The Bangkok Conference held from 15 to 23 June 1942 was attended by more than 150 Indian delegates from Malaya, Singapore, Burma, Thailand, Hong Kong, Manila, and Java.
In southeast Asia, during the Second World War, the Japanese troops had occupied the British colonies of Singapore, Malaya, and Myanmar. As a result, a large number of Indians fell into their hands as prisoners of war. These soldiers wanted to free India from British rule. Thus, the Indian Independence League was formed under the guidance of Rash Behari Bose. The main aim of the League was to mobilize the Indian soldiers and community for securing independence.
Rash Behari Bose, an Indian revolutionary and an organizer of the Indian Independence League planned the Tokyo Conference. The aim of holding the Conference was to meet the military officers of Japan. The main programs of the Conference were to expand and strengthen the Indian Independence League, to form an Indian National Army, and to hold a Conference of the representatives of Indians in Bangkok in June 1942.
Bangkok Conference
- The Bangkok Conference held from 15 to 23 June 1942 was attended by more than 150 Indian delegates from Malaya, Singapore, Burma, Thailand, Hong Kong, Manila, and Java.
- The Indian National Army or the Azad Hind Fauj was established on 1 September 1942 and Captain Mohan Singh was declared as its Commander-in-Chief.
- The delegates to the Conference invited Subhas Chandra Bose for leading the movement to free India from British rule.
- Bose accepted the invitation and reached Singapore in June 1943 and took over the leadership of the INA.
- The INA consisted of a large number of soldiers who were captured by the Japanese forces in Myanmar, Malaya, and Singapore. Some of his famous battle cries were “Give me blood, and I will give you freedom” and “Delhi Chalo”.
- A women’s wing of the INA was also set up. It was named after Rani Laxmi Bai. This wing was led by Dr. Laxmi Swaminathan.
- Subhas Chandra Bose also founded the Provisional Government of Free India in Singapore on 21 October 1943. This government was recognized by nine governments including Germany, Italy, Japan, and Myanmar.
- The Provisional Government of Free India acquired its first territories when Japan handed over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to it.
Also, Read The Rise of Assertive Nationalism