The Indian National Army, I.N.A or Azad Hind Fauj was the army of Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind (The Provisional Government of Free India). It was an armed force which was formed during World War II by Indian nationalists and prisoners of war. It progressed with the aim to overthrow the British Raj and win independence. The INA was initially formed under Mohan Singh, the captain in the 1/14th Punjab Regiment in the British Army. However, the first INA under Mohan Singh collapsed and finally it was revived under the leadership of Subhash Chandra Bose. Indian National Army emerged along with Mahatma Gandhi`s peaceful resistance movement within India. In contrast to Mahatma Gandhi, Bose advocated a more aggressive confrontation with the British authorities.

The concept of an armed force fighting to overthrow the British Raj in colonial India with Japanese assistance originated within the Indian independence movement. INA was formed during the first world war when the Ghadar Party and the nascent rudiment of the Indian Independence League planned to rebel in the British Indian Army from the Punjab through Bengal to Hong Kong. But this plan ultimately failed after the information was leaked to British Intelligence. During the Second World War, the plan to fight the British found revival and number of leaders and movements were initiated. These included "liberation armies" formed in and with the help of Italy, Germany as well as in South-east Asia. Thus in South East Asia the concept of the Indian National Army emerged. It was supported by the Japanese 15th army and led by Subhash Chandra Bose.

Indian National Army had many valued freedom fighters, who helped in the battles. They all had a brilliant background and fought for a similar cause, freedom of India. The INA freedom fighters were from every sphere ranging from barristers to plantation workers.. The revival of the Indian National Army was done by Subhas Chandra Bose. In 1943 he reached Singapore and assumed leadership of INA. Thus with his motivation and determination INA doubled in strength and local civilians joined. Most of the people who joined had no prior military experience and thus to ensure a well-trained army, Bose established an Officers Training School for INA officers and the Azad School for the civilian volunteers Many youth were also sent to Imperial Military Academy in Japan for advanced training. Every soldier were required to spend about six to eight hours of training daily. The training included physical training, army drill and handling arms such as rifles, pistols, hand grenades and bayonets. The soldiers also attended lectures of Indian and world history and military subjects like map reading as well as signaling.

The battles that were fought by the Indian National Army during World War II were fought in the South-East Asian region. The operations include Malayan Campaign in 1942 as well as Burma Campaign. It also fought the battle of Imphal and the battle of Kohima. The operations of the INA involved the battle of Pokoku and Irrawady River operations. The battles and campaigns of the INA continued with newer possibility. It began a long march over land and on foot towards Bangkok, along with Subhas Chandra Bose. The Japanese troops had to withdraw forces regularly and suffered casualties from allied airplanes. However, at the time of Japan`s surrender in September 1945, Bose left for Manchuria to attempt to contact the advancing Soviet troops, and was reported to have died in an air crash near Taiwan. On the other hand the INA fighters were imprisoned. However, a small number had fallen into Allied hands in 1943 around the time of the Imphal campaign and subsequent withdrawal. But reportedly a large numbers surrendered or were captured during the Burma Campaign. The captured were interrogated and number of prisoners necessitated envisioned trials. The prisoners faced the death penalty, life imprisonment or a fine as punishment if found guilty.

Indian National Army was structured in a way that lodged active participation from women. A women regiment was formed in 1943. INA had John Thivy, Dr, Lakhsmi Sehgal, Narayan Karruppiah as well as Janaki Thevar as its members Among the masses attending Bose`s rally on 9 July, Dr. Lakshmi, responded immediately to his appeal to form a Women`s Regiment. She visited many families to persuade the women to join the INA. Many were reluctant; however, she managed to gather twenty enthusiastic girls who were willing to break the traditional barriers. The girls presented the guard-of-honour to Bose. He was impressed and invited Dr. Lakshmi to lead the Women`s Regiment. On 12 July 1943, Bose announced the formation of the Women`s Regiment, naming it "Rani of Jhansi Regiment" which in later years was considered to be a special characteristics of the INA.

Indian National Army rose with a cause and tried to fulfill its aim. The able leadership of Subhash Chandra Bose paved way for armies to fight in an organised manner. But unfortunately, it could not continue and its noble cause had to suffer after the death of Netaji.