The First Indian National Army (or the First INA) was the Indian National Army as it existed between February and December, 1942. It was formed with the aid of Japanese and after the fall of Singapore consisted of approximately 12,000 of the 40,000 Indian prisoners of war who were captured during the Malayan Campaign or surrendered at Singapore. It was led by Mohan Singh. It was formally proclaimed in April, 1942 and declared the subordinate military wing of the Indian Independence League in June, 1942. The unit was dissolved in December, 1942 after apprehensions of Japanese motives with regards to the INA led to disagreements and distrust between Mohan Singh and INA leadership on the one hand and the League’s leadership, most notably Ras Behari Bose on the other. A large number of the INA’s initial volunteers however, later went on to join the INA in its second incarnation under Subhash Chandra Bose. Bose arrived in Singapore on 2 July and in October, 1943 formally announced the establishment of the Provisional Government of Free India and took charges of INA.....Read more