Forward Bloc and The INA

Complete the following analogy.

Surat split : Moderates and Assertive Nationalists :: Tripuri Split : .............. .

1. Gandhiji and Bose
2. Gandhiji and Tilak
3. Gandhiji and Jinnah
4. Gandhiji and Nehru

Answer

Gandhiji and Bose

Name the army under Subhash Chandra Bose's command.

1. British Indian Army
2. Indian Independence Army
3. Indian National Army
4. POW Army

Answer

Indian National Army

Which of the following were the objectives of INA?

(i) To organise an armed revolution and to fight against the British army.

(ii) To organise a provisional government of free India.

(iii) To mobilise Indian manpower and money to end the World war.

1. (i) and (ii)
2. (i) and (iii)
3. (ii) and (iii)
4. (i), (ii) and (iii)

Answer

(i) and (ii)

INA : ....?.... :: Quit India : Do or Die

1. Jai Hind
2. Unity, Faith, Sacrifice
3. Delhi Chalo
4. Give me blood, and I'll give you freedom.

Answer

Give me blood, and I'll give you freedom

Subhash Chandra Bose was re-elected the President of INC at the Tripuri Session in 1939 by defeating which of the following candidates?

1. Dr. Rajendra Prasad
2. J.B. Kriplani
3. Pattabhi Sitaramaiyya
4. Nellie Sengupta

Answer

Pattabhi Sitaramaiyya

Arrange the following events of Netaji's life in chronological order.

(i) Congress Presidentship

(ii) Formation of Forward Bloc

(iii) Provisional Government of free India

(iv) Supreme Commander of INA

1. (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)
2. (iv) (ii) (iii) and (i)
3. (iv), (i), (iii) and (ii)
4. (i), (iii), (iv) and (ii)

Answer

(i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)

The Provincial Government under Netaji first acquired which of the following territories in India?

1. Mowdok
2. Ukhral and Kohima
3. Andaman & Nicobar Islands
4. Imphal

Answer

Andaman & Nicobar Islands

To attain Independence Netaji did not lay stress on which of the following?

1. Organisation of masses
2. Large scale industrialisations
3. Small scale industries
4. National Planning

Answer

Small scale industries

The Forward Bloc would work for the establishment of ............... state.

1. Capitalist
2. Socialist
3. Combination of (1) and (2)
4. None of the above

Answer

Socialist

(A) Subhas Chandra Bose believed in adoption of assertive methods for the attainment of Swaraj.

(B) Subhas Chandra Bose won the election of the President of the Congress for a second term by a majority of votes.

1. (B) contradicts (A)
2. (B) is the reason for (A)
3. (A) is true but (B) is false.
4. (A) and (B) are independent of each other.

Answer

(A) and (B) are independent of each other.

Explanation — Subhas Chandra Bose adopting assertive methods for the attainment of Swaraj and winning the election of the President of the Congress for a second term by a majority of votes are two independent statements. Defeating his opponent who was supported by Gandhiji was a clear indication that his assertive methods were liked by majority of people.

(A) Subhas Chandra Bose resigned from the Presidentship of the Congress in 1939.

(B) He laid the foundation of a new party called the Forward Bloc to bring the entire left wing under his party.

1. (B) contradicts (A)
2. (B) is the reason for (A)
3. (A) is true but (B) is false.
4. (A) and (B) are independent of each other.

Answer

(A) and (B) are independent of each other.

Explanation — Subhas Chandra Bose won the election of the President of the Congress for a second term by a majority of votes defeating his opponent Pattabhi Sitaramayya who was supported by Gandhiji. Gandhiji declared that it was his own defeat. This created a deadlock between Bose and Gandhiji. The Gandhi wing began to oppose the President and made it impossible for him to function. This was the reason why Bose resigned from the Presidentship of the Congress in 1939.
After resigning, he laid the foundation of the Forward Bloc to bring the entire left wing under his party.

(A) The idea of the Indian National Army (INA) was conceived in Malaya by Mohan Singh.

(B) Indian Prisoners of War (POW’s) were handed over by the Japanese to Mohan Singh who inducted them into the INA.

1. (B) contradicts (A)
2. (B) is the reason for (A)
3. (A) is true but (B) is false.
4. (A) and (B) are independent of each other.

Answer

(B) is the reason for (A).

Explanation — Mohan Singh, an Indian officer of the British Indian Army, had decided not to join the retreating British army and instead sought help from the Japanese. He recruited the POWs into the INA.

(A) Subhas Chandra Bose set up the INA headquarters in Yangon and in Singapore.

(B) Subhas Chandra Bose wanted to organise a non-violent struggle from outside India.

1. (B) contradicts (A)
2. (B) is the reason for (A)
3. (A) is true but (B) is false.
4. (A) and (B) are independent of each other.

Answer

(A) is true but (B) is false.

Explanation — Subhas Chandra Bose wanted to organise an armed revolution and to fight the British army with modern arms.

Why did Subhas Chandra Bose resign from the Congress Presidentship?

Answer

Pant, Patel and some other members of the All-India Congress Committee wanted that Subhas should constitute his working committee in accordance with the wishes of Mahatma Gandhi. However, Mahatma Gandhi refused to suggest any name. As a result, Bose resigned from the chairmanship of the party on 29 April, 1939.

Why did Rashbehari Bose organise the Indian Independence League? Who was the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian National Army?

Answer

Rashbehari Bose organised the Indian Independence League to form an association with the objective of contributing to the liberation of India and serving the interests of the overseas Indians during the critical period.

Mohan Singh was the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian National Army.

Name the two slogans which became the war cry of the INA. Which islands were renamed as 'Shahid' and 'Swaraj'?

Answer

The two slogans which became the war cry of the INA were 'Delhi Chalo' and 'Jai Hind'.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands were renamed as 'Shahid' and 'Swaraj'.

Why couldn't the Indian National Army capture Imphal?

Answer

The Indian National Army was three kilometres from Imphal when the Japanese forces had to withdraw from the Indo-Burma border because of their entanglement with the Americans in the Pacific Ocean. The rainy season set in and Rangoon was recaptured by the British in May, 1945. The INA soldiers were disarmed and made prisoners of war. Hence, INA couldn't capture Imphal.

Mention two contributions of Subhas Chandra Bose to India's freedom struggle.

Answer

Two contributions of Subhas Chandra Bose to India's freedom struggle were-

1. He led the freedom struggle outside India as the supreme Commander of the INA. He set up the Provisional Government of Free India in Singapore.
2. He declared war on Britain and the USA and acquired its first stretch of territory in India when Japan handed over Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

How can you say that the INA was a unique army?

Answer

The INA was unique in its own way and unlike many other armies engaged in the global war.

1. It was an army organised on foreign soil, hundreds of kilometres away from its motherland.
2. It was dependent on foreign powers for planes, tanks, artillery, rifles, ammunition and even lorries for the transport of soldiers to the front.
3. It depended upon the patriotic fervour of its nationals scattered over East Asia, from Myanmar to Japan, for men, money, clothing, food and other civilian supplies.
4. However, its greatest asset was the spirit of self-sacrifice of the men who enthusiastically volunteered to lay down their lives.

In 1939, Subhas Chandra Bose formed the Forward Bloc. In this context, answer the following questions:

(a) Why did Subhas Chandra Bose decide to form a new party?

(b) What were the aims and objectives of the new party formed by Subhas Chandra Bose?

(c) Mention two main objectives of the Provisional Government of Free India. Name any two countries that recognised the Provisional Government of India formed in Singapore in 1943.

Answer

(a) Bose felt the urgent need for an organised left-wing party in the Congress. After resigning from the Presidentship of the Congress in 1939, he laid the foundation of a new party within the Congress, to bring the entire left wing under one banner. This party, known as Forward Bloc, was formed on May 3, 1939

(b) Forward Bloc's immediate objective was liberation of India with the support of workers, peasants, youth and other organisations.

After attaining independence, Forward Bloc would work for the establishment of a Socialist State through:

1. Reorganisation of agriculture and industry on socialist lines
2. Abolition of the Zamindari system
3. Introduction of a new monetary and credit system

(c) Two main objectives of the Provisional Government of Free India were-

1. The major task of thc Provisional Government was to launch and conduct the struggle that will bring about the expulsion of the British and their allies from the Indian soil.
2. Another important task assigned to the Provisional government was to establish a permanent national government of Azad Hind.

Two countries that recognised the Provisional Government of India formed in Singapore in 1943 were Japan and Germany.

Read the excerpt given below and answer the questions that follow:

“Friends, one year ago, when I made certain demands of you, I told you that if you give me ‘total mobilization’, I would give you a ‘second front’. I have redeemed that pledge. The first phase of our campaign is over. Our victorious troops, fighting side by side with Nipponese troops, have pushed back the enemy and are now fighting bravely on the sacred soil of our dear motherland. I had asked you for men, money and materials. I have got them in generous measure. Now I demand more of you. A long fight is still in front of us. We should have but one desire today - the desire to die so that India may live - the desire to face a martyr’s death, so that the path to freedom may be paved with the martyr’s blood.
Friends! My comrades in the War of Liberation! Today I demand of you one thing, above all. I demand of you blood. It is blood alone that can avenge the blood that the enemy has spilt. It is blood alone that can pay the price of freedom.”
—Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

(a) Whom is Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose addressing? Who are the victorious troops referred to in the excerpt? Who were the Nipponese?

(b) Which war of liberation is Subhas Chandra Bose talking about? From where did he start his campaign? Name the two areas of Indian territory his troops acquired?

(c) What did he demand from his troops? Did the troops fulfill the mission of their leader.

Answer

(a) Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose is addressing members (troops) of the Indian National Army (INA). The victorious troops referred to in the excerpt are the soldiers of the INA. The term ‘Nipponese’ refers to the Japanese, who were allies of the INA during World War II.

(b) Subhas Chandra Bose is talking about the War of Liberation of India from the British rule. He started his campaign from East Asia. The INA, under his leadership, fought alongside the Japanese in Burma (now Myanmar) and parts of Northeast India.

(c) Bose demanded ‘total mobilization’ from his troops, which meant complete commitment to the cause of India’s freedom. He asked for men, money, and materials, and above all, he demanded their blood, symbolizing their willingness to sacrifice their lives for the cause. While the INA did not succeed in achieving immediate independence for India, their efforts and sacrifices significantly contributed to the eventual end of British rule in India.

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.

Answer

(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.

Do you think Subhas Chandra Bose set an inspiring example of patriotism? Give examples to support your answer.

Answer

Yes, Subhas Chandra Bose set an inspiring example of patriotism in the following ways:

1. Subhas Chandra Bose travelled from country to country with great difficulty enduring a lot of hardships to gather international support for Indian freedom struggle.
2. Subhas Chandra Bose started the armed revolution for the liberation of India through Indian National Army (INA). This infused courage and confidence in the hearts of freedom fighters.
3. Even though the court-martial of the INA officers held them guilty, British Government had to set them free due to the demonstrations held all over the country.
4. The INA inspired uprisings in the armed forces of the country. The Indian Navy rose in revolt which shook the foundations of the British Empire.
5. The British realised that they could not rely on the Indian forces to continue their rule in India.

The Indian National Army built by Subhas Chandra Bose was far ahead of its time. Discuss.

Answer

It is true that the India National Army built by Subhas Chandra Bose was far ahead of its time. It was an army organised on foreign soil, hundreds of kilometres away from its motherland. It depended upon the patriotic fervour of its nationals scattered over East Asia, from Myanmar to Japan, for men, money, clothing, food and other civilian supplies. However, its greatest asset was the spirit of self-sacrifice of the men who enthusiastically volunteered to lay down their lives.