Sunday Special--The forgotten Hero of India's struggle of Independence!
General Mohan Singh (1909-1989)
General Mohan Singh
was born the only son of Tara Singh and Hukam Kaur, a couple of Ugoke village, near
Sialkot (now in
Pakistan). His father died two months before his birth and his mother shifted
to her parents home in Badiana
in the same district, where Mohan Singh was born and brought up.
Mohan Singh got enlisted
in the 14th Punjab Regiment of the
British Indian Army in 1927,
was posted to the 2nd Battalion of the Regiment, then serving in the North-West
Frontier Province. He was selected as a potential officer in 1931,
was posted for a year to a British Army unit, the Border Regiment.
He was them posted to 1st Battalion, 14th Punjab Regiment on 24 February 1936.
Second World War
Japan entered the War with her surprise attack on the American air base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on 7 December 1941 and overran the entire South East Asia within a few weeks.
The Japanese
Imperial General Headquarters in
October set up the Fujiwara Kikan, or the F-kikan,
in Bangkok, Headed by the
Major Fujiwara Iwaichi, chief of intelligence
of the 15th army.
Tasked with intelligence
gathering and contacting the Indian independence movement, the overseas
Chinese, and the Malayan Sultan with the aim of encouraging friendship
and cooperation with Japan, Fujiwara's staff included five commissioned officers
and two Hindi-speaking interpreters. His initial contact was with
Giani Pritam Singh.
Pritam Singh was a leader
of such an organisation. He and Major Fujihara, a Japanese officer,
requested Mohan Singh to form an Indian Army comprising the captured
Indian soldiers. Mohan Singh hesitated but ultimately agreed.
Mohan Singh meeting Japanese officer, Major Fujihara
Fujihara handed over about 40,000 Indian soldiers, who had surrendered to him, to Mohan Singh. This was the initial step towards the formation of the first Indian National Army (INA).
Although Pritam Singh was involved to a large extent, it was Fujiwara who, with his sincerity of purpose and belief, convinced Mohan Singh to betray his oath to the Crown by uniting with the Japanese mission for the greater motive of Indian independence. This included the promise that he would be treated as an ally and a friend, and not a prisoner of war. Singh initially helped Fujiwara take control of the situation of looting and arson that had developed in Alor Star; in December 1941, after meeting with the Japanese commanding general, Singh was convinced of the feasibility of raising an armed Indian unit. Between himself, Pritam Singh and Fujiwara, Mohan Singh set about contacting Indians in the British Indian Army in South-east Asia, and also began recruiting from amongst those captured by the Japanese in Malaya. All Indian prisoners of war and stragglers were placed under his charge and he was asked to restore order in the town of Alor Star.
Thus the nucleus of what came to be the Indian National Army was born. Kuala Lumpur fell on 11 January 1942 with 3,500 Indian prisoners of war, and Singapore on 15 February with 85,000 British troops, of whom 45,000 were Indians. Mohan Singh asked for volunteers who would form the Azad Hind Fauj (Free India Army) to fight for Indian independence from the British rule.
A large number of men came forward to join what came to be termed as the Azad Hind Fauj (National Army of independent India). The new set-up came into being on 1 September 1942 by which time the strength of volunteers had reached 40,000. Mohan Singh, now designated a General, was to command it.
Already in a conference held at Bangkok during 15–23 June 1942, the Indian Independence League under the leadership of Rash Behari Bose, an Indian revolutionary who had escaped to Japan in June 1915 and who had been living there ever since, had been inaugurated. Through one of the 35 resolutions passed by the conference, Mohan Singh was appointed commander-in-chief of the "Army of Liberation for India," i.e. the Indian National Army.
Disagreements with Japan
Though Mohan Singh had kept good relationship with the members of Fujiwara Kikan, he was soon disenchanted with the headquarters of the Japanese Army, and doubted their intentions based on their orders. It appeared that they wanted to use the Indian National Army only as a part of Japanese army and were deliberately withholding recognition and public proclamation about its existence as an independent independence army. Some supreme commanders of Japanese army had disagreements with him. On 29 December 1942, Mohan Singh was removed from his command and taken into custody by the Japanese military police.
Prominent people of Azad Hind Fauz
It was only after the arrival of another Indian leader of great political standing, Subhas Chandra Bose, from Germany to the Far-Eastern front in June 1943 that the Indian National Army was revived in the form of Azad Hind Fauj. However, Mohan Singh could not be reinstated to the revived army.
Upon Japan's defeat, Mohan Singh was taken into custody by the British and repatriated to India to face trials. However, due to public pressure, roused by the INA Red Fort trials, Mohan Singh was only cashiered from the Army.
In the 1940s, the Indian soil bore many operations and campaigns to free itself from a loosening British hold. But miles away from home were expatriates and exiles who were brewing up an anti-colonialism storm of their own. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was one such exile, and although he is credited with reviving the Indian National Army (INA), the core of it was created by other remarkable Indian nationalists and soldiers who were once driven away from home.
Second World War
Japan entered the War with her surprise attack on the American air base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on 7 December 1941 and overran the entire South East Asia within a few weeks.
The British force in the northern part of the Malaya Peninsula,
including Mohan Singh's battalion, 1/14 Punjab Regiment, was fleeing
towards the South.
Mohan Singh's own forces had been outgunned and destroyed by superior Japanese forces at
Jitra. Captured by Japanese troops after several days in the jungle, Singh was taken
to Alor Star to Fujiwara and Pritam Singh at a joint office
of the F-Kikan.
Maj.
I Fujiwara, who spearheaded Japanese intelligence
mission in South-east Asia early in the Malayan Campaign.
Mohan Singh meeting Japanese officer, Major Fujihara
Fujihara handed over about 40,000 Indian soldiers, who had surrendered to him, to Mohan Singh. This was the initial step towards the formation of the first Indian National Army (INA).
Although Pritam Singh was involved to a large extent, it was Fujiwara who, with his sincerity of purpose and belief, convinced Mohan Singh to betray his oath to the Crown by uniting with the Japanese mission for the greater motive of Indian independence. This included the promise that he would be treated as an ally and a friend, and not a prisoner of war. Singh initially helped Fujiwara take control of the situation of looting and arson that had developed in Alor Star; in December 1941, after meeting with the Japanese commanding general, Singh was convinced of the feasibility of raising an armed Indian unit. Between himself, Pritam Singh and Fujiwara, Mohan Singh set about contacting Indians in the British Indian Army in South-east Asia, and also began recruiting from amongst those captured by the Japanese in Malaya. All Indian prisoners of war and stragglers were placed under his charge and he was asked to restore order in the town of Alor Star.
Thus the nucleus of what came to be the Indian National Army was born. Kuala Lumpur fell on 11 January 1942 with 3,500 Indian prisoners of war, and Singapore on 15 February with 85,000 British troops, of whom 45,000 were Indians. Mohan Singh asked for volunteers who would form the Azad Hind Fauj (Free India Army) to fight for Indian independence from the British rule.
A large number of men came forward to join what came to be termed as the Azad Hind Fauj (National Army of independent India). The new set-up came into being on 1 September 1942 by which time the strength of volunteers had reached 40,000. Mohan Singh, now designated a General, was to command it.
Already in a conference held at Bangkok during 15–23 June 1942, the Indian Independence League under the leadership of Rash Behari Bose, an Indian revolutionary who had escaped to Japan in June 1915 and who had been living there ever since, had been inaugurated. Through one of the 35 resolutions passed by the conference, Mohan Singh was appointed commander-in-chief of the "Army of Liberation for India," i.e. the Indian National Army.
Disagreements with Japan
Though Mohan Singh had kept good relationship with the members of Fujiwara Kikan, he was soon disenchanted with the headquarters of the Japanese Army, and doubted their intentions based on their orders. It appeared that they wanted to use the Indian National Army only as a part of Japanese army and were deliberately withholding recognition and public proclamation about its existence as an independent independence army. Some supreme commanders of Japanese army had disagreements with him. On 29 December 1942, Mohan Singh was removed from his command and taken into custody by the Japanese military police.
Prominent people of Azad Hind Fauz
It was only after the arrival of another Indian leader of great political standing, Subhas Chandra Bose, from Germany to the Far-Eastern front in June 1943 that the Indian National Army was revived in the form of Azad Hind Fauj. However, Mohan Singh could not be reinstated to the revived army.
Upon Japan's defeat, Mohan Singh was taken into custody by the British and repatriated to India to face trials. However, due to public pressure, roused by the INA Red Fort trials, Mohan Singh was only cashiered from the Army.
In the 1940s, the Indian soil bore many operations and campaigns to free itself from a loosening British hold. But miles away from home were expatriates and exiles who were brewing up an anti-colonialism storm of their own. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was one such exile, and although he is credited with reviving the Indian National Army (INA), the core of it was created by other remarkable Indian nationalists and soldiers who were once driven away from home.
With Subash Chander Bose
His presence produced an effect akin to a boulder falling into a
pond; suddenly civilians with no military experience were willing to
join the force. It is estimated that close to 1,00,000 civilians in
South-east Asia volunteered to join the INA. The memberships
of the IIL and INA had peaked and Bose’s Azad Hind Fauj was invigorated.
It is unfortunate, however, that Mohan Singh, the man who raised the army, could not be reinstated to this revived army. He was repatriated to India and under British custody, faced trails. The members of the INA too, after their stint of operations in the East and the north-eastern states of India, faced the Red Fort trials as many men were captured by the end of 1945, severely weakening the INA.
The INA fought valiantly for the nation despite its separation from the Indian soil. It remains a testament to the strength of a freedom struggle that knew no boundaries
It was only after the arrival of another Indian leader of great political standing, Subhas Chandra Bose, from Germany to the Far-Eastern front in June 1943 that the Indian National Army was revived in the form of Azad Hind Fauj.
Indian and German officers of the Azad Hind Fauj on parade
Upon Japan's defeat, Mohan Singh was taken into custody by the British and repatriated to India to face trials. However, due to public pressure, roused by the INA Red Fort trials, Mohan Singh was only cashiered from the Army.
Singh entered politics and joined the Indian National Congress in February 1947.His dream of independence was realized with India's Independence on 15 August 1947, but this was accompanied by the partition of the country into India and Pakistan. He had to leave his hearth and home in what then became Pakistan and came to India a homeless refugee. He was allotted some land in the village of Jugiana, near Ludhiana, where he settled permanently. After a stint as a legislator in the Punjab, he was elected to Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Indian Parliament, for two terms. In and out of Parliament he strove for the recognition of the members of his Azad Hind Fauj as "freedom fighters" in the cause of the nation's independence.
It is unfortunate, however, that Mohan Singh, the man who raised the army, could not be reinstated to this revived army. He was repatriated to India and under British custody, faced trails. The members of the INA too, after their stint of operations in the East and the north-eastern states of India, faced the Red Fort trials as many men were captured by the end of 1945, severely weakening the INA.
The INA fought valiantly for the nation despite its separation from the Indian soil. It remains a testament to the strength of a freedom struggle that knew no boundaries
It was only after the arrival of another Indian leader of great political standing, Subhas Chandra Bose, from Germany to the Far-Eastern front in June 1943 that the Indian National Army was revived in the form of Azad Hind Fauj.
Indian and German officers of the Azad Hind Fauj on parade
Upon Japan's defeat, Mohan Singh was taken into custody by the British and repatriated to India to face trials. However, due to public pressure, roused by the INA Red Fort trials, Mohan Singh was only cashiered from the Army.
Singh entered politics and joined the Indian National Congress in February 1947.His dream of independence was realized with India's Independence on 15 August 1947, but this was accompanied by the partition of the country into India and Pakistan. He had to leave his hearth and home in what then became Pakistan and came to India a homeless refugee. He was allotted some land in the village of Jugiana, near Ludhiana, where he settled permanently. After a stint as a legislator in the Punjab, he was elected to Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Indian Parliament, for two terms. In and out of Parliament he strove for the recognition of the members of his Azad Hind Fauj as "freedom fighters" in the cause of the nation's independence.
This second INA under leadership of Subash Bose,fought along with the Imperial Japanese Army against the British and Commonwealth forces in the campaigns in Burma, in Imphal and at Kohima, and later against the successful Burma Campaign of the Allies
in the forests of Arakan,
Burma and in
Assam, laying
siege on Imphal and Kohima with the
Japanese 15th Army. During the war, the
Andaman and Nicobar islands
were
captured by the Japanese and handed over by them to the INA.
The INA failed owing to disrupted logistics, poor supplies from the Japanese, and lack of training.
It surrendered unconditionally to the British in Singapore in 1945.
Bose, however, attempted
to escape to Japanese-held Manchuria in an attempt to escape to the
Soviet Union, marking the end of the entire Azad Hind movement.
Tail Peice:
The family name of General Mohan Singh was 'Deb'. He married in December i940 Jaswant Kaur ,sister of brother officer.Mohan Singh died at Jugiana
Major
Abid Hassan was one of Neta ji Subhas Bose's closest aides who
accompanied Neta Ji on the historic submarine voyage from Germany to
Japan in
1943 and who was the one who coined the phrase : " Jai Hind"
German sodiers of INA were so impressed by Sikh Soldiers that some of them started wearing 'Pagdi'
Searched,Compiled and Illustrated by Tejinder Kamboj
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