureaucrats and those and other supplies. Even though Tojo and members of Congress and the Communist Party Mutaguchi had positive attitudes, it could not be who were averse to Subhas Bose on personal worked out in the long run due to the rejection of grounds joined hands with the British government this plan by many of the Japanese officers. Had to make a mockery of the trial of the I.N.A. this plan been implemented, the course of the soldiers at Red Fort. Indian Freedom Struggle could have been different. (Pandit, 246-247) It is evident from contemporary government records that “Operation U” was The stubborn attitude of some of the successful at its initial stage before the Kohima- Japanese officials also astonished the British Imphal expedition so much so that Major Lakshan generals because Dimpur happened to be the feedback area for the British army. The Swarup Mishra was awarded the title Sardar-i- Commander of the British 14th Regiment Lt. Gen. Jung by the Azad Hind government. (Giyan, 115- th W.J.Sleam writes in his book “Defeat unto 116) More surprisingly from 28 March (when st Victory” about the absurd conceptions of the Kohima operation was inaugurated) up to 31 Japanese officials which turned the table for the March, the entire road between Dimapur and British. When the Japanese were unnecessarily Imphal was controlled by the Japanese army and wasting their precious time at Kohima, Sleam the I.N.A. The then Deputy Commissioner immediately brought two platoons of Anglo- Charles Pawsey has mentioned in the official American troops by air and caught the war-torn records that seize of Kohima was unsuccessful I.N.A. soldiers from behind. Netaji’s dream was no doubt, but for a slightest chance Kohima city thus shattered to pieces. proper, market and villages were under their control except the bungalow of the Deputy In spite of the failure of Netaji’s dream, that Subhas Bose had tremendous support from Commissioner as it was a top. (Reports of Charles the general public is evident from the proceedings Pawsey, 1946) The feedback centre of the army of the National Defence Council held at New Delhi was totally detached. If they would have defeated on 1 July 1943 where the I.N.A. soldiers were the battalion, Dimapur would have come under referred to as spies, traitors and fifth columnists. their direct occupation. And from there they would Subhas Bose himself was named as hero of fifth have straight forward entered to plains of Assam, columnists, traitor and Tojo’s dog’ in a report by because by the time sufficient soldiers were not the- then Chief Secretary of Assam, H.G. Denchy. there at Dimapur. (The same report by Pawsey) And Subhas exactly wanted this. In all government, military and intelligence reports, the I.N.A. soldiers were named JIFCS On 8th April, from the general Imperial meaning Japanese Inspired Fifth Columnist Spies headquarters of Japan about the dual attack the and the parachute wing of the I.N.A. was named following declarations were made. 24 August - 2016 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 (i) Our crack troop fighting side by side with Bengal might not have changed the course of I.N.A. captured Kohima early on 6th Indian history overnight. Yet, all said and done, it April. is such rare feats- the likes of Tipu Sultan to (ii) Our attack on the enemy’s airborne Subhas Bose – that make history and are troops in the Kata area is moving along remembered by the gen-next with awe and smoothly.