1. Early career and Congress presidencies
- Born at Cuttack in 1897; passed the ICS examination in 1920 and resigned in 1921 to join the national movement; worked with C. R. Das in Bengal.
- Haripura, 1938: Congress President; pressed for a firmer struggle; the National Planning Committee was set up during his term.
- Tripuri, 1939: re-elected, defeating Pattabhi Sitaramayya, who was backed by Gandhi and senior leaders.
| Year | Step |
|---|---|
| 1897 | Born at Cuttack |
| 1920 | Passes the Indian Civil Service examination |
| 1921 | Resigns from the ICS and joins the national movement |
| 1920s–30s | Works with C. R. Das in Bengal; youth and labour leader; imprisoned several times |
| Session | Year | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| Haripura | 1938 | Bose presides; presses for a firmer struggle; National Planning Committee set up |
| Tripuri | 1939 | Re-elected over Pattabhi Sitaramayya; senior leaders do not cooperate; resigns |
Key terms
- Netaji
The title by which Subhas Chandra Bose is popularly remembered.
2. The Tripuri crisis and the Forward Bloc
- Senior leaders who had backed his rival did not cooperate in forming a working committee, and he differed with them on the pace of the struggle; he resigned in 1939.
- Forward Bloc: formed in May 1939, at first within the Congress.
- Objectives (paraphrased): unite all radical and anti-imperialist members; an uncompromising struggle for complete independence; a socialist reorganisation, including ending landlordism; planned development.
| Objective (paraphrased) | What it meant |
|---|---|
| Unite radical and anti-imperialist forces | Bring together members who wanted a bolder struggle |
| Uncompromising struggle for complete independence | No settlement short of full freedom |
| Socialist reorganisation | End landlordism; reorganise agriculture and industry |
| Planned development | Economic planning for a free India |
Key terms
- Forward Bloc
The group formed by Bose in May 1939, at first within the Congress, to unite radical members in a firm struggle for complete independence.
3. Escape and the first INA
- January 1941: escaped from house arrest in Calcutta; through Peshawar and Kabul to Germany, where he organised Indian prisoners of war and broadcast to India.
- 1942: Captain Mohan Singh organised the first INA with Japanese help from Indian prisoners of war captured in Malaya and Singapore.
- The Indian Independence League, led by Rash Behari Bose, gave it a political base among Indians in Southeast Asia.
- Some books credit Rash Behari Bose as founder; explain all three roles.
| Point | Fact |
|---|---|
| Organised by | Captain Mohan Singh |
| Year | 1942 |
| Soldiers | Indian prisoners of war captured by the Japanese in Malaya and Singapore |
| Political base | Indian Independence League (Rash Behari Bose) |
| Reorganised by | Subhas Chandra Bose, 1943 |
Key terms
- Indian Independence League
The organisation of Indians in Southeast Asia, led by Rash Behari Bose, that supported the INA.
4. Bose takes command; the Provisional Government
- 1943: Bose reached Southeast Asia, took over the League and the INA, and reorganised it.
- 21 October 1943: proclaimed the Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind) at Singapore; it was recognised by Japan and several of its allies.
- Units: Gandhi, Nehru and Azad Brigades; the Rani of Jhansi Regiment of women, led by Captain Lakshmi Swaminathan (later Sahgal).
- Slogan: "Delhi Chalo".
- Objectives (paraphrased): free India by armed struggle; a national army above region and religion; win the support of Indians abroad.
Key terms
- Provisional Government of Free India
The government proclaimed by Bose at Singapore on 21 October 1943, with the INA as its army.
5. The campaign of 1944 and the end of the war
- 1944: the INA, with Japanese forces, advanced into the north-east around Imphal and Kohima; its flag was raised at Moirang (Manipur).
- Retreat: supply shortages, disease, the monsoon, and stronger Allied forces with air power.
- August 1945: Japan surrendered; Bose was reported to have died after an air crash at Taipei; the circumstances have been the subject of several inquiries.
| Point | Fact |
|---|---|
| When | 1944 |
| Where | Around Imphal (Manipur) and Kohima; INA flag raised at Moirang |
| With | Japanese forces |
| Result | Retreat |
| Reasons | Supply shortages, disease, the monsoon, stronger Allied forces with air power |
Key terms
- Delhi Chalo
The slogan of the INA, calling its soldiers to march on the capital.
6. The INA trials and Bose's contribution
- Red Fort, Delhi, 1945–46: Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sahgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon tried together; defence included Bhulabhai Desai, Jawaharlal Nehru and Tej Bahadur Sapru.
- Impact: support from every community; nationwide protests; sentences remitted; unrest in the armed forces (naval mutiny, 1946, as later context); greater pressure for a transfer of power.
- Contribution of Bose: radical leadership in the Congress; the Forward Bloc; the INA and the Provisional Government; inspiration of armed struggle and national unity; a role for women. Historians differ on his decision to seek help from the Axis powers; give both views.
| Point | Fact |
|---|---|
| Where and when | Red Fort, Delhi, 1945–46 |
| Accused (first trial) | Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Kumar Sahgal, Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon |
| Defence included | Bhulabhai Desai, Jawaharlal Nehru, Tej Bahadur Sapru |
| Outcome | Sentences remitted after nationwide protests |
| Forward Bloc | Indian National Army | |
|---|---|---|
| Formed | May 1939, in India | 1942 (Mohan Singh); led by Bose from 1943 |
| Kind of body | Political group, first within the Congress | Army of the Provisional Government |
| Method | Political struggle and mass action | Armed struggle |
| Aim | Complete independence; radical programme | Liberation of India by force |
Key terms
- INA trials
The trials of INA officers at the Red Fort in 1945–46, which stirred nationwide sympathy.
Exam tips
Common mistakes
- Saying Bose founded the first INA in 1942 (it was Mohan Singh; Bose took command in 1943).
- Confusing the Forward Bloc (political, 1939) with the INA (military).
- Placing the Provisional Government at Tokyo (it was Singapore).
- Stating Bose's death as certain fact (say reported).
- Forgetting why the trials united India (the accused were Hindu, Muslim and Sikh).
How marks are usually awarded
- 1-mark items: one correct option or term.
- 2 marks: two distinct points.
- 10-mark questions in 3 + 3 + 4 parts: one point per mark; the 4-mark part often asks for impact or evaluation.