strategy of subhas chandra bose in the freedom struggle of india with reference to his alliance with

273 Pages·2011·11.41 MB·English

STRATEGY OF SUBHAS CHANDRA BOSE IN THE FREEDOM
STRUGGLE OF INDIA WITH REFERENCE TO HIS ALLIANCE WITH
THE AXIS POWERS (1897-1945)

Thesis submitted to Pondicherry University in partial fulfilment of the
requirements for the award of the degree of

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
IN
HISTORY

By
BITHIN THAKUR

Under the guidance of
Professor VENKATA RAGHOTHAM
Professor & Head, Department of History

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
PONDICHERRY UNIVERSITY
PONDICHERRY
DECEMBER 2011
Professor Venkata Raghotham, Ph.D. (Hawaii)
Professor & Head
Department of History
Pondicherry University
Pondicherry – 605014

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the thesis entitled, “Strategy of Subhas Chandra Bose in the
Freedom Struggle of India with reference to his Alliance with the Axis Powers
(1897-1945)” submitted to Pondicherry University in partial fulfilment of the
requirements for the Award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History is a
record of original research work done by Shri. Bithin Thakur during the period of
his study 2006-2011 in the Department of History, Pondicherry University, under my
supervision and Guidance and that the thesis has not formed the basis for the award of
any Degree/Diploma/Associateship/Fellowship or any other similar titles before.

Place: Pondicherry Guide & Supervisor
Date: 06.12.11 Professor Venkata Raghotham
Bithin Thakur
Ph.D. Student
Department of History
Pondicherry University
Pondicherry – 605014

DECLARATION

I hereby declare that the thesis entitled, “Strategy of Subhas Chandra Bose in the
Freedom Struggle of India with reference to his Alliance with the Axis Powers
(1897-1945)” submitted to Pondicherry University in partial fulfilment of the
requirements for the Award of the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in
HISTORY is a record of original research work done by me, under the supervision
and Guidance of Professor Venkata Raghotham, during the period of my study
2006 - 2011 in the Department of History, Pondicherry University and the thesis has
not formed the basis for the award of any degree/ Diploma/ Associateship/ Fellowship
or any other similar titles before.

Place: Pondicherry Bithin Thakur
Date: 06.12.11
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

My parents and relatives have been a perennial source of inspiration to me throughout
my life. I express my heartfelt thanks to them for their love, support and
encouragement.

I would like to express my immense gratitude to my supervisor, Professor Venkata
Raghotham Professor and Head, Department of History, Pondicherry University for
being academically motivating and considerate in all respects to me from the start to
finish. The last ten years of my association with him has taught me to take academic
life in its proper seriousness. He always remained a great source of inspiration. I
profusely thank him for his valuable suggestions and constructive criticisms at
important junctures, without which I would not have successfully completed my
thesis.

I wish to record my thanks to my doctoral committee members Professor P.
Palanichamy, Professor of Commerce and Professor B.B. Mohanty, Professor & Head
of Sociology for their continuous encouragement and support during the period of my
research.

I take this opportunity to thank Professor T. Subramaniam Naidu, Professor of
Anthropolgy, Pondicherry University for the academic support he extended during his
tenure as Dean, School of Social Sciences and International Studies. I sincerely thank
Professor D. Sambandhan, Dean, School of Social Sciences and International Studies
for all academic support extended during the course of my study.

I would like to thank the faculty members of the Department of History, Professor K.
Rajan, Professor G. Chandhrika, Dr. K Venugopal Reddy, Dr. N Chandramouli, Dr
Mohammed Mustafa and Dr. Paokholal Haokip whose encouragement benefitted me a
lot during the period of my research.
There are several institutions and libraries which I visited during the course of my
study from where I was able to collect source materials related to my thesis. I
sincerely thank all the staff members of the Netaji Research Bureau: Kolkata,
National Library of Calcutta, National Archives of India: New Delhi, Library
Cellular Jail, French Institute: Pondicherry, Teen Murti Bhavan: New Delhi,
Jawaharlal Nehru University Library: New Delhi, Anandaranga Pillai Library:
Pondicherry University and Bharatidashan University Library: Trichy for their
support during the period of my research.

My friends both inside and outside the University have provided constant support
during the course of my study. I want to direct particular acknowledgement to my
friends Manu C. Skaria, T. Divya, Ramesh Kambattan, Yatheesh Kumar, IDM Surya
Kiran, Ajay Harit, Jaya Prathaban and Rajesh Kumar for their wholehearted support
and help. Special thanks to all my friends who had always supported me in my studies
during my stay in the university hostel.

I would like to thank Shri Kaliaperumal, Office Manager and Shri Jagajeevan Ram,
Office Assistant for their support in all official matters in the department. I recollect
with gratitude the help rendered by all those who have been directly or indirectly
involved in the completion of my thesis.

Bithin Thakur
CONTENTS

Acknowledgement
List of abbreviations
Chapters
Page
1. Introduction 1 - 9
2. Ideology and Political Vision of Subhas Chandra Bose in Early Life 10 - 12
2.1 Impact of the Family 12 - 13
2.2 Bose During School Days 14 - 17
2.3 Bose During College Days 17 - 22
2.4 At Cambridge in England 22 - 24
3. Subhas Chandra Bose and The Indian National Congress 24 - 31
3.1 Joins The Indian National Congress 32 - 39
3.2 Life in Mandalay Jail 40 - 59
3.3 Exile in Europe 59 - 61
3.4 Political Activities in Europe 61 - 79
3.5 Back to India 79 - 82
3.6 Gandhi’s Fury 83 - 90
3.7 Forward Bloc 90 - 94
4. Subhas Chandra Bose and His Strategies for Armed Struggle 95
4.1 Decision to Leave India 96 - 97
4.2 Escape From India 97 - 99
4.3 Activities in Kabul 100 - 106
4.4 Bose in Germany 106 - 122
4.5 The Free India Centre in Germany 123 - 137
4.6 Bose meets Hitler 137 - 143
5 Bose’s Armed Struggle in Southeast Asia and the INA Trials 144
5.1 Bose’s U-Boat Journey 144 - 146
5.2 Bose in Japan 147 - 148
5.3 Earlier Developments in Japan regarding Indian Independence 148 - 155
5.3.1 The Formation of INA 155 - 161
5.4 Bose Takes Over The INA 161 - 167
5.4.1 Rani Jhansi Regiment 167 - 173
5.5 South East Asian Conference 173 - 175
5.6 Bose’s Visit to Andaman 175 - 184
5.7 The Free India Provisional Government Moves to Burma 184 - 187
5.8 The Imphal Campaign 188 - 195
5.8.1 Back to Burma 195 - 197
5.8.2 Again at The Mission 198 - 210
5.8.3Defeat in Burma 210 - 213
5.9 Bose’s Last Journey and Death 213 - 215
5.10 INA Trials 215 - 226
6 Conclusion 227 - 238
Maps and Illustrations 239 - 247
Glossary 248
Appendix
Bibliography 249 - 261
Abbreviation

AICC All India Congress Committee
AITUC All India Trade Union Congress
BAA Burma Area Army
BBC British Broadcast Corporation
BNA Burma National Army; successor to the BIA or Burma
Independence Army
BPCC Bengal Provincial Congress Committee
DNB German News Bureau
ECO Emergency Commissioned Officer
FIPG Free India Provisional Government
GHO General Headquarter
GOC General Office in Commanding
GOI Government of India
ICS Indian Civil Service
IGHQ Imperial General Headquarters
IIL Indian Independence League
INA Indian National Army
ISEAS Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
NBTI National Book Trust of India
NCO Non-Commissioned Officer
NRB Netaji Research Bureau
SOE Special Operation Executive
YMA Young Malays Association
CHAPTER I
Introduction

Nationalism has undoubtedly been one of those intriguing processes that have
invoked formidable social and political forces in the world since its first use in the
French Revolution of 1789-1799 as a rallying cry for unity and defence against the
enemies of the La Patrie. The response of the subjugated states in Africa and Asia to
European nationalism and expansion was given full expression in the late nineteenth
and twentieth centuries and culminated in the independence of various countries in
these continents. Even if the European model of nationalism was one of myths and
idealizations, the response that it evoked in colonial-nationalism was even more
complex. One such model of colonial-nationalism that developed in reaction to British
rule could be observed in colonial India in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

The first official contact between the English and the Indian subcontinent
occurred in 1615 when representatives of the East India Company paid their first visit
to the court of the still-powerful Mughal Emperor of India. It was from this footing
that the East India Company established itself as a major economic force in the Indian
subcontinent, later developed into a powerbroker in the rapidly disintegrating Mughal
Empire in the early eighteenth century and finally became the arbiter of the fates of
the post-Mughal states.

The first recorded massive revolt, between indigenous group’s hostile to the
East India Company and its Indian allies, which took place in 1857, is considered by
most of the historians as the first struggle for Indian freedom which actually made a
great sensation among the British. There were only a few states that did not answer to
the Company politically and economically. The Indian National Congress (hereafter
INC or Congress) was formed in 1885. Later, the INC became the main organization
that carried forward the Indian national movement for freedom. In the Congress there
were conflicts between two groups known as the extremists and moderates. The
organization was at its best in the beginning of twentieth century under the leadership
of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (hereafter Gandhi). In 1921, like many others,
Subhas Chandra Bose (hereafter Bose) joined the Congress fascinated by Gandhi and
due to his passion for the liberation of the country. He found that it was not possible
1
to achieve his goal of liberating the country in his own way by being in the INC due
to ideological and radical differences with dominant leaders. This compelled him to
continue his fight from outside the country, seeking help from Germany, Italy and
Russia; in which he was not quite successful. Finally he joined hands with Japan
which helped him in reshaping the Indian National Army and made successful efforts
to enter the North Eastern part of India fighting against the British Army with
Japanese collaboration. But it went in vain due to the defeat of Japan in the Second
World War.

It is to be noted that Bose made a successful effort to gain popularity among
Indian populace and inspired many of the younger generation to follow his path. But
he was considered notorious by the British as he became a real threat for the ruling
British, which was not the case with many other Indian leaders. The narrative and
analysis of the thesis focuses on other pivotal events too; which includes the
declaration of the death of Bose in the alleged plane crash in Taiwan (Formosa) on
18th August 1945 and the trial of Indian National Army personnel. Many of these
events have become fiercely contested grounds between historians. The nationalist
historians have maintained that there existed a monolithic anti-colonialist movement
as exemplified by the INC while others oppose that claim.

This thesis looks at the life and activities of the controversial Indian nationalist
revolutionary leader Bose during the period between 1921 and 1945. Attempts are
made to examine the attitude of Indian political leaders towards Bose and bring
forward the ideological differences between Indian leaders during the freedom
movement that forced Bose to continue his struggle for the country from outside the
country. The thesis argues that it was the activities of Indian revolutionaries like Bose
and their theory of revolutionary violence that the British really feared, as those were
possible forces that could cause serious damage to the stability of the British Empire
in the Indian subcontinent, during a period when the non-violent civil disobedience
style anti-colonial agitation of the INC was in its peak.

The thesis critically analyses the strategy and role played by Bose during the
freedom movement of India in India and abroad. It makes an attempt to examine the
reasons for Germany and Japan supporting the efforts in forming the INA through
2