” He was of the view thar the “liberation
‘ofndia would also emancipate the whole of Asia from British Imperiaistic
suppression."* On behalf of the newiy revamped League, he appealed
Indians to “refrain from helping the Bish War efforts and co stand up
together to atain the glorious Indian feedom."® Late, a Memorandum
‘of Understanding (MOU) besween the Indian Independence League (IIL)
headed by Pram Singh and Col, Tamura was signed, and the IIL was
sven the tas to weaken Brith Empire in Southeast Asia with the help
OF Indian nationalist based in dhe region. As per the MOU, the main
objective of thecooperation between Japan and India would beo “establish
India and Japan as an independent, sovereign and equal nation." I was 2 Changing Dynami of Indi pon Reon
ako agreed that once the Anglo-Japanese hostilities breaks our, “the IL.
wri proceed co South Thailand and Malays along wid the advancing
Japanese forces and wll enlarge its base in the aes, couse the Indian people
‘and soldiers of che Brcsh Indian army i the aea ro join che an: British
independence movement, and propagate goodwill for the Japanese
fovees
Nocibly, it was also agreed cha che Japanese authorities will “assist
propaganda activities of he IIL by loaning the broadcasting flies in
“Tokyo, Bangkok and other occupied tertories. Again, aeroplanes will be
loaned for dissibuting propaganda materials wishin the Japanese spre
of influence.” This MOU between Japan and the litee knovn
‘organization IIL was an importane landmark in the relationship of India
and Japan Before ths even, India dd not igure promincnly in Japanese
foreign policy Lares ison agency headed by Fujiwara wach of Japanese
Imperial Aemiy was formed to supervise and guide che activities of the IL.
Both Indian and Japanese were given bande with che leer F writen 08
them a a ideeieation mark
Te may be noted chat MOU between Pritam Singh and Ca, Tamara
bad agred for an identification mark “so that Japanese troops in the
‘operational acs could recognize the members ofthe IIL and not iwefere
With eheir fe movement in the area." Besides being the inital eter
Fujiwara as code word, F also stood for ‘Friendship’ and "Freedom. The
F Kikan aio ook care of providing proper tretment to the surendeved
soldiers. True @ its commitment, TIL prepared ani-Brish propaganda
Teles n various Tea langsages, asking che Indian soldiers to desert the
Becsh Army. When Japanese army was moving cowards Singapore and
Malaya, in December 1941, the propaganda material prepaed by IL did
result in surender of indian oldies Japanese amy. The slogans incladed:
"Asa forthe Asiatic,” "Keep our the white devils fom the Pas,” “We
have come out co liberate Aia from the clutches of the Anglo-Saxons”
and "No Asiatic sour Enemy:"® The desertion of soles fom the British
‘Army made the Japanese task easier and on many fronts they started
sexroting, While the British Army was retreating, Mohan Singh along
with his tasted colleague caprsin Mohammed Akram sttendered before
the Japanese authorises in Alor Star
Inigo Rel Mei Revotion othe End of Wid Wor 11 23
Mohan Singh later Became an rmportnttink Beswsen Inna Japan,
anda point of efrence in the istry of Indian fcedom movement. The
Japanese red e win spor of Mohan Singh tachi is objesives
ty arguing that wat had ven she Lnlans she best opportaniy to win
fre. In his conventions with Mohan Singh, Pujvara ccd exans
foe supposting nds independence fr, Japan and India had a common
enemy t fight wo schiee thee objective sce Jpas hori lasons
wih nia which was motherland of Japan lion and alu ciel
frotrapbicl and ethnics in Asta and Tout, dhe panes peoples
Sy indignation atthe subservience and indignity which the Trans
Aree saferng under she Betis. Mohan Singh offered conditional
“ppor to Fujiwara and peared si oine proposals before Fjowaa in
‘change ofthis support. These wer: ) the Indians would wnanite an
Tadian peoples army Gc was ltr named Indian Nasional Arm), 8) che
Japancie amy would give it whole hearted side) he Indian aemy and
the IIL would co-operate for the ime beng) the Japanese Army woul
teeognite Mohan Singh as eader ofthe Indian capes «che Japanese
frm woud teat Indian apes ena rate those who wished
to ji the Indian army, and 7) the nia army would be recognize a
2 cl alis army by ee Japanese army.
Fujiwara gave Mohan Singh is personal onsen buat the sine ie,
he teminded that reogniing INA a Japan ally woud cet technical
Aitietes with the Jpancte.” This demand indeed crested lors of
Gificaes bewees Japan amination andthe INA, which wil be
discussed later in this chapter. The INA was bora following an
‘inderstandingberweenFiivata and Moban Singh. Mohan Singh decided
Una the Indian National Army consisting of Indian prisoner of wa
TNA was considered the itary wing ofthe IL
CConsequent upon the formation of INA, Mohan Singh stared
cooperating Pam Singh i his propaganda wae ad printed the lees
“Theme army hve hese alts ang bac ines in Malaya”™ A
combination of sree aggresive war backed by propaganda, beged
Japan win Malaya war oehout much resistance fom the Brith Army. A
farge numberof oir were taken 25 Prisoner of War (POW) by the
Japanese Arm When th INA was fore, FE Kika as ard ro cxpand » Changng Eyam of Ii pen Reto
the INA by recruiting the suerendered soli into the INA, Fujiwara
ted vo impnss upon Japanese military authors, expeialy Majo Oz
ofthe 8 section of Imperial headquares, who vised him atthe fll of
Kuala Lampur. LR. Sareen note that Fujiwara argued that independence
‘of India with the Jpanese cooperation was exental for the succesful
‘conclusion of the East Asan war and the realization of Jpanis cherished
objective of establishing the preatr Fast Asia Co-propetty sphere. Lebra
sds that Pujvaraimpresed upon Oneki to develop poi of “cutting,
Tad asf from England"® and Japan mast anya basi poicy for
Indian Independence movement"? The Japanese oficial di inspect the
INA but were not impressed with the stature of Mohan Singh a he was
not a politcal figure in India, and were reluctant to approve Fujiwara
plan co suppore Indi feedom movement led by Singh. After quizting
‘Mohan Singh the visting Japanese delegation informed Fujiwara that
“Capaain Mohan Singh is nether a statesman nor an experienced
But Ozeki agreed to strengthen Indian Independence
‘League, and it was decided that F Kian would be replaced with a more
powerful national organization.” He also suggested that the new
‘xganization shoud be given che status ofa diplomatic mision or embasy
father chan a proxy agency of Japanese poicy”® Meanwhile, the newiy
formed INA got major boost following the capture of Singapore on
February 15, 1942, and Fujiwara handed some 50,000 Indian POWs to
Mohan Singh. In a shore speech during che handing-over ceremony,
Fujiwara cold the POWs chat “i you make up your mind and fight hand-
inchand with Japan, chen ewil no be dificuleodrive aay British from
India”
‘The Iwakuro Kikan and Unification of HL under Rash
Bihari Bose
Following the ceation of INA, a military organ ofthe then IL, Japan
wanted 10 effecively control the organization to achieve its political
objectives. By this time, Japan had replaced Fajwara Kikan wich a newly
formed fwakuro Kikan under the leadership of Colonel aka power
Figure in Japanese Army High Command.” The Japanese authorces in
“Tokyo decided ro put she leadership of IL under Rash Behari Bose, who
Indian Raion om Met Roto m he Ea of Wd Wart _25
by then ad taken Japanese citnensip. An invitation wo parcpare in che
‘meeting to beheld in Tokyo was sent ander the name of Rash Beka
Bose”
Ie is believed that Iwakuro Kikan with the help of Japanese
adminisration encrusted Bore t take effort co create 2 single unified
organization by binging vations groups active Japan and Southeast Ain
together. A conference held under the ledeship of Bose in December
194 alld upon India to Hse guna the Beith The resolution adopted
by the conference also urged Japan to help Ladia «0 achieve its
independence Subsequent anther concn was ogi on March
28, 1942 in Toyo to give proper dteaion eo the question of Inds
independence!" This confenee was inaugural by Iwakuro who inhi
opening address urged he Indian delegation to ight Fr re beration of
India asking them outline dhe neratonal station which has become
mor fivourabe co cham than eve before
As expected the conference elected Rash Behari Bose as President of
the IIL, After he conclusion of che conference, premier Tojo invited some
ofthe Malay delegation and held brie meeting wih them assuring therm
thar Japan will aise the Indian Independence movement. But they were
notated withthe "peafunctory” assurance given by Toj®* The Too
conference did lead ro the mere of differen groups working for Indian
independence in East Asa bur scious differences emerged Bereen the
TL representative fom SouthEast Asia and Japan.
“The representatives fom Southeast Asia were ofthe view that Bose
‘was manipulating the conference spr the instuction from the Japancse
Government. On th other hand, the Indian epteenaives based in Japan
though ha ee nan Hvingin Southeast Asia ha been co lyal 0 the
Britshers and had no experience at revolutionaries Following tis
conferences he leadership ofthe IL was taken ove by "Toy Indians."
But lair, the represencaives ofthe IIL fom Southeast Asan nations
Accepted the leadenhip of Bose considering tat he commanded gree
tepec in Japan and had very good reatonship with che people inthe
‘dminisaon
Fellowing the conence, N-Raghavan one ofthe print inthe
Toyo conference was of the view that Japan was sincere For Indias 26 Changing Dynami of indiana eons
Independence and this spi was not confined to (he Japanes) statemen
alone. Rich swell as poor. he inelletal well ache man in che suet,
almost everyone in the ounay was arated withthe bung dese to
sce an India for Indian completly re and Independent." Hower,
conaary to Raghsvan, many Indian active sated doubing Japanese
incention especialy after the Ivakaro Kikansared serving a8 a lason
agency berween INA adhe Japanese government Fujin Kika had
bu elationshipof ras wi Indians Contary ti the wake Kikan
fled to earn goodtwl rom the lain expecially fom howe lng inthe
Far Ea”
After aking ovr the leadership ofthe IL, Rash Behari Bose started
propaganda activites using Japan Broadcating Cooperation, At atime
hen the Japanese army ha bombed pars of Brith bassin Eastecn fin
imhis meses, Bose defended che Japanese bombing of Bish bases in
India and argued cae this hasbeen undertaken bythe Japanese to
serengten the Indian eflors of feedom and “hot co harm the Indian
eople"®
Against this background, Indian Independence League organized a
weeklong conference a Bangkok on ne 15,1942, The conference was
artended by morethan 3000 peopeliving ouside nian 110 delegation
representing evo milion Indian ving in Jpn, Manchukuo, Hong Kong,
Shanghai, Indo-China, che Philippines Sumata, Burma, Borneo, Java,
Malay and Thilnd atended it Apac from the Indian repreeneaives,
ambasadors and ministers of As powers, inclung Japan, atended che
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