Rash Behari Bose was the founder member of the Indian National Army (INA) to win India’s freedom from the British.
Rash Behari was born on May 25, 1886, in Palara-Bighati (Hooghly) village, in Bengal. During his early days he was greatly influenced by the French Revolution of 1789 and various revolutionary writings and speeches. He started his revolutionary activities during the partition of Bengal in 1905. He was initially guided by Jatin Banerjee, an eminent revolutionary leader. His plans to instigate a rebellion among the Indian soldiers in British Service failed. He formed the Hindustan Republican Association to carry out armed uprisings. But the arrest of his followers and their subsequent execution forced him to flee to Tokyo, Japan, on June 1915.
Bose's initial life in Japan was as a fugitive. Later on, he became a Japanese citizen and married a Japanese woman. He learned Japanese and became a journalist and writer. He took part in many cultural activities and wrote many books in Japanese, explaining India's viewpoints. His efforts paid off and a conference was held in Tokyo from March 28 to 30, 1942, for discussions on political issues. During another conference held at Bangkok from June 15 to 23, 1942, Rash Behari hoisted the Indian National Flag and established a party called Indian Independence League.
During World War II, on September 1, 1942, Rash Behari Bose formed the Indian National Army (INA) to help in India’s freedom struggle. In 194, he handed over the Supreme Command of the INA to Subash Chandra Bose, another great revolutionary. Rash Behari Bose died before the World War II ended, on January 21, 1945.
