Correct Answer - Option 2 : Only C
The Correct answer is Only C.
Indian National Army-
- The Indian National Army (INA) was originally founded by Capt Mohan Singh in Singapore in September 1942 with Japan's Indian Prisoners of war (POWs). Hence statement A is Incorrect.
- This was along with the concept of and with the support of the Indian Independence League, headed by nationalist leader Rash Behari Bose.
- Rash Behari Bose handed over INA to Subhas Chandra Bose. It was revived under the leadership of Subhash Chandra Bose after his arrival in Southeast Asia in 1943.
- The army was declared to be the army of Bose's Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind (the Provisional Government of Free India).
- Under Bose's leadership, the INA drew ex-prisoners and thousands of civilian volunteers from the Indian expatriate population in Malaya (present-day Malaysia) and Burma. Hence statement B is Incorrect.
- This second INA (Bose's INA) fought along with the Imperial Japanese Army against the British and Commonwealth forces in the campaigns in Burma, in Imphal and Kohima, and later against the Burma Campaign of the Allies. Hence statement C is Correct.
- On October 21, 1943, Subhash Bose formed the Provisional Government for Free India at Singapore with H.C. Chatterjee (Finance portfolio), M.A. Aiyar (Broadcasting), Lakshmi Swaminathan (Women Department), etc.
- The famous slogan- “Give me blood, I will give you freedom” was given in Malaya.
- This provisional government declared war on Britain and the United States and was recognised by the Axis powers. Recruits were trained and funds collected for the INA.
- A women’s regiment called the Rani Jhansi Regiment was also formed.
- The INA headquarters was shifted to Rangoon (in Burma) in January 1944, and the army recruits used to march from there with the war cry “Chalo Delhi” on their lips.
- On November 6, 1943, Andaman and Nicobar islands were given by the Japanese army to the INA; the islands were renamed as Shahid Dweep and Swaraj Dweep respectively.
- On July 6, 1944, Subhas Bose addressed Mahatma Gandhi as ‘Father of Nation’- from the Azad Hind Radio (the first person to call Gandhi, ‘Father of Nation’).
- He asked for Gandhi’s blessings for “India’s last war of independence”.
- One INA battalion commanded by Shah Nawaz was allowed to accompany the Japanese Army to the Indo-Burma front and participate in the Imphal campaign.
- However, the Indians received discriminatory treatment from the Japanese, which included being denied rations and arms and being made to do menial work for the Japanese units, and this disgusted and demoralised the INA units.
