Political Development of Indians During the Japanese Occupation in Malaya (Malaysia), 1941-1945 Ganesan Shanmugavelu and Balakrishnan Parasuraman
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Vol 5, Number 6, June 2019 ISSN- 2454-3675 June 2019 Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism54 Political Development of Indians During The Japanese Occupation In Malaya (Malaysia), 1941-1945 Ganesan Shanmugavelu and Balakrishnan Parasuraman Research Monograph Series GRFDT Research Monograph 54 , Vol 5, Number 6, June 2019 1 GRFDT Research Monograph Series GRFDT brings out Research Monograph series every month since January 2015. The Research Mono- graph covers current researches on Diaspora and International Migration issues. All the papers pub- lished in this research Monograph series are peer reviewed. There is no restriction in free use of the material in full or parts. However user must duly acknowledge the source. 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Printed, designed & circulated by GRFDT 2 GRFDT Research Monograph 54 , Vol 5, Number 6, June 2019 Vol 5, Number 6, June 2019 ISSN- 2454-3675 Political Development of Indians During The Japanese Occupation In Malaya (Malaysia), 1941-1945 Ganesan Shanmugavelu and Balakrishnan Parasuraman Global Research Forum on Diaspora and Transnationalism K-1/114, First Floor, C R Park, New Delhi-110019, Email: [email protected], Contact: +91-9818602718 Website- www.grfdt.org, Facebook- www.facebook.com/diaspora.transnationalism LinkedIn– www.in.linkedin.com/in/grfdt, Twitter- www.twitter.com/grfdt2012 GRFDT Research Monograph 54 , Vol 5, Number 6, June 2019 3 Abstract This paper looks at the political development of Indians during the Japanese occupation in Malaya. The Japanese Occupation in Malaya from 1941 to 1945 left many political effects in Malaya. The Japanese occupation has left some positive effects on the poltical development of Indians, particularly creating unity among Indians who had previously split up on caste, religion and ethnic differences. This unity is clearly seen through massive involve- ment of Indians in the activities of IIL and INA by supporting Japan. The leadership, reputation and credentials of Subash Chandra Bose also influenced the Indians in Malaya to join IIL and the INA. This political development of Indians is more focused on the development of India and India’s struggle for independence. In addition, there are a handful of Indians joined the anti-Japanese movements such as MPAJA and MPAJU. Keywords: Political, Development, Indians, Japanese Occupation Author(s) Dr.Ganesan Shanmugavelu has completed his Ph.D in Malaysian History entitled ‘Akhbar-Akhbar Tamil dan Pemikiran Tentang Kaum India di Tanah Melayu, 1946 – 1960’ ( Tamil Newspapers and Their Thinking on Indians in Malaya, 1946 – 1960) from the School of Humanities, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang. He has published more than 20 research papers in various national journals in Ma- laysia and also presented his research papers in various national and international conferences. His research interest is on socio-economic and political development of Indians in Malaysia. He works as a senior lecturer with Institute of Teacher Education Ipoh Campus, Malaysia. He can be contacted at E-Mail : [email protected] Dr.Balakrishnan Parasuraman is a Professor of Management / HR / Industrial Relations at Faculty of Entrepreneurship and Business, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) based in Kota Bahru, Kelantan. He obtained his Ph.D ( Industrial Relations / HRM ) from University of Wollongong, Australia. He is a member of the International Honor Societies of the International Employment and Labor Relations Associations (HRA) based in Geneva,Switzerland, Malaysian Institute of HRM and International Em- ployment Relations Association, Sydney, Australia. He was a recipient of the Global HR Award 2009 from the World HRD Advisory Council. He has been a paper presenter in many local and international conferences. Dr.Balakrishnan pioneered in studying joint consultation committee ( labor-management council as used terminology in USA) pograms in companies in Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries. He has published more 200 research papers in refereed journals, books, technical research report and other. He can be contacted at E-Mail : [email protected] or [email protected] Statement: All the views expressed in the paper are of the author(s). 4 GRFDT Research Monograph 54 , Vol 5, Number 6, June 2019 Political Development of Indians During The Japanese Occupation In Malaya (Malaysia), 1941-1945 Ganesan Shanmugavelu & Balakrishnan Parasuraman Introduction support the Independence League and the Japanese. A small number of Malayan Indians joined the Malayan The Japanese Occupation in Malaya (1941 - 1945) Peoples Anti Japanese Army ( M.P.A.J.A) and showed has brought many effects to the local community. The their protest against the Japanese as they view Malaya Japanese have been trying to mobilize local communities as their permanent residence. to play a more important role in the political arena in Malaya . In this regard , the Japanese have paid more Involvement of Indians in the Indian Independence attention to the Indian community in Malaya. The League (IIL) and the Indian National Army (INA) Japanese have used the issue of India’s independence struggle, to stimulate anti-British sentiments among In it’s quest for Indian support, the Japanese have used Indians in Malaya. The aim was to gain support from the influence of the Indian Independence League (IIL) Indians against the British army and its allies in India and the Indian National Army (INA). The general impact and Burma. The Japanese saw the Indians in Malaya of this movement has been noted often in broad terms, and Singapore as a potential fifth column for use against but requires closer analysis if we are to understand the British in India and Burma. (Bedlington ,1978: 64). the effect of the Japanese occupation upon subsequent For Japanese strategic purposes, the Indians were more political developments. ( Stenson, 1980: 91). In this directly politicized than any other group, by means of regard, we must look deeper into the development the Indian Independence League (IIL) and the Indian of IIL and INA to see the impact of the Japanese National Army (INA). occupation on the Indian political developments in Malaya. The Japanese government’s efforts to gain During this period, a significant proportion of the Indian the support of the Indian community can be divided community had been involved with the IIL and its into two stages. In the first stage, the Japanese have military wing the INA. Japanese sponsorship of the IIL used Indian Nationalist influence, Rash Behari Bose and the INA also gave the appearance of unprecedented and second phase through another Indian nationalist, communal solidarity. The dispute between IIL and Subash Chandra Bose. (Chiang Hai Weng, 1976: 121). INA officials and the actions by Japanese is considered The first attempt failed to achieve its original goal the downfall of the pride of INA. For the revival of due to internal disagreement. However, the arrival of the independence movement and to gain the support Subash Chandra Bose, managed to stimulate the spirit of Indians in Malaya, the Japanese need to appoint of nationalism among Indians in Malaya. a new leader. In this regard, Subash Chandra Bose is seen as the suitable leader. After Subash Chandra Since the beginning of its involvement in the Second Bose became the leader of IIL and the INA, he made World War, Japan had voiced it’s propaganda to create an immediate impact on Malayan Indians and under a zone known as the Greater East-Asia Propsperity his inspired leadership, he re-invented the INA and Sphere. (Mahajani , 1973: 141). This idea refers to the popularized the IIL amongst Indians throughout the Japanese effort to unite countries in Southeast Asia Peninsular Malaya. Towards the end of the war, the , Japan , China and Manchuria into an independent Indians in Malaya began to withdraw their support for economic zone under the influence of Japanese politics. IIL and the INA. Besides that, not all Indians in Malaya (Zainal Abidin Wahid, 1970: 98). The Japanese saw the GRFDT Research Monograph 54 , Vol 5, Number 6, June 2019 5 struggle for independence in India as a good opportunity In September