Study the picture and answer the following questions:

(a) Identify the person in the picture and name the army organised by him. How was this army formed and where?

(b) What were the objectives of this army? Did it achieve its objectives?

(c) Mention this army's contribution to the India's freedom struggle.

(a) The person in the picture is Subhas Chandra Bose.

He organised the Indian National Army.

The idea of the Indian National Army was conceived in Malaya by Mohan Singh, an Indian officer in the British Indian Army.

1. Indian Prisoners of War (POW's) were handed over by the Japanese to Mohan Singh who inducted them into the INA.
2. The fall of Singapore was crucial, for this brought 45,000 Indian POW's into Mohan Singh's sphere of influence.
3. By the end of 1942, forty thousand men expressed their willingness to join the INA.

(b) The main objectives of the INA were as follows-

1. To organise an armed revolution and to fight the British army with modern arms.
2. Since it was not possible for the Indians to organise an armed revolution from their homeland, this task must be assigned to the Indians living abroad, particularly on Indians living in East Asia.
3. To organise a provisional government of Free India in order to mobilise all the forces effectively.
4. Total mobilisation of Indian man-power and money for a total war.
5. The motto of the INA was 'unity, faith, sacrifice'.

Yes, the INA achieved its objectives to some extent.

(c) The Indian National Army's contribution to the India's freedom struggle is as follows-

1. The Revolt of 1942 and the INA had revealed the heroism of the Indians.
2. With the end of the Second World War and release of the national leaders from jail, the people began to look forward to another, perhaps the final struggle for freedom.
3. The INA inspired uprisings in the armed forces of the country.
4. The Indian Naval ratings in Mumbai rose in revolt in February 1946. Similar uprisings took place at Kolkata, Chennai and Karachi. These naval revolts shook the foundation of the British Empire.
5. Demonstrations demanding the release of INA officers were held all over the country.
6. The British Government was at that time in no position to ignore Indian opinion.
7. Even though the court-martial held the INA prisoners guilty, the Government had to set them free.
8. The INA set an inspiring example of patriotism.
9. The heroic deeds and sacrifices of the soldiers of INA led to political consciousness among the Indian forces.
10. The British now realised that they could not rely on the Indian forces to continue their rule in India.