This pocket manual was given to the troops of the Indian National Army (INA) in 1943. The image on the cover shows the INA badge, with a map of India in the centre and the initials ‘INA’ at the top. Below it, although obscured in this photograph, is the INA’s motto, Ittefaq, Etmad, Kurbani, meaning ‘Unity, Faith and Sacrifice’. It is noted at the bottom of the cover that the manual was published by the Indian Independence League, based in ‘Syonan’. Syonan-to was the name of Japanese-occupied Singapore, which was a centre of Indian independence activity from 1942 to 1944.

The booklet contains a list of rules governing behaviour for INA soldiers. It includes orders of absolute commitment such as ‘Achievement of Independence of your Motherland should be your sole objective. Devote your heart and soul to it’. It also includes more practical military rules such as ‘Always stand up when a superior officer comes in’, instructions for humility and discipline such as ‘Don’t boast or brag about your capabilities’ and ‘Keep your appointments’. There are also several rules insisting on tolerance of different opinions and religions, and ordering soldiers to avoid discussing politics.

What was the Indian National Army?

The INA was the military wing of the Provisional Government of Free India, otherwise known as Azad Hind. Its chief aim was to liberate India from British colonial rule by force. Based in Japanese-occupied Singapore, it enjoyed the military and financial support of Japan, an Axis power and enemy of Britain during World War Two.

Before World War Two, many exiled Indian independence activists took refuge in Japan and its territories, including Rash Behari Bose. He established the first INA in 1942, but it collapsed at the end of that year. During World War Two, Subhas Chandra Bose (a radical leader of the Indian independence struggle) travelled the world trying to secure support from the Axis powers to remove the British from India. In 1943 he arrived in Japan and was successful in cultivating official assistance.

With Japanese support, he proclaimed the provisional government of Azad Hind and revived the INA. Its 40,000 troops were recruited from Indian prisoners-of-war and civilians living in Japanese-occupied territories. In late 1944 the Japanese Army and INA invaded India to fight British forces, but were defeated. On 15 August 1945 Bose declared the end of the INA during a radio broadcast from Singapore. After the war, many of the troops were tried for treason by the British, which inadvertently furthered the cause of Indian nationalism.