PEMBENTUKAN INDIAN NATIONAL ARMY DAN PERJUANGANNYA SEMASA PENDUDUKAN JEPUN, 1941-45

The Indian National Army (INA) formed in Malaya under the sponsorship of the Japanese during the Second World War to free India from British colonial rule was an interesting and unusual development in terms of the growth of nationalism in Southeast Asia. The formation of the INA as an armed wing of the Indian Independence League (IIL) received considerable support from the Indian community in Malaya and was led by men who had served in the British army and who had now found a new calling. Inspired by the Indian nationalist leader Subash Chandra Bose, the army quickly grew in size and developed into a significant fighting outfit within a short period and soon saw action. This article examines the formation of the INA and analyses the circumstances behind its formation and its internal developments relating to its leadership. The article also considers the activities of the INA in Malaya and its campaign in Burma with the Japanese army in an effort to free India from British control. The article shows that the inherent anti-colonial feelings and the aim of freeing India from colonial rule inspired considerably the men to take up arms for the INA and make personal sacrifices. The evidence indicates that the INA also sought to remain independent of Japanese control despite fighting together in the Burma campaign.