ICSE Solutions and Questions Answers for Forward Bloc and the INA Class 10 History
We are going to learn the ICSE Solutions of tenth chapter of the History textbook of Class 10. The name of the chapter is Subhas Chandra Bose and the INA. All types of questions including very short answer type, short answer type, structured questions and questions based on picture perception has been provided. This ICSE solutions for Subhas Chandra Bose and the INA will help the students in learning the chapter outcome.
| Name of the chapter | Forward BLOC and the INA |
| Subject | History and Civics |
| Topics covered |
|
| Related Readings |
Very Short Questions
Answer
Subhash Chandra Bose was born on 23rd January 1897, to a pious Bengali family in Cuttack, presently in Orissa.
Answer
Subhash Chandra Bose was deeply disturbed by the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, and left his Civil Services apprenticeship midway and returned to India in 1921.
Answer
In 1938, Subhash was elected as the President of the Indian National Congress for the first time.
Answer
Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya was the leader against whom Base contested.
Answer
The main aim was immediate liberation of India.
Answer
Subhash Chandra Bose founded the 'Forward Bloc' in the year 1939.
Answer
The party formed by Subhash Chandra Bose was the 'Forward Bloc'.
Answer
Forward Bloc was formed on 3 May, 1939.
Short Answer Questions
1. How did the rise of socialism impact the Indian National Congress?
Answer
The economic depression which engulfed the capitalist countries in 1929, made no impact on Socialist Russia. This popularised the socialist ideas throughout the world. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru pleaded the Congress to adopt socialism as the goal of the Congress at its Lucknow session in 1936.
2. When did Subhash hold the presidentship of Indian National Congress?
Answer
He joined the Congress in April 1921 and plunged into the National Movement. He was unanimously elected President at the Haripura session of the Congress in 1938 and was re-elected for the second term at the Tripuri Congress session in 1939, defeating Pattabhi Sitararnyya, who had the backing of Mahatma Gandhi.
3. Who conceived the idea of INA? When was Indian National Army formally established?
Answer
The idea of the Indian National Army (INA) was conceived in Malaya by Mohan Singh, an Indian officer in the British Indian Army. Indian Prisoners of War (POW's) were handed over by the Japanese to Mohan Singh who inducted them into the INA. The fall of Singapore brought 45,000 Indian POWs into Mohan Singh's sphere of influence. By the end of 1942, more forty thousand men expressed their willingness to join the INA. The INA was formally established in September 1942.
4. Mention any two contributions of Subhash Bose in Indian freedom struggle?
Answer
(i) In Singapore, Rash Behari Bose handed over the command of Azad Hind Fauj or INA to Subhas Chandra Bose, who became its supreme commander on August 26, 1943.
(ii) He set up the Provisional Government of Free India on October 21, 1943 in Singapore.
(iii) He declared war on Britain and the USA and acquired its first stretch of territory in India when Japan handed over Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
5. Name the party formed by Subhash Chandra Bose. When was it found?
Answer
Forward Bloc, was formed by Subhash Chandra Bose on May 3, 1939. This party represented the left-wing in the Congress.
6. What was the immediate objective of the Forward Bloc?
Answer
The main objective of the Forward Bloc was liberation of India with the support of workers, peasants, youths and all radical organisations.
7. Name the islands which were handed over to INA by Japan. What names were given by Subhash Chandra Bose to these islands?
Answer
Andaman and Nicobar Islands were handed over to the INA. These were renamed as 'Shahid' and 'Swaraj'.
8. Name the countries which accorded recognition to the Provisional Government.
Answer
Japan, Germany and Italy, the Axis powers had accorded recognition to the Provisional Government.
9. Who was Rash Behari Bose? Which oraganisation did he raise?
Answer
Rash Behari Bose was an Indian revolutionary who went to Japan in 1915. He established Indian Independence League in 1942. He also played a vital role in raising the Indian National Army.
10. Why did Subhash Chandra Bose resign from the presidentship of the Indian National Congress?
Answer
Subhash Chandra Bose resigned due to ideological differences with Gandhiji.
11. State the importance of the Tripuri session (1939) of the Congress.
Answer
The Tripuri Session of the Congress in 1939 saw the widening of the gulf between the two wings of the Congress Party. The left wing led by Bose wanted the Congress to help the people of the Princely States in their struggle for freedom, whereas Gandhiji criticised their demands.
12. What was Forward Bloc's programme for rebuilding India?
OR
How would Forward Bloc establish of socialist state in India after Independence?
Answer
Forward Bloc would work for the establishment of a Socialist State through:
- reorganisation of agriculture and industry on socialist lines;
- abolition of the zamindari system; and
- introduction of a new monetary and credit system.
13. How did the idea of Indian Independence League emerge?
Answer
Indians, living in territories captured by Japan, organised themselves into associations with the objective of contributing to the liberation of India and serving the interests of the overseas Indians during the critical period. Out of these associations was born the idea of an Indian Independence League. A definite shape was given to this idea by the Indian revolutionary, Rashbehari Bose who lived in Singapore after escaping from India.
14. What was the objective of the Indian National Army?
Answer
The main objectives of the INA were the following:
- To organise an armed revolution and to fight the British army of occupation with modern arms.
- Since it was not possible for the Indians to organise an armed revolution from their homeland, this task must depend on Indians living abroad, particularly on Indians living in East Asia.
- To organise a provisional government of Free India in order to mobilise all the forces effectively.
- Total mobilisation of Indian man-power and money for a total war. (v) The motto of the INA was 'unity, faith, sacrifice'.
15. Who led the women's regiment of INA?
Answer
A women's regiment called the Rani Jhansi Regiment was led by Dr. Laxmi Swaminathan.
16. Who was the supreme commander of INA? Where were its headquarters located?
Answer
In August 1943, Subhash Bose took the charge of the Indian National Army and became its supreme commander. He set up the INA headquarters in Yangon and in Singapore and began to recognise the INA.
17. What was the war cry or the slogan given by Subhash Bose?
Answer
Subhash Chandra Bose gave the call to his soldiers, "Give me blood and I shall give you freedom." He gave the slogans - 'Delhi Chalo' and 'Jai Hind'.
18. What was the task assigned to the Provisional Government?
Answer
The major task of the Provisional Government was to launch and conduct the struggle that will bring about the expulsion of the British and their allies from the Indian soil. Another important task assigned to the Provisional Government was to establish permanent national government of Azad Hind.
19. Which territories in British India were captured by INA?
OR
State the victories of INA.
Answer
The INA made preparations to launch its fight for the liberation of India and went into action in February 1944.
- INA captured Mowdok, an outpost situated south-east of Chittagong and advanced up to the frontier of India.
- They captured the strong military post of Kiang Kiang.
- The INA gave a tough fight to the British forces in the Assam hills and succeeded in capturing Ukhral and Kohima.
20. Name the INA officers who were put to trial by the British?
Answer
The government decided to put on trial in the Red Fort at Delhi, officers of the INA - Shah Nawaz Khan, Gurdial Singh Dhillon and Prem Sehgal who had earlier been officers in the British India Army.
21. How did Netaji said to have died?
Answer
After the surrender of Japan in WWII, Netaji left Rangoon for Bangkok. Thereafter he flew to Tokyo. While on his way to Tokyo he is said to have received fatal injuries in a plane crash. The Japanese official version was that Netaji died on August 18th, 1945.
22. Who took the initiative for a conference in Tokyo? What was decided in the Conference?
Answer
It was mainly due to Rashbehari Bose's efforts that a conference was held at Tokyo from 28th to 30th March, 1942. At the Conference the following decisions were taken:
- to expand and strengthen the Indian Independence League,
- to form under the overall command of the League an Indian National Army (INA), i.e. an army for Indian liberation,
- to hold a conference at Bangkok to consolidate these decisions.
23. When did Netaji take the charge of the INA? Where were it's headquarters located?
Answer
On August 26th, 1943 he took the charge of the Indian National Army and became its supreme commander. He set up the INA headquarters in Yangon and in Singapore and began to reorganise the INA.
24. Which resolutions were past at the Bangkok Conference?
Answer
The Bangkok Conference was held from June 15th to June 23rd. It passed many resolutions, such as:
- Invitation to Subhas Chandra Bose to come from Europe to lead this movement.
- Formation of a Council of Action to control and guide the whole movement.
- Election of Rashbehari Bose as the President of the Council.
- Appointment of Mohan Singh as the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian National Army.
Answer
Forward Bloc's immediate objective was to liberate India with the support of workers, peasants, youth and other radical organisations.
Main ideas of the Party:
- To develop the economy on socialistic ideas.
- Abolition of landlordism i.e., Zamindari system.
- A new monetary and credit system.
Answer
(i) Invitation to Subhash Chandra Bose to come from Europe to lead this movement.
(ii) Formation of a Council of Action to control and guide the whole movement.
Answer
The two main objectives of the Indian National Army were:
(i) To work towards the liberation of India and the Indians who were staying abroad to serve foreigners.
(ii) To acquire support from outside India and fight against Britain.
Answer
These islands were renamed by Bose as 'Shaheed' and 'Swaraj' islands.
(i) The INA uprisings inspired the Naval revolts in Bombay in February 1946.
(ii) Trial of the INA officers attracted sympathy of the whole country and the British had to set them free.
Answer
Two contributions towards India's freedom movement by Subhash Chandra Bose were:
(i) He formed the INA which incited the armed forces to revolt against the British Raj.
(ii) It was Netaji's and INA's struggle against the British which was an important factor for their quitting India.
Answer
Bose and Gandhi possessed opposite views that led to irreconcilable differences between the two:
(i) Subhash believed in socialism and revolutionary thinking. This went against the policy and programme of Gandhi.
(ii) Bose was of the opinion that freedom could not be achieved without outside support particularly in the war times. Both Gandhi and Nehru rejected this idea of Subhas.
Answer
For the establishment of a socialist society Subhash Chandra Bose proposed the following measures:
(i) State planning for the reorganisation of agriculture and industry on socialist lines.
(ii) Abolition of landlordism or the Zamindari system.
(iii) Introduction of a new monetary and Credit system.
Answer
Forward Bloc's immediate objective was liberation of India with the support of workers, peasants, youths and all radical organizations. Forward Bloc's next objective after attaining independence was to work for the establishment of a socialist society.
Answer
Formation of Indian Independence League
During the Second World War Japan had captured more than 40,000 Indian soldiers. These soldiers along with other Indians who were living in the South-East Asia formed the Indian Independence League under the leadership of Rash Behari Bose.
Answer
During the Second World War, Britain began to face defeat. Britain's defeats roused great hopes among Indian soldiers who were earlier prisoners of war. They were ready to take action, which led to the formation of the Indian Independence League. The organiser of the League was Rash Behari Bose, an old revolutionary who fled to Japan in 1915.
Answer
Tokyo Conference was held from 28th March to March 31, 1942. It was attended by about more than 120 delegates from Burma, Malaya, Thailand, Indo-China, Japan, China etc. The Tokyo Conference passed a resolution to form an 'Indian National Army'. At the Tokyo Conference (28 March, 1942), the following decisions were taken:
(i) To expand and strengthen the Indian Independence League.
(ii) To form under the overall command of the League an Indian National Army (INA) i.e., an army for the liberation of India; and
(iii) To hold a Conference at Bangkok to consolidate these decisions.
Answer
The INA officers' trial began in Red Fort. Their trial evoked lot of sympathy across the country. The congress took up their causes. Jawaharlal Nehru, Bhulabhai Desai and Tej Bahadur Sapru fought the case on behalf of the INA officers.
Answer
Subhash Chandra Bose became the Congress President in 1938, showing the influence of the Leftist and Socialist wing in the Congress. He was re-elected the very next year i.e., in 1839 by defeating Gandhi's candidate, Pattabhi Sitarmayya. Gandhiji felt that the defeat was his, rather than that of Pattabhi. On the question of the formation of the Congress Working Committee, there arose a sharp rift between Gandhiji and Bose. While Bose wanted freedom to choose his own Working Committee, Gandhiji disapproved it because he foresaw a danger of Bose using all means, including violence, in the struggle of independence. The deadlock between the two could not be resolved in spite of the efforts by Nehru and Jayaprakash Narayan. As a result, Bose was left alone, as no one would come forward to join his Working Committee in the face of Gandhiji's displeasure. So, being rendered helpless, Subhas Chandra Bose resigned from the Congress Presidentship on April 29, 1939, yielding the position to Gandhian Candidate Dr. Rajendra Prasad as the next President.
Structured Questions
Answer
Subhash Chandra Bose was born on 237c1 January, 1897 in Cuttack, Orissa. After completing his early education, he joined the famous Presidency College at Calcutta. He went to England for higher studies and passed the Indian Civil Service Examination in 1920. He got attracted towards the freedom movement of the country and resigned from the ICS in the following year. He joined the Non-Cooperation Movement launched by Gandhiji and was imprisoned for six months in December 1921. He bitterly criticized Gandhiji when he withdrew the movement in 1922. He also participated in Civil Disobedience Movement of 1930. He was a strong supporter of socialist ideas. He became the President of Congress with the support of younger elements in the Congress. His differences with Gandhiji reached their height in 1939. Inspite of Gandhiji's opposition, he was again elected the President of the Congress in 1939. But he resigned from this post and founded the Forward Bloc in 1939 to carry on the freedom struggle while remaining within the Congress.
Answer
- Subhash Chandra Bose was against Gandhian policies and programme. He had little belief in the constitutional means and peaceful methods for the attainment of freedom. He was a veritable revolutionary and favoured armed struggle to oust and end the British imperialism. He was ready to seek foreign assistance to achieve his goals. He believed in employing tact and diplomacy while dealing with his opponents. He said that–"Gandhiji's logic cannot convince the British rulers. He has failed as he always keeps his cards open."
- He was in favour of socialism and formed the 'Forward Block' to establish a socialist society in India after independence. This was against the policies of Mahatma Gandhi.
- Bose advocated that the political instability of war-time Britain should be taken advantage of rather than simply waiting for the British to grant independence after the end of the war. Gandhiji and Nehru wanted to adopt a compromising attitude and opposed the national struggle during the war.
- In 1939, Bose launched the National Planning Committee for drawing up a comprehensive plan for industrialisation. However, Gandhiji was opposed to it. He favoured small scale industries to make the villages self-sufficient.
- The leaders of the movement and the people of the Princely States expected sympathy and cooperation. Bose wanted Congress to help the people in their struggle for freedom whereas Gandhiji was opposed to any intervention.
OR
Why was Forward Bloc formed?
Answer
(i) Subhash Chandra Bose was a great freedom fighter. Though he passed the Indian Civil Service Examination but decided not to join the service of the British Government. He was an eminent fighter. For his courage, sacrifice and boldness, he is popularly known as Netaji.
(ii) Formation of Forward Bloc: Bose, who started his political career with the Congress, left it to chart out a course of his own. He was more of a radical in achieving his objectives and felt that Gandhi's methods of non-violence would never suffice to secure India's independence.
(iii) INA and Subhash Chandra Bose: Subhash Chandra Bose officially took charge of the Indian National Army in 1943. The soldiers of the I.N.A. fought valiantly along with the Japanese forces and reached upto Imphal and Manipur. On October 21, 1943 Subhash Chandra Bose announced the formation of the Provisional Government of free India and declared war against the Allies. Andaman and Nicobar Islands were handed over to INA by Japan. 'Delhi Chalo' and 'Jai Hind' became the battle cry of the INA.
(iv) INA's Victories in South-East Asia: It was the INA which hoisted Tri colour flag for the first time on the liberated Indian soil on March 19, 1944. INA alongwith Japanese forces continued to hold Burma for almost a year.
(v) INA's impact on the National Movement: The popularity of INA could be judged from the trial of INA officers—Shah Nawaz, G. S. Dhillon and Prem Seghal. Though the Court martial held them guilty but they were not punished due to demonstrations all over the country. The INA spirit affected the armed forces and the Indian Navy also. The Indian Navy rose in revolt at Mumbai in February 1946. The INA though failed in its mission but its soldiers and the leader Subhash Chandra Bose set an inspiring example of patriotism before the Indian people.
4. Subhash Chandra Bose laid the foundation of a radical and progressive party within the Congress in 1939. In this context answer the following:
(a) Under what circumstances he resigned from the Presidentship of Congress.
(b) What led to the formation of the new party?
(c) Name the new party which he formed.
(d) Mention the ideals of the new Party.
Answer
(a) (i) Subhash Chandra Bose became the Congress President in 1938, showing the influence of the Leftist and Socialist wing in the Congress. He was re-elected the very next year i.e., in 1939 by defeating Gandhi's candidate, Pattabhi Sitaramayya.
(ii) Gandhi felt that the defeat was his, rather than that of Pattabhi. On the question of the formation of the Congress Working Committee, there arose a sharp rift between Gandhi and Bose. While Bose wanted freedom to choose his own Working Committee, Gandhi disapproved of it because he foresaw a danger of Bose using all means, including violence, in the struggle of independence.
(iii) The deadlock between the two could not be resolved inspite of the efforts by Nehru and Jayaprakash Narayan. As a result, Bose was left alone, as none would come forward to join his Working Committee in the face of Gandhi's displeasure.
(iv) So, being rendered helpless, Subhash Chandra Bose resigned from the Congress Presidentship on April 29, 1939, yielding place to a Gandhian, Dr. Rajendra Prasad as the next President.
(b) The radicals in the Congress were in majority but they were not organised under one leadership. Subhash Chandra Bose felt the need of an organised and disciplined left-wing party in the Congress. So after resigning, he laid the foundation of a new party.
(c) He formed the Forward Bloc in 1939.
(d) Forward Bloc's immediate objective was to liberate India with the support of workers, peasants, youth and other radical organisations.
Main ideals of the Party: Ideals of Forward Bloc
- To develop the economy on socialistic ideas.
- Abolition of landlordism i.e. Zamindari System.
- A new monetary and credit system.
5. In context of INA explain:
(a) Formation of INA.
(b) Victories of INA.
(c) Fate of INA.
(d) Impact of INA.
Answer
(a) Formation of INA:
- The idea of the Indian National Army (INA) was conceived in Malaya by Mohan Singh, an Indian officer in the British Indian Army.
- Indian Prisoners of War (POW's) were handed over by the Japanese to Mohan Singh who inducted them into the INA.
- The fall of Singapore was crucial, for this brought 45,000 Indian POW's into Mohan Singh's sphere of influence. By the end of 1942, more than forty thousand men expressed their willingness to join the INA.
- The INA was a revolutionary army engaged in the global war. It was an army organised on foreign soil dependent on foreign powers for planes, tanks, artillery, rifles, ammunition and even lorries for the transport of soldiers to the front.
(b) Victories of INA:
- The INA made preparations to launch its fight for the liberation of India and went into action in February 1944.
- INA captured Mowdok, an outpost situated south-east of Chittagong and advanced up to the frontier of India. They captured the strong military post of Klang Klang.
- The INA gave a tough fight to the British forces in the Assam hills and succeeded in capturing Ukhral and Kohhima.
- They raised the Tricolour Flag for the first time on the liberated Indian soil on March 19, 1944.
(c) Fate of INA:
The INA's victories were short-lived. They were three kilometres from Imphal when the Japanese forces had to withdraw from the Indo-Burma border because of their entanglement with the Americans in the Pacific Ocean. At the same time the rainy season set in. Rangoon was recaptured by the British early in May 1945. INA men were disarmed and made prisoners of war. The surrender of Japan in the Second World War on August 15, sealed the fate of the INA also.
(d) Impact of INA:
- • The INA inspired uprisings in the armed forces of the country. The Indian Naval ratings in Mumbai rose in revolt in February 1946.
• Similar uprisings took place at Kolkata, Chennai and Karachi. These naval revolts shook the foundation of the British Empire. - • The Government decided to put on trial in the Red Fort at Delhi, officers of the INA-Shah Nawaz Khan, Gurdial Singh Dhillon and Prem Sehgal who had earlier been officers in the British Indian Army.
• Even though the court-martial held the INA prisoners guilty, the Government had to set them free. - • The INA set an inspiring example of patriotism. The heroic deeds and sacrifices of the soldiers of INA led to political consciousness among the Indian forces.
• The British now realised that they could not rely on the Indian forces to continue their rule in India.
6. Netaji believed in agitation and resorted to revolutionary methods for the attainment of Swaraj. In this context, discuss:
(a) The rift between Gandhi and Subhash Chandra Bose.
(b) His escape from house arrest.
(c) Provisional government of free India.
Answer
(a) After the end of Civil Disobedience movement, there started emerging a rift between Gandhiji and Subhas Chandra Bose on ideology and political actions.
- Bose wanted to use armed means to achieve independence, which was opposed by Gandhiji.
- Bose favoured an industrialised state with a strong central government, but Gandhi favoured a decentralised state with focus on village industries.
- Bose wanted to establish a socialistic society which was opposed by Gandhi.
- Bose wanted to start a movement against Britain in 1939 as Britain was having a hard time fighting in World War II. Gandhiji, on the other hand, wanted to support Britain if it promised India her independence after the war.
- Bose later resigned from Congress Presidentship in 1939 due to his differences with Gandhi.
(b) In July 1940, Bose was arrested under the Defence of India Rules. He went on a hunger strike. As his health was declining rapidly, the Government released him. Thereafter he was kept under house arrest in Kolkata. But on January 26th, 1941, eluding police vigilance, he escaped from his house. Travelling through Peshawar and Russia, he reached Berlin on March 28. The Indian community in Germany welcomed him as their leader-Netaji; and greeted him with 'Jai Hind'. He frequently urged his countrymen on the radio to rise in arms against the British. He also founded Free India Centers in Rome and Paris.
(c)
- Subhas Chandra Bose set up the Provisional Government of Free India on October 21, 1943 in Singapore.
- The major task of the Provisional Government was to launch and conduct the struggle that will bring about expulsion of the British and their allies from the Indian soil.
- Another important task assigned to the Provisional Government was to establish a permanent national government of Azad Hind.
- The Provisional Government acquired its first stretch of territory in India when Japan handed over Andaman and Nicobar Islands to it on November 6, 1943. Bose renamed them Shaheed and Swaraj Islands, respectively.
7. Bose was a man of action. Using the following points summarise his contribution to the independence of India:
(a) Netaji's contributions to Congress
(b) Netaji's contributions to the Indian freedom struggle
(c) Netaji's legacy
Answer
(a) Netaji's contributions to Congress:
(i) Subhash was elected as the President of Indian National Congress twice in 1938 (Haripura session) and in 1939 (Tripuri session).
(ii) The All India National Planning Committee which was set up by Congress was formally inaugurated by Bose at Mumbai in December 1938.
(iii) Bose organised the left-wing of Congress and founded a new party within Congress known as Forward Bloc on 3rd May 1939. He founded Free India Centres to. Rome and Paris.
(b) Netaji's contributions to the Indian freedom struggle:
(i) Subhash Chandra Bose arrived in Singapore on 2nd July, 1943 by German and Japanese submarines. Two days later he officially took charge of the Indian Independence League.
(ii) On 26th August 1943 he took charge of Indian National Army and became its supreme commander. He set up the INA headquarters in Yangon and Singapore and began to organise INA.
(iii) On October 21st 1943 he announced the formation of a provisional government of free India in Singapore and declared war against the Allies.
(iv) Indian territories of Adaman and Nikobar islands were handed over to Subhash which were renamed as ‘Shaheed' and ‘Swaraj’.
(c) Netaji's legacy:
(i) He laid stress on national planning, unity and organisation of masses for national struggle.
(ii) Bose gave a call to his soldiers "Give me blood and I shall give you freedom". He gave the slogans Delhi chalo and Jai Hind.
(iii) Subhas led the freedom struggle outside India and set an inspiring example of patriotism.