Who is credited with first conceiving the idea of the Indian National Army and organising it from Indian prisoners of war in South-East Asia in 1942?

Captain Mohan Singh, an officer of the British Indian Army, is credited with first conceiving the idea of the Indian National Army (INA), and with organising it from Indian prisoners of war in South-East Asia.

Background:

• In December 1941, Japan entered the Second World War and attacked the British colonies in South-East Asia.
• Mohan Singh was serving in the 1/14 Punjab Regiment in Malaya.
• After the British defeat in northern Malaya, he surrendered to the Japanese.

Formation of the first INA:

• Mohan Singh met Major Iwaichi Fujiwara, the head of the Japanese intelligence unit (the "F-Kikan"), and Giani Pritam Singh, a leader of the Indian Independence League.
• They agreed that the Indian prisoners of war should be organised into an army to fight for India's freedom.
• After the fall of Singapore (February 1942), about 40,000 Indian prisoners of war were handed over to Mohan Singh.
• Many of them volunteered to join the new army.
• The Bangkok Conference (June 1942), presided over by Rash Behari Bose, decided to form the Indian National Army under the Indian Independence League.
• Mohan Singh became its first commander (General Officer Commanding).

The crisis:

• Differences arose between Mohan Singh and the Japanese, who wanted to control the INA and use it for their own purposes.
• In December 1942, Mohan Singh was removed and arrested by the Japanese, and the first INA was almost dissolved.

Revival of the INA:

Subhas Chandra Bose arrived in South-East Asia in 1943, and revived the INA, which became known as the "Azad Hind Fauj".

Later life:

• Mohan Singh was released after the war, and returned to India.
• He became a member of the Rajya Sabha.
• He died in 1989.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Bose revived the INA in 1943; Shah Nawaz Khan was an officer of the INA; Lakshmi Sahgal commanded its women's regiment.