Arrival of Bose in Japan 1943

Prior to this conference, an invitation was sent to Subhash Chandra Bose to come to East Asia. After a three-month journey by submarine, and a short stop in Singapore, he reached Tokyo on 11 May 1943, and here, he could get the promise of authorities of Japan to extend all the help to him to expel the British from India and enable India to achieve independence.

• The Indian National Army was initially formed under Capt Mohan Singh Deb with Japanese aid and support after the Fall of Singapore and consisted of approximately 20,000 Indian prisoners of war who were captured either during the Malayan campaign or surrendered at Singapore.
• Mohan Singh Deb had differences with Japanese authorities. The Japanese too were frustrated with him.
• On 29 December 1942, General Mohan Singh Deb was removed from his command and taken into custody by the Japanese military police. Later, after the war, he was given to the British authorities, which repatriated him to India to face the INA trails.
• He was not given any punishment as such and later he became a Rajya Sabha MP when India was ruled by the Congress Government!

  On 15 February 1943, the Army was put under the command of Lt. Col. M.Z. Kiani. He revived the former ranks and badges.

  In July 1943 Subhash went to Singapore and here, he was given the premiership of the Indian Independence League. When in 1943, Subhash took over the command of the Indian National Army, it was almost zenith of his career.

• At this juncture of time, an Officers’ Training School for INA officers was opened under Habib ur Rahman.
• Azad School for the civilian volunteers were set up to provide training to the recruits.
• For the first time in Asia a women’s regiment, the Rani of Jhansi regiment was raised as a combat force, under Captain Laxmi Swaminathan.