The provisional Government of Azad Hind Organisation and leadership of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose

Dr Budha Kamei
Contd from previous issue
. To prevent and preempt any violation of the disciplinary rules and regulations, provisions were made for strong punishments. But all this did not mean that the military administration of Netaji's Azad Hind Government was oppressive. The authoritarian character and the element of regimentation of the military administration did not indicate any oppressive tenden- cy; their sole purpose was to strengthen the administration in order to make it infallible and invulnerable, adequate to fulfill the challenging tasks before it.
Hence, side by side the rigorous character of the military administration care was taken by Netaji to establish a democratic, secular, nationalist and humanist framework to ensure justice impartially, fair play and equality, and avoid discrimination and partiality, by way of just and equal treatment to the different grades of employees. This clearly does highlight democratic character of functioning of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind. There was also a human element in the functional norms of the military administrator. Hence, Netaji’s unfailing and uniform implementation of a system of awards in recognition of meritorious services to provide incentives to the military personnel. There was no factor of favoritism, partiality or nepotism in this matter- the sole decisive factors being merit and efficiency.
At the same time, Netaji was very careful, to guarantee that religious sentiments were not hurt in any way and no religious discrimination was made in the military administration of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind. Moreover, it is interesting to study, in this context, that even in the office work or field work of military administration special arrangements were made for cultural entertainments focusing on nationalism and patriotism. Further, a comprehensive educational system was built up by Netaji covering regular, special and propaganda lectures to train up the officers and the soldiers alike in martial art. Thus, there was opening of different military schools for this purpose.
Besides the military purpose, its objective was also to highlight the nationalist and patriotic character of the Azad Hind government, the curriculum and programs being planned with this objective. The program of higher military education and training for the INA cadets was determined by similar objectives and planning.
Side by side the military administration, Netaji, as a unique feature, built up an inclusive civil administration also, in the Provisional Government of Azad Hind. It co-existed with military wing within the INA government as a complement to it. Thus a comprehensive civil infrastructure was organized by Netaji in the civil administration under different departments. They were finance, publicity and propaganda, reconstruction, planning and Recruitment and so on. Japanese Government Publication emphasizes that the idea of the Provisional Government was Netaji's own from the stage of its conception down to its actual accomplishment. “The Provisional Government of Azad Hind will not be like a normal peace-time government, its functions and its composition will be of a unique kind. It will be a fighting organization, the main object of which will be to launch and to conduct the last war against the British and their allies in India.” [11] After this formal declaration of the establishment of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind, Netaji announced the names of the Cabinet members. Later on, some changes were effected; a new Ministry of manpower was created to co-ordinate recruitment and training arrangements.
A Reconstruction College was set up at Singapore to train administrators in civil affairs and relief work. At a further later addition to the Cabinet the Indian Legion in Europe was declared by Netaji to be a part of the INA and Nambiar who was put in charge of the Legion by Netaji at the time of leaving Germany, was made a Minister in the provisional Government of Azad Hind. Again three cabinet Committees were later on set up, one for each of the three different spheres of influence. They were East Asia base, liberated areas and British-occupied India.
With the formation of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind, the movement gathered momentum. Other than the Foreign Minister and the Ministers from the Military side, who had their assigned duties, the Ministers of the Government with portfolios such as propaganda, supplies, finance, etc., took over control of the respective Departments of the Headquarters, IIL. Subsequently, the Secretaries of Departments became the Secretaries to the respective Ministries.
The Ministers with portfolios prepared and put into execution programs within the scope of the policies settled by the Government at its Cabinet Meetings. They controlled their spheres of activities, and were responsible for their progress.
(To be contd)