Answer

Introduction

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s strategy for India’s independence went beyond conventional politics to encompass a global military struggle supported by deep regional bonds. By establishing the Provisional Government of Azad Hind and the INA, Netaji internationalized the Indian freedom struggle, leveraging the geopolitical fissures of World War II while grounding his movement in the unwavering support of diverse regional identities, particularly the Tamil diaspora.

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The Role of the Indian National Army (INA) in the Global Struggle

The INA (Azad Hind Fauj) served as the military spearhead of Netaji’s vision, transforming the independence movement from a domestic agitation into an international conflict.

• International Legal Status: By forming the Provisional Government of Azad Hind in Singapore (1943), Netaji secured formal recognition from nine Axis powers, giving the INA the status of a legitimate allied army.
• Geopolitical Leveraging: Netaji utilized the “enemy’s enemy” principle, securing military and logistical support from Japan to launch an armed offensive on India’s eastern frontier.
• Symbol of Military Defiance: The INA’s slogan “Chalo Delhi” and the capture of Moirang (Manipur), where the Tricolour was first unfurled on the mainland, shattered the myth of British military invincibility.
• Psychological Warfare: The existence of a rebel Indian army caused significant anxiety within the British Indian Army, leading to the “Jiffs” propaganda campaign to prevent defections.
• Rani of Jhansi Regiment: Netaji pioneered gender inclusivity in combat by creating an all-women’s unit, showcasing India’s progressive revolutionary spirit to the world.
  Eg: Led by Captain Lakshmi Sahgal, this regiment became a global symbol of women’s empowerment in anti-colonial struggles.
• Integration of POWs: The INA successfully converted thousands of British Indian Prisoners of War into nationalist revolutionaries, fundamentally undermining the British hold over their primary tool of control the military.
• Unified National Identity: The INA transcended religious and caste lines, adopting Hindustani as its common language and “Jai Hind” as a universal greeting to foster a pan-Indian consciousness.

Specific Contribution of the People of the Tamil Region

The Tamil region and its diaspora provided the social and financial backbone for Netaji’s military ambitions, forming a “deep regional bond” that sustained the INA.

• Thevar-Bose Alliance: Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar was instrumental in mobilizing the martial communities of Southern Tamil Nadu for the INA and the Forward Bloc.
  Eg: Thevar’s influence was so profound that even today, Bose’s iconography remains inseparable from Thevar’s legacy in districts like Ramanathapuram and Madurai.
• Diaspora Financial Support: Tamil plantation workers and traders in Malaya, Burma, and Singapore contributed their life savings to the Azad Hind Bank.
  Eg: Netaji famously acknowledged that the “poor Tamil laborer” was the most generous contributor to the INA’s war fund.
• Recruitment Base: A significant majority of the INA’s rank and file, particularly in the later stages, were Tamils from Southeast Asia.
• Women’s Participation: Tamil women in the diaspora broke traditional social norms to join the Rani of Jhansi Regiment in large numbers.
  Eg: Janaky Athi Nahappan (Janaky Thevar), who donated her jewelry at age 14, rose to become the deputy commander of the regiment.
• Intelligence and Sacrifice: Many Tamil youth served in the INA’s specialized intelligence wings and faced execution by the British for anti-colonial activities.
  Eg: Ramu Thevar, an 18-year-old INA intelligence operative, was executed by the British for his role in clandestine operations.
• Intellectual Support: The publication of the Tamil weekly “Netaji” helped disseminate revolutionary ideas and keep the spirit of armed struggle alive among the masses.
• Moral Renunciation: Following Netaji’s philosophy of “Service and Sacrifice,” many Tamil families sent multiple members to the frontlines, viewing the struggle as a sacred duty.

Conclusion

Netaji’s “Parakram” (valour) remains a guiding light for India’s path to progress. His ability to fuse global military diplomacy with grassroots regional loyalty created a unique revolutionary model. As noted by the Vice-President on Parakram Diwas 2026, the contribution of Tamil soldiers and the strategic foresight of Netaji were the “final nails” in the coffin of British imperialism, ensuring that India’s freedom was won through both moral strength and military defiance.

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