Table of Contents
Introduction
This article published in the editorial section of The Hindu Newspaper on the triumphant occasion of Independence Day is written by none other than Mr Shashi Tharoor Indian politician, diplomat, writer, and public intellectual known for his eloquence and vast vocabulary. The article talks about a significant event in Indian history that is the INA trials and reflects on how it is relevant even today.
Background Information
INA Trials
The Indian National Army (INA) Trials, also known as the Red Fort Trials, was a significant event in the final years of British rule in India. The INA was formed during World War II by Indian nationalists led by Subhas Chandra Bose, who sought to free India from British rule. The INA consisted of Indian soldiers captured by the Japanese and Indian civilians in Southeast Asia who joined the cause.
In November 1945, the British colonial government decided to put members of the INA on trial for treason, murder, and other charges at the Red Fort in Delhi. The most famous trial involved three officers: Shah Nawaz Khan (a Muslim), Prem Sahgal (a Hindu), and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon (a Sikh). The British government hoped that prosecuting these men would discredit the INA and discourage future revolts.
However, the trial backfired on the British, provoked widespread public outrage across India, and unified people across religious lines. Protests, demonstrations, and strikes were held across the country in support of the INA soldiers. Even the Indian National Congress, which had previously been critical of Bose’s methods, came out in support of the INA soldiers. Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, took up the defence of the soldiers in court.
In December 1945, the court found the three officers guilty of treason, but due to overwhelming public pressure and fear of further unrest, the British decided not to carry out the death sentences. Instead, the soldiers were dismissed from the army and released. The INA Trials are often seen as a turning point in India’s struggle for independence, as they inadvertently united the population in a common cause.
Article Explanation
This article talks about the end of British rule in India after World War II and the events that led to India’s independence.
After World War II, Britain, which had been a powerful empire for centuries, was weakened by the war’s effects. The British economy was in bad shape, and they could no longer afford to maintain control over their colonies, including India. So, Britain’s new leader, Prime Minister Clement Attlee, decided that it was time to give India its independence. This decision was supported by the Labour Party, which had just come into power.
One major event discussed in the article is the Red Fort Trials. During the war, some Indian soldiers joined Subhas Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army (INA) to fight for independence from the British. After the war, the British decided to put three of these soldiers—a Hindu, a Muslim, and a Sikh—on trial for treason, accusing them of betraying the British. However, this trial sparked massive protests across India. Indians of all religions came together, showing their support for the soldiers. This created a sense of unity among the people, even though there were deep religious divisions in the country.
The trial symbolized the beginning of the end of British rule. Although independence was soon won, the unity that had been briefly achieved during the protests was not enough to prevent India from being divided into two countries—India and Pakistan—based on religion
The Red Fort Trials involved three Indian National Army (INA) officers, Captain Shah Nawaz Khan, Captain P.K. Sahgal, and Lieutenant Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, accused of treason, murder, and aiding murder for their role in fighting against Subhas Chandra Bose, who sought to liberate India from British rule. Crowds gathered outside the Red Fort, shouting slogans in support of the three men, who were seen as heroes fighting for India’s independence. The All-India Congress Committee formed a defence team to support the soldiers, with Jawaharlal Nehru, a lawyer who had not practised for 25 years, defending them.
People from different religions and regions united against British rule, with violent demonstrations in Calcutta and Madras. The trial became a symbol of a larger shift in India’s history, as the British government, weakened by World War II, began to lose control. By 1946, Britain announced plans to work towards Indian independence, marking the end of British rule in India.
The article suggests that today’s leaders should learn from this history and work towards unity rather than division. The article reflects on this moment of unity among Indians, reminding us that despite differences in religion and region, the people stood together to fight for freedom.
It suggests that today’s leaders should learn from this history and work towards unity rather than division. The Red Fort Trials symbolized the struggle for freedom but also hinted at the painful Partition of India when the country was divided into two — India and Pakistan.
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