Editing Azad Hind (section)

== Relations with the Axis Powers ==
{{see also|Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy|Collaboration with Imperial Japan}}
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| image1 = Bundesarchiv Bild 101III-Alber-064-03A, Subhas Chandra Bose bei Heinrich Himmler.jpg
| image2 = Subhas Chandra Bose meeting Adolf Hitler.jpg
| footer = (left) Bose with [[Heinrich Himmler]], the Nazi Minister of Interior, head of the [[Schutzstaffel|SS]], and the [[Gestapo]], 1942; (right) Subhas Bose shaking hands with [[Adolf Hitler]]
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Since [[Subhas Chandra Bose]] aligned with [[Empire of Japan]] and the [[Axis Powers]], which also included [[Nazi Germany]] and [[Fascist Italy (1922-1943)|Fascist Italy]], Britain portrayed him as a controversial figure for his official stance against [[imperialism]] which would run in opposition against Japanese imperialism in Asia during World War II. Bose himself claimed to oppose all manner of colonial practices but claimed Britain as [[hypocritical]] in {{qi|fighting a war for democracy}} while refusing to extend the same respect for democracy and equal rights to their colonial subjects in India. Bose opposed [[Racial Equality Proposal, 1919|British racial policy]] and declared [[Greater East Asia Conference#Joint Declaration|working for the abolition of racial discrimination]] with [[Burma|Burmese]], Japanese and other Asians.<ref>{{Cite news|title=After Centre's rejection, Netaji tableau to be displayed at Kolkata Republic Day programme|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/after-centres-rejection-netaji-tableau-to-be-displayed-at-kolkata-republic-day-programme/articleshow/88980433.cms|access-date=2022-01-23}}</ref>

Britain accused Bose of [[fascism]], citing his role in the Provisional Government of Azad Hind as evidence of this; and pointed to him wanting to establish a [[totalitarian]] state in India with the blessings of the Axis powers. Bose believed that parliamentary democracy was unsuitable for India immediately after independence and that a centrally organised, self-sufficient, semi-socialist India under the firm control of a single party was the best course for Indian government. Some of his ideas would help shape Indian governmental policy in the aftermath of the country's independence from Britain.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Netaji had vision for economic strength of India, was champion of gender equality: Daughter|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/netaji-had-vision-for-economic-strength-of-india-was-champion-of-gender-equality-daughter/articleshow/89043872.cms|access-date=2022-01-23}}</ref>

It has been argued that the fact that Azad Hind was aligned politically with Japan and the Axis Powers may have had more to do with what Bose saw as a pragmatic approach to Indian independence. Disillusioned with Congress's non-violent movement, Bose was clearly of the camp that supported exploiting British weakness to gain Indian independence. Throughout the existence of Azad Hind, Bose sought to distance himself from Japanese collaboration and become more self-sufficient but found this difficult since the existence of Azad Hind as a governmental entity had only come about with the support of the Japanese, on whom the government and army of Azad Hind were entirely dependent. Bose, however, is considered a hero by some in present-day India and is remembered as a man who fought fiercely for Indian independence.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sarvadharma.org/Museum/heroes/subbose.htm |title=Subhash Chandra Bose |access-date=16 February 2006 |archive-date=14 January 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060114034900/http://sarvadharma.org/Museum/heroes/subbose.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> However, Subhas Chandra Bose had supported Fascism and Nazism before the start of WWII, declaring that India needed {{qi|a synthesis of what modern Europe calls socialism and fascism}} in a speech in made in Calcutta in 1930.<ref>Pasricha, Ashu (2008). "The Political Thought of Subhas Chandra Bose". ''Encyclopaedia Eminent Thinkers'', 16, Concept Publishing Company.</ref>

Although Japanese troops saw much of the combat in India against the British, the INA was certainly by itself an effective combat force, having faced British and allied troops and making their mark in the [[Battle of Imphal]]. On 18 April 1944 the suicide squad led by Col. Shaukat Malik broke through the British defence and captured [[Moirang]] in Manipur. The Azad Hind administration took control of this independent Indian territory.<ref name=":7">''The Hindustan Times'' {{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/Netaji/enlisting9.htm |title=Hindustan Times – Archive News |access-date=8 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930014458/http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/Netaji/enlisting9.htm |archive-date=30 September 2007 }}</ref> Following Moirang, the advancing INA breached the Kohima road, posing a threat to the British positions in both [[Silchar]] and [[Kohima]]. Col. Gulzara Singh's column had penetrated 250 miles into India. The Azad Brigade advanced, by outflanking the Anglo-American positions.<ref name=":8">Majumdar, R. C. (1978). ''Jibanera Smritideepe (Bengali)''. Calcutta, General Printers and Publishers, pp. 229–230.</ref>

However, INA's most serious, and ultimately fatal, limitations were the reliance on Japanese logistics and supplies and the total air-dominance of the allies, which, along with a supply line deluged by torrential rain, frustrated the INA's and the Japanese bid to take [[Imphal]].<ref name=":1" />

With the siege of Imphal failing, the Japanese began to shift priority for resource allocation from South Asia to the Pacific, where they were fighting United States troops advancing from island to island against Japanese holdings there. When it had become clear that Bose's plans to advance to Delhi from the borders of Burma would never materialise due to the defeat of the INA at [[Imphal]] and the halt of Japanese armies by British [[Air force|aerial]] and later [[naval]] superiority in the region, Japanese support for Azad Hind declined, and then fully collapsed with the surrender of Japan to the Americans on 2 September 1945.<ref name=":7" />