The Indian National Army in Burma

Gautam Hazarika provides a fascinating insight into the role of the Indian National Army and its service alongside the Japanese during the Second World War.

The Indian National Army (INA) was originally formed in 1942 in an effort to free India from British rule. Supported by Imperial Japan, it was recruited largely from Indian prisoners of war in the wake of the Fall of Singapore.

Its actual role in the conflict has been little understood. British memory has largely ignored it or simply focused on instances of its men surrendering. Indian memory tends towards the other extreme and portrays it as having fought Slim’s 'Forgotten' Fourteenth Army almost single-handedly.

In truth, the Japanese didn't trust the INA to fight. The one regiment they reluctantly accepted was used for the Imphal campaign, in the Arakan and to guard the rear. Ill-equipped and poorly supplied, hundreds of its soldiers died of starvation and sickness.

In 1945, when the Japanese did call upon the INA's fighting capabilities, it was too late. A force of 800 men attempted to defend a section of the River Irrawaddy in central Burma, but were forced to give way after a few hours. The INA’s last stand was at Mount Popa, after which it disintegrated.

In this engaging talk, Gautam Hazarika will reflect on the role of the INA in the Burma campaign. He will also show how, despite their ultimate defeat, these soldiers' efforts resonated with the Indian public, fuelling a wave of revolutionary fervour and hastening independence.

About the speaker

Gautam Hazarika is a Singapore-based researcher with an interest in uncovering lesser-known stories of the Second World War in Southeast Asia.