The Civic District I

Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj - In Urdu) a.k.a. INA

Subhas Chandra Bose (Bose Netaji) was jailed 11 times by the British Government. He was part of Gandhi’s Congress Party but due to a clash of ideology. He did not believe that non-violence will bring about independence for India. So he eventually reformed the Indian Legion (or Azad Hind Fauj or "Free India Army"). Over time this came to be known as the Indian National Army (INA).

Singapore and the INA

Subhas Chandra Bose came to Singapore in 1943 upon the invitation of Rash Bihari Bose (a freedom fighter). Bose had the support of the Japanese government in his help to fight the British. It was in Cathay Cinema Hall where Subhas Chandra Bose proclaimed the formation of the Provisional Government and later declared war on Britain and the United States.

Bose was in Singapore when the Japanese surrendered. He left Singapore in a Japanese bomber, with the promise from the Japanese that they would help him to reach the Russian-occupied Manchuria. Bose wanted to gain the help of the Russian in his fight for India’s freedom.



Indian National Army Memorial

The British government considered Subhas Chandra Bose as a rebel and so in 1945, this memorial was destroyed upon the British return to Singapore in 1945 under the orders of Lord Mountbatten (Head of Southeast Asia Command). Or, its destruction could have been due to the fact that the British did not want any memories of their shame in defeat (the fall of Singapore). 



Indian National Army Marker

This marker stands in place of a memorial and both the original and the marker was/is dedicated to the unknown soliders of the Indian National Army who died during World War II. This marker was erected to symbolize the 50th anniversary of the end of Work War II.

The Inscription

‘Ittefaq, Itmad and Kurbani’; These are the words inscribed into the monument. Written in Urdu it means ‘Unity, Faith and Sacrifice’.



Trivia

Did you know that Bose was suppose to have been badly burned in the crash and subsequently died in a Japanese military hospital in Taipei? His ashes were brought to brought to Tokyo and placed at the Renkoji temple, where they have rested all these years. 
 

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