Arzi Hukumate Azad Hind (literally translated from Urdu) meant the Provisional Government of Free India. It was established by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on October 21, 1943 in Singapore, having all the requisites of a Government. It had the backing of the Indian National Army. The regular government had its own currency, court and civil code.

It survived till the retreat of Japan following the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Recognition

It had diplomatic relations with nine countries: Germany, Japan, Italy, Croatia, Nationalist China, Siam, Burma, Manchukuo and the Philippines. On the declaration of its formation in Singapore, President Eamon de Valera of the Irish Free State sent a note of congratulations to Bose. This government had participated as a delegate or observer in the now defunct Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.

Ministers

It had a Cabinet headed by Netaji as the Head of the State, The Prime Minister and the Minister for War and Foreign Affairs.

Captain Doctor Lakshmi Swaminathan (later married as Lakshmi Sehgal) was the Minister in charge of Women's Organization. She held this portfolio over and above her command of the Rani Jhansi Regiment of a Brigade's strength. In a regular army, the women's army unit was the first of its kind in Asia. Dr. Lakshmi was one of the most popular and prosperous gynecologists in Singapore. She gave up her fabulous practice to be in uniform and to undergo all the hardships a combatant has to go through in a war.

The other ministers were:

Mr. S. A. Ayer held the portfolio of Broadcasting and Publicity ; Lt. Col. A. C. Chatterji was Finance Minister ;

The Armed Forces were represented by Lieut. Col.Aziz Ahmed, Lieut Col. N. S . Bhagat, Lt. Col. J. K. Bhonsle, Lt. Colonel Guizara Singh, Lt. Col. M.Z. Kiani, Lt. Col. A. D. Loganathan Lt. Col. Ehsan Qadir, Lt. Col. Shahnawaz Khan,

Mr. A.N. Sahay was Secretary with ministerial rank

Messrs Karim Ghani, Debnath Das, D.M. Khan, A. Yellapa, J. Thivy and Sirdar Isher Singh were Advisors and Mr. A. N. Sarkar was the Legal Advisor ( all with ministerial rank )

Mr. Rash Behari Bose, the founder and till then President of the Indian Independence League, vacated the Presidentship of the Indian Independence League and all its offices to make room for the younger leader Bose to come and to take over. On Netaji's request to him to be the Supreme Advisor, the senior Bose accepted the post with grace.

General Loganathan, was Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands which having been annexed to the Provisional Government had been renamed "Shaheed" and "Swaraj" respectively. Again he had to act as the G.O.C. Burma Command after Netaji's departure from Rangoon. With the I.N.A. Contingent about 6,000 strong he manned the Burmese Capital in the absence of any other Police force or troops during the period between the departure of the Japanese and the arrival of the British. And he was successful in maintaining law and order to the extent that there was not a single case of dacoity or of loot during the period-24th April to 4th May 1945.

Indian areas under its administration

• Andaman and Nicobar Islands
• Kohima
• Imphal

Websites

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