User:A. S. Aulakh/sandbox
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
General Mohan Singh (1909-1989) was commissioned to British Indian Army in 1932 and elevated to the rank of Major in 1942. He fought for the Allied forces in the World War 2 and is known as the founder of the idea of Indian National Army[1]
[edit] Role in the formation of Indian National Army
Singapore fell to the Japanese forces on 15 February 1942 and the Indian troops were handed over to the Japanese as POWs by their commanding officer Colonel Hunt. Major Fujiwara was reponsible for taking charge of the POWs. It is believed that Captain Mohan Singh was able to convince the Japanese that it was not feasible for the Japanese to attack British Indian colonies. The reason he gave the Japanese was that it was that the Indians have won minor rights from the British after a long struggle and they will not like to see a new ruler with whom they will have to struggle again to win even minor rights. Captain Mohan Singh was able to convince the Japanese that if they agreed to form an armed force from the POWs, the British Indian soldiers will not fight with much enthusiasm seeing their own men. The discussions of Captain Mohan Singh got first success when Major Fujiwara declared that he is handing over the POWs to Captain Mohan Singh, who should be obeyed as their supreme commander. Captain Mohan Singh emphasized that participation in the army for the liberation of India from the British should be a voluntary one. Therefore, he went from prison to prison to encourage the POWs to join his army and fight for the cause of independece of India.
Some preliminary discussions were held by Captain Mohan Singh with prominent Indians of Malay and Burma in a meeting in Singapore on 9th and 10th March. Rashbehari Bose was one of the attendees of this meeting. Later in a conference in Tokyo, which was held 28-30 March the delegates representing several East and Southeast Asian countries decided to form the Indian Independence League to organize an Indian independence movement in East Asia.
