🏛️ Flügel History

Chapter 5: Revolutionary Nationalism, Bhagat Singh, Subhas Chandra Bose & INA ​

1. The Two Waves of Revolutionary Nationalism ​

Phases of Indian Revolutionary Action

The Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA) ​

Reorganized at Feroz Shah Kotla (Delhi) in September 1928 under Chandrashekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru:

  • Saunders Assassination (Dec 1928): Avenged the fatal lathi-charge injuries on Lala Lajpat Rai during Simon Commission protests.
  • Central Legislative Assembly Bombing (April 8, 1929): Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt hurled low-intensity smoke bombs to "Make the Deaf Hear", courting arrest and showering leaflets for Inquilab Zindabad.
  • Martyrdom (March 23, 1931): Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru were executed in Lahore Central Jail following the Lahore Conspiracy Case trial.

2. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose & The Indian National Army (INA) ​

  • Forward Bloc & Escape (1941): Following the 1939 Tripuri Congress crisis, Bose formed the Forward Bloc, escaped British house arrest ("The Great Escape"), and reached Berlin via Kabul and Moscow.
  • Azad Hind Fauj (INA): Originally conceived by Captain Mohan Singh in Malaya; reorganized by Netaji in Singapore (1943).
  • Provisional Government of Free India (Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind): Formed in Singapore on October 21, 1943; created the Rani of Jhansi Regiment (all-women combat unit commanded by Captain Lakshmi Sahgal).
  • War Cry: "Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom!" and "Dilli Chalo".

3. The INA Trials & The Royal Indian Navy (RIN) Mutiny (1946) ​

  • Red Fort Trials (Nov 1945): Joint trial of Col. Prem Sahgal (Hindu), Col. Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon (Sikh), and Major General Shah Nawaz Khan (Muslim) ignited universal nationwide anti-imperial protests defended by Bhulabhai Desai, Tej Bahadur Sapru, and Nehru.
  • RIN Revolt (Feb 18, 1946): Ratings on HMIS Talwar in Bombay mutinied against racial discrimination and poor food, spreading to 78 ships across Karachi, Calcutta, and Madras.

Check Your Mastery ​

⚡ Concept Quick-CheckTest Your Conceptual Intuition
Who threw harmless smoke bombs into the Central Legislative Assembly on April 8, 1929, alongside Bhagat Singh to protest against the Public Safety Bill and Trade Disputes Bill?