Full Description
The Indian National Army (INA) trials of 1945-46 have generally been given short shrift by historians in their cataloguing of the Indian freedom movement. This book examines to what extent the trials had an impact on the final phase of India's quest for independence. In so doing, it unveils that, while the Indian National Congress's extended odyssey to win independence was essentially about a passive push-back, at a critical juncture of its campaign to extinguish British colonialism in India, it applauded and capitalised on the INA's use of force. The central, explosive narrative is about Britain holding a court martial of three officers of the INA - Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Sahgal and Gurbaksh Dhillon - convicting them, before a dramatic turn in events.
The material unearthed by the book throws new light on a decisive juncture leading to the transfer of power in India. It will be indispensable for researchers interested in South Asia, especially the Indian freedom movement. It will be invaluable for students of history, colonialism, military studies, politics in pre-Partition India and law.
Contents
List of Figures x
Profiles xi
Preface xiv
1 Violence against British Rule in 19th- and 20th-Century India 1
2 The Indian National Army 17
3 The Trial that Shook Britain 49
4 Repercussions of the Indian National Army Trial: Part I 86
- Public Protest 86
4 Repercussions of the Indian National Army Trial: Part II 113
- The Naval Mutiny 113
5 Acceptance of Independence Hastened 140
Countdown to a Concession 149
Glossary 151
Bibliography 153
Index 156
