Last months with the Indian National Army Death of Subhas Chandra Bose

map of central burma showing route taken subhas chandra bose , indian national army (ina) group of 500 rangoon moulmein. group traveled in japanese military convoy until reached river sittang. after crossing river, walked remaining 80 miles. @ moulmein, bose, party, , ina group of 500, boarded japanese trains on death railway (which had been constructed earlier british, australian, , dutch prisoners of war) arrive in bangkok in first week of may 1945.

during last week of april 1945, subhas chandra bose along senior indian national army (ina) officers, several hundred enlisted ina men, , hundred women ina s rani of jhansi regiment left rangoon road moulmein in burma. accompanied lieutenant general saburo isoda, head of japanese-ina liaison organization hikari kikan, japanese military convoy able reach right bank of sittang river, albeit slowly. (see map 1.) however, few vehicles able cross river because of american strafing runs. bose , party walked remaining 80 miles (130 km) moulmein on next week. moulmein terminus of death railway, constructed earlier british, australian, , dutch prisoners of war, linking burma siam (now thailand). @ moulmein, bose s group joined 500 men x-regiment, ina s first guerrilla regiment, arrived different location in lower burma.

a year , half earlier, 16,000 ina men , 100 women had entered burma malaya. now, less 1 tenth number left country, arriving in bangkok during first week of may. remaining 9 tenths either killed in action, died malnutrition or injuries after battles of imphal , kohima. others captured british, turned in, or disappeared. bose stayed in bangkok month, after arrival heard news of germany s surrender on may 8. bose spent next 2 months between june , july 1945 in singapore, , in both places attempted raise funds billeting soldiers or rehabilitating them if chose return civilian life, of women did. in nightly radio broadcasts, bose spoke increasing virulence against gandhi, had been released jail in 1944, , engaged in talks british administrators, envoys , muslim league leaders. senior ina officers began feel frustrated or disillusioned bose , prepare quietly arrival of british , consequences.

during first 2 weeks of august 1945, events began unfold rapidly. british threatening invade malaya , daily american aerial bombings, bose s presence in singapore became riskier day. chief of staff j. r. bhonsle suggested prepare leave singapore. on 3 august 1945, bose received cable general isoda advising him urgently evacuate saigon in japanese-controlled french indochina (now vietnam). on 10 august, bose learnt soviet union had entered war , invaded manchuria. @ same time heard atomic bombings of hiroshima , nagasaki. finally, on 16 august, after being informed of unconditional surrender of japan, bose decided leave saigon along handful of aides.