
Declaring
its Formation
On 21 October 1943, Bose announced the formation of
the Provisional Government of Azad Hind (Free India), with himself
as the Head of State, Prime Minister and Minister of War.
The Provisional Government not only enabled Bose to
negotiate with the Japanese on an equal footing but also facilitated
the mobilisation of Indians in East Asia to join and support the
INA. Soon after the announcement, the Provisional Government received
recognition from various countries.
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Bose announcing the Proclamation of the
formation of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind at Cathay Building,
21 October 1943. |
Members of the Cabinet: |
Lt Col A C Chatterjee |
Minister of Finance |
Dr (Capt) Lakshmi Sahgal |
Minister of Women’s Organisation |
Shri A M Sahay |
Secretary with Ministerial Rank |
Shri S A Ayer |
Minister of Publicity and Propaganda |
Lt Col J K Bhonsle |
Representative of INA |
Lt Col Loganathan |
Representative of INA |
Lt Col Ehsan Qadir |
Representative of INA |
Lt Col N S Bhagat |
Representative of INA |
Lt Col M Z Kiani |
Representative of INA |
Lt Col Aziz Ahmed |
Representative of INA |
Lt Col Shah Nawaz Khan |
Representative of INA |
Lt Col Gulzara Singh |
Representative of INA |
Rash Behari Bose |
Supreme Advisor |
Karim Giani |
Advisor from Burma |
Debnath Das |
Advisor from Thailand |
Sardar Ishar Singh |
Advisor from Thailand |
D M Khan |
Advisor from Hong Kong |
A Yellappa |
Advisor from Singapore |
A N Sarkar |
Advisor from Singapore |
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Cabinet members of the
Provisional Government of Azad Hind, 1943:
1st Row (L to R): Lt Col Chatterjee, Lt Col J K Bhonsle,
Dr Lakshmi,
Chandra Bose, A M Sahay and S A Ayer.
2nd Row (L to R): Lt Col Gulzara Singh, Lt Col Shah Nawaz
Khan, Lt Col Aziz Ahmed, Lt Col M Z Kiani, Lt Col N S Bhagat,
Lt Col Ehsan
Qadir, Lt Col Loganathan. |
“Total Mobilisation”
“Time has come for three million Indians living in East
Asia to mobilise all their available resources including money and
manpower. Half-hearted measures will not do. …Out of this
total mobilisation I expect at least three hundred thousand soldiers
and three crores that is thirty million dollars.”
Subhas Chandra Bose speaking at the Padang on 9 July 1943.
With the formation of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind,
mobilisation of the Indian communities for armed struggle was stepped
up. Many Indian civilians from Malaya, Thailand and Burma responded
enthusiastically. Others contributed money and gold generously to
the INA Fund. The gold came mostly from women who readily gave up
their jewellery while wealthy Indian families donated large sums
of money after attending Bose’s rallies and meetings. Other
forms of contributions included clothing, foodstuffs and other supplies
that the INA could use.
By April 1944, the Azad Hind Bank was established in Rangoon to
manage the overwhelming donations from the Indian communities.
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On 5 August 1943, Subhas Chandra Bose addressed the INA
soldiers at the Padang. He questioned if they felt “Jai
Hind” and “Chalo Dhili” as part of them as
the slogans were part of himself. The response of the soldiers
was overwhelming and electrifying. |
Military inspection of the INA, 1943. |
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