Source: National Archives of India (PP_000002998333)

THE RANI OF JHANSI REGIMENT

A small group of 40 women, women from all walks of life and representing all religions and castes, women with fixed bayonets, presented a guard of honour to our Netaji, Srijut Subhas Chandra Bose, at a mass rally of women held at the premises of the Syonan Branch of the Indian Independence League on 12th July, 2603. That day marked the birth of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment. It was perhaps for the first time in the history of a former British Colony that women were found parading with fixed bayonets. But it was by no means new in the history of India.

In spite of all that the British propagandists have been saying in the past and saying even now, to decry the courage and valour of our sisters, in spite of all that our enemies have been and are still proclaiming to the world that Indian women are generally backward in all walks of life, instances are not wanting in our history where our mothers and sisters have displayed the greatest courage and tenacity of purpose in the battle-field and in public life.

Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi, after whom the Rani of Jhansi Regiment is named, had proved beyond a doubt as early as 1857 that an Indian woman in the battle-field could be as brave and courageous as any British officer.

Lakshmi Bai was born in a village near Satara in 1837. At the age of four she lost her mother, and since then until she was betrothed to Gangadher Rao, the Rajah of Jhansi, she lived under the care of her father. Even as a child Lakshmi Bai displayed great courage and tenacity of purpose. She received a good military training from her father, and as a girl had fought many a battle by his side. As the principal consort of the Ruler of Jhansi, she proved herself to be a devoted and faithful wife. She was the idol of the people of Jhansi. On many vital matters of State she advised her husband and her advice had always proved sound. She was from the very beginning an out and out enemy of the British.

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In the year 1851 a child was born to her but died at [three] months. The loss of his only heir was a great shock to Gangadher Rao, from which he could never recover. In the year 1852 he too died. Gangadher Rao, however, had left a will in which he had mentioned that his principal Consort, Lakshmi Bai, was the proper claimant to his throne, until his adopted son Damodher, still an infant, became of age.

The year 1857. The people of India were seething with revolt. They were tired of the unscrupulous and cunning British exploitation. The methods adopted by the British to keep India under subjugation and to suck her sacred soil dry were many and varied.

One of the cunning ways adopted by Lord Dalhousie to annex Indian States to the East India Company was the introduction of his so-called “Doctrine of Lapse.” Under this Doctrine, if any ruler died without a son the State would automatically become part of the Company….

[please check the archives for the full document]

But the biggest of all battles was yet to come. A large force of British soldiers attacked Gwalior in June 1858. A fierce battle raged for many days. Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi, attired in male dress, and with drawn sword, riding on horse back, fought on and led her men into the front line. Her courage and leadership inspired the men. But, alas, fate took a different turn. The brave Rani was fatally wounded. And thus her glorious career ended on June 18th 1858.

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But not in vain did she lose her life on the battlefield. She has left behind her a tradition of which every women in India is indeed proud. She has shown the world what Indian womanhood is capable of. She has given us the inspiration to carry on the fight which she began.

Is it then any wonder that the new Women’s Regiment of the Indian National Army is named after this illustrious daughter of India, the Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi? It is that undaunted courage and unflinching patriotism that our Netaji expects from every Indian woman and girl both inside and outside India. Let us quote Netaji’s own words to Indian women: “It was this Rani of Jhansi who on horse-back with drawn sword led her men to battle. Through her ill-luck she fell, she failed and India failed. But we have to continue and complete the work which the Great Rani undertook in 1857. Therefore in this last and final War of Independence we want NOT one Rani of Jhansi but thousands and thousands of Ranis of Jhansi. It is not merely the number of rifles you may carry or the number of shots that you may fire which is important. Equally important is the moral effect of your brave example. I have no doubt in my mind that when our countrymen on the other side of the Frontier, whether they are civilians or whether they are in the British Indian Army, when our countrymen see you marching with rifles in hand, they will certainly come over and join you and take the rifles from you and carry on the fight which you will begin. Therefore, considered from every point of view, I am convinced that the time has come for man and woman, for boy and girl, for everyone, for every single individual who calls himself or herself an Indian, to come forward and make the maximum sacrifice possible so that India may be free and as soon as possible.”

“JAI HIND.”

The post IIL Announces the Formation of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment (July 12, 1943) appeared first on Tanvi Srivastava.

Ranis mentioned in The War Diary of Asha-San

• Lt Asha Sahay (Bharati ‘Asha’ Sahay Choudhry) – also known as Asako in Japan – 朝子)
• Lt Pratima Dasgupta (Pratima Pal or Pratima Paul)
• Lt Janaki Bai (Janaki Fateh Singh Bai) – Asha’s platoon commander. From Sabak Bernam, Malaya.
• Anjuli Bhowmick – Sister of Shanti Bhowmick and daughter of Dhiren Chandra Bhowmick. One of the youngest Ranis to enlist at the age of 12.
• Shanti Bhowmick – Anjuli’s elder sister, joined the RJR at the age of 14.
• Ponnammah Esther Navarednam – Originally from Ceylon, the Navarednam sisters heard a speech by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Ipoh, Malaya, and joined soon after.
• Rasammah Naomi Navarednam – Sister of Ponnammah, wrote a memoir titled Footprints on the Sands of Time, Rasammah Bhupalan: A Life of Purpose
• Emily Xavier – A Rani from Burma. See description below.

Other Ranis of the Rani Jhansi Regiment

I have not vetted this list. I will be adding more details as and when I find them.

• Janaki Davar (Thevar) (Janaky Athi Nahappan)
• Naik (later Havildar) Bela Datta
• Karuna Mukherjee
• Lt. Mamata Mehta
• Lt. Manavati Pandey (Arya) – Author of the book Patriot The Unique Indian Leader. I have ordered this, so I will update you on this soon.
• 2nd Lt. Rama Mehta – Author of Jai Hind: The Story of Lt. Rama Khandwala of Netaji Subhas Bose Azad Hind Fauj
• Major Leelavati Mehta
• Ranu Bhattacharya
• Chandramukhi Devi (Mataji),
• Lt. M Satyavati Thevar
• Anjalai Ponnusami
• Meenachi Perumal
• Maya Ganguli
• Shipra Sen
• Namita Sengupta
• Reba Sen
• Chitra Mukherjee
• Saraswati Garewal
• Urmila Ayangar
• Rukmini Khandelkar
• Havildars Josephine and Stella (who were killed in action in 1945)

Books on the Rani of Jhansi Regiment

While there hasn’t been too much research done on the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, here are some recommended books.

First-hand accounts by Ranis of the Regiment

• The War Diary of Asha-san: From Tokyo to Netaji’s Indian National Army by Lt Bharati ‘Asha’ Sahay Choudhry
• Jai Hind: The Story of Lt. Rama Khandwala of Netaji Subhas Bose Azad Hind Fauj by Lt Rama Mehta / Rama Khandwala
• A Revolutionary Life: Memoirs of a political activist by Capt Lakshmi Sahgal
• Patriot: Netaji, Subhash Chandra Bose by Lt Manawati Arya (Pandey)
• Footprints on the Sands of Time Rasammah Bhupalan: A Life of Purpose by Aruna Gopinath

Other books by historians and researchers

• Women Against the Raj: The Rani of Jhansi Regiment by Joyce C. Lebra
• In Search of Freedom: Journeys Through india and South-East Asia by Sagari Chhabra
• Women at War: Subhas Chandra Bose and the Rani of Jhansi Regiment by Vera Hildebrand

About Rani Emily Xavier (from Burma, Joined RJR in 1944)

I had found a reference to Emily Xavier online a few years ago, and fortunately, had noted it down. The post was published on a website called worldwar2burmadiaries.com by Joseph A. Valu. The website sadly is no longer functional.

Emily is mentioned in The War Diary of Asha-san a few times. Notably, she takes care of Asha when she is suffering from malarial fever, and is one of the Asha’s closest companions. This is how Asha describes her in the diary: “Of all my friends, she alone is selfless, calm and understanding. She even wakes up at night to check on me. I never feel I am far from home with her nearby.”

Joseph A. Valu: Emily Xavier, a favorite cousin of mine, had lived with our family for many years after the sudden death of her father, a barrister, in London.

She surprised us—and angered Father, who was a Captain in the British Army of Burma hiding in plain sight—when she suddenly left us in Maymyo to join the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, a women’s auxiliary of Subhas Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army, in 1944.

That her anti-British sentiment was occasioned by their terrible let down of Indian refugees attempting to escape to India at the Myitkyina airstrip, together with the personal affront and trauma she suffered at the hands of an unnerved British Army officer on the road to Myitkyina on May 6, 1942, may give insight to her decision.

That her move was possibly Providential in nature was very well told in my sister Sheila’s book At Long Last Liberation, (Authorized Edition) Copyright Sheila M. Valu and Joseph A. Valu (ed.) 2006. Unpublished.

The post List of Rani of Jhansi Regiment Members (INA / Azad Hind Fauj) appeared first on Tanvi Srivastava.

Today’s Find: From the INA to AIL (Air India Limited)

Today, while navigating the never-ending, subterranean warrens of the National Archives, I stumbled upon a short news clipping about Lt Pratima Paul. Immediately, the name seemed familiar. Dadi, in The War Diary of Asha-san, mentions a Bengali girl named Pratima Dasgupta.

Pratima is the first to meet her at the Rani Jhansi Camp in Bangkok, and helps Asha get accustomed to camp life. They train together and share intimate moments that only soldiers can experience together.

From I. N. A. to A. I. L.

No, not Indian National Airways, but the Indian National Army. Yes, our Miss Paul — she is one of our most popular airhostesses — was, during the war, ‘way out in the Far East, in Japanese Occupied Territory, and was a lieutenant in the I. N. A. The photograph shows her with her women troops all mustered for inspection by none other than Netaji Subhas Bose — yes, that’s him alright.

Lt Pratima Paul of the INA (Rani Jhansi Regiment)

On June 25, 1945, Asha mentions going to the market and having her photograph taken along with Pratima.

Miraculously, this photograph has survived a war and 80 years!

I do remember showing this photo to Dadi and her describing Pratima as “Pratima Pal”. It seems she was often referred to as Pratima Pal or Pratima Paul.

Sidenote: I will be compiling a list of members of the Rani Jhansi Regiment. Perhaps a future comprehensive study is on the horizon!

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The life and legacy of Lt. Bharati Asha “Asako” Sahay Choudhry, a revered Indian National Army (INA) veteran and a lifelong symbol of India–Japan friendship, were formally honoured at a Commendation Ceremony held at the Embassy of Japan in India on December 17, 2025.

Organised by the Embassy of Japan, the ceremony brought together eminent personalities, diplomats, scholars, friends, and members of her family, reflecting the deep respect she commanded across generations and national boundaries. More than a formal tribute, the event stood as a collective act of remembrance—recognising a woman whose extraordinary life quietly shaped the shared history of India and Japan.

Commendation Ceremony at the Embassy of Japan

In recognition of her exceptional contribution to India’s freedom struggle and her lifelong efforts to strengthen Indo-Japanese relations, the Embassy of Japan honoured Lt. Bharati Asha “Asako” Sahay Choudhury with a special commendation.

The commendation certificate was received by her son, Sanjay Choudhry, on behalf of the family. The honour was presented by Ambassador of Japan to India, Keiichi Ono, who paid tribute to her courage, warmth, and unwavering commitment to fostering goodwill between the two nations.

The presence of distinguished guests from diplomatic, academic, and cultural circles, along with friends and family members, underscored the significance of her legacy and the enduring people-to-people foundation of India–Japan ties.

A Life Shaped by Two Civilisations

Born in Kobe, Japan, in 1928, to Indian parents, Bharati Asha Sahay grew up deeply immersed in Japanese society while remaining firmly rooted in India’s independence movement. She was educated entirely in Japan, studying at Showa Girls’ High School (now Showa Women’s University) in Tokyo, where she was affectionately known as Asako-san.

This bicultural upbringing gave her a rare perspective that later defined her role as a living bridge between Indian and Japanese cultures. Her family home was steeped in nationalist thought. Her father, Anand Mohan Sahay, was the founding secretary of the Indian Independence League (IIL)—an organisation that played a pivotal role in the formation of the Indian National Army.

Inspired by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

A defining chapter of her life began during her student years in Tokyo, when she met Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. His vision of a free India and his call for active resistance left a profound impression on the young Bharati Asha.

In 1945, at the age of just 17, she made a courageous decision. Leaving Japan, she travelled via Taiwan to Bangkok, where she enlisted in the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, the INA’s historic all-women combat unit. She was commissioned as a Lieutenant, becoming one of the youngest members of the regiment.

From that moment on, she was known as Lt. Asha Sahay—a name that came to symbolise courage, resolve, and sacrifice.

A Woman Soldier in India’s Freedom Struggle

The Rani of Jhansi Regiment remains one of the most powerful symbols of women’s participation in India’s freedom movement. Lt. Asha Sahay belonged to a rare generation of women who defied convention and risked everything for independence.

Her experiences stand as living testimony to the role of women in India’s freedom struggle and to the often-overlooked India–Japan wartime connection, forged through shared resistance and mutual respect.

Life After Independence: Service Beyond the Battlefield

Following India’s independence, Lt. Asha Sahay settled in India after her marriage. Choosing a life of quiet contribution over public recognition, she worked as a Japanese interpreter and translator at Indosan Nipponji (the Japanese Temple) in Bodh Gaya—a site that itself symbolises centuries-old spiritual and cultural links between India and Japan.

She also documented her experiences through writing, ensuring that the memory of the INA, women soldiers, and Indo-Japanese solidarity would not fade with time. Through education, translation, and cultural engagement, she continued to strengthen India–Japan people-to-people ties long after the war had ended.

A Voice for India–Japan Friendship

Even in her later years, Lt. Asha Sahay remained deeply committed to cooperation between her two homelands. Reflecting on their shared heritage and future, she once said: “Both India and Japan have ancient histories. They should move forward together and become the greatest nations in the world.”

Her words captured a lifelong belief in collaboration, mutual respect, and shared destiny—principles that continue to guide India–Japan relations today.

Why Her Legacy Endures

In an era dominated by strategic calculations and formal diplomacy, the life of Lt. Bharati Asha “Asako” Sahay Choudhury is a reminder that the strongest international bonds are forged by people.

Her journey—from Kobe to the Indian freedom movement, and later as a custodian of India–Japan friendship—offers a powerful lesson in courage, empathy, and shared history. As India and Japan deepen cooperation across culture, technology, and strategic engagement, her legacy remains a moral anchor rooted in sacrifice and trust.

A Bridge That Still Stands

Lt. Bharati Asha “Asako” Sahay Choudhury was more than an INA veteran or freedom fighter. She was a bridge—between cultures, histories, and futures.

By honouring her at the Embassy of Japan in India, both nations reaffirm that their relationship is built not only on policy and partnership, but on individuals whose lives quietly shaped history. Her story will continue to inspire generations in India, Japan, and beyond, reminding the world that friendships between nations, once forged in courage, can endure across time.

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Debnath Das was a close associate of Anand Mohan Sahay in Japan. He is mentioned frequently in Sahay’s memoir Stirring Times and is also mentioned by Lt Bharati ‘Asha’ Sahay in her diary as “Das Kaka”.

Prior to his arrival in Thailand, he was in Japan and worked closely with Sahay and Rash Bihari Bose. In Stirring Times, Sahay mentions: “Mr Bose and I decided to send Debnath Das to Bangkok to establish contact and prepare the ground for our future base there.”

I’m sharing the statement which he tendered to the Shah Nawaz Committee on April 5, 1956 in Calcutta.

Statement by Debnath Das

I was Chairman of the Reception Committee of the First Indian Independence Conference in East Asia that was held from 15th June 1942 to 22nd June 1942 in Bangkok. Before the Conference was held, I was General Secretary of the Indian National Council for Freedom of India in Thailand soon after the Japanese came, and after the Bangkok Conference when the constitution of the Indian Independence League was formed, according to the Constitution, I was elected as the Chairman of the Territorial Committee of Thailand and continued in that post till the arrival of Netaji on the 4th July 1943.

When Netaji took charge of the I.I.L. Headquarters at Singapore on the 5th July 1943, I was General Secretary of the I.I.L. Headquarters, East Asia and was stationed at Rangoon. When the Provisional Government of Azad Hind was formed on the 21st October 1943 at Singapore, I was appointed as one of the Advisers to and Member, Council of Ministers of the Azad Hind Government. I continued as General Secretary of the I.I.L. Headquarters till the end of the war.

Indian Independent League in 1944-45

On the 29th March 1945, I was asked by Netaji to evacuate from Rangoon. I was in Rangoon with Netaji in the beginning of 1945 when Netaji started moving back from Rangoon in the last stages. I was in charge of the I.I.L. Headquarters, executing orders of the Cabinet. Of course, it was sometime in the month of August/September 1944 after the landing of Allied Forces in Normandy in France that Netaji began to review the whole situation. At that time, there was no question of retreating. Netaji reviewed the whole position of the war. He gave more importance to the mobilisation of I.N.A. because we had suffered terrible losses in some of the fronts.

As the Chairman knows, we had Ministers but not the Ministries, and most of the work undertaken by the Ministers had to be implemented by the General Secretariat of the Indian League Headquarters, and then even the training, supply, equipment, food, and other things connected with the Supreme Command of the I.N.A.—all this the General Secretariat had to do. And according to the Constitution, the General Secretariat of the I.I.L. was the machinery of the Azad Hind Government.

We had secret services also—one by the Supreme Command and another by the I.I.L. Then from the beginning of 1945, of course, some of

Another by the I.I.L. Then from the beginning of 1945, of course, some of our Commanders had to be put in the fronts. We took up our position at Mandalay and Prome Area. We were advancing; there was no break-down in the morale of the I.N.A. anywhere in any part of Asia, and we had a series of conferences with the Japanese, and I do not think that they were pessimistic either. The morale of the INA and the Japanese was intact, and new forces were being put to reinforce them.

So I can say that from December 1944 to March 1945, we gave more importance and emphasis on recruitment and supply because the lack of supply was one of the defective parts in the Imphal area. And then sometime in the month of February, when the Allied Forces were advancing, we sent No. 2 Division under the command of Major General Shah Nawaz Khan with Col. Sehgal and Col. Dhillon to take the position in the Prome Area. That was one of the most important sectors.

General Kiani himself took charge near the Mandalay area. General Bhonsle was Chief of Staff stationed at Singapore, Col. Aziz was put as a Deputy Chief of Staff, was in charge of the Rangoon Supreme Command stationed at Rangoon because Netaji was going to visit fronts. What I mean to say is that we were determined to undertake military positions with new vigour on the front.

After the retreat, the I.N.A. & I.I.L. machinery had to be geared up again and INA forces reorganised to put up the defence with renewed vigour. Even up to the middle of March there was no question of evacuating. Netaji was in a fighting mood, and we had no intention of evacuating Burma.

Difficulties in Burma

But some incidents occurred in the Burmese Government, and myself and Shri Ayer were negotiating with the Burmese authorities. Certain difficulties we began to face with regard to the position of our troops in some parts of Burma. Till that moment, we did not have any difficulty with Dr. Ba Maw Government.

Early in March, the Provisional Government of Azad Hind started experiencing difficulty in dealing with the Burmese Government. Our dealings with the Burmese troops were all along very cordial. Our troops were far more disciplined than the Burmese, and we were looked upon in the highest esteem by Thakin Nu and all the Burmese Ministers.

(The Chairman stated that the relationship between the Burmese Government and Netaji’s government was cordial, and so was the relationship of the INA and the Burma Defence Army.)

The main idea of Netaji and his directions to the Indian National Army were to protect the life and property of all sects of people, including the Burmese, Chinese, Anglo-Indians, and other communities, for which the Burmese nation also had a high regard for the INA.

Even in public and social welfare, Netaji used to give more importance to the needs of all communities after the bombing of towns and villages. There were some incidents; our troops were attacked, and some supplies towards Moulemein were attacked, destroyed, and looted by the Burmese troops.

We took up the case with the Burmese Government in the middle of March 1945 to make matters smooth. And then it so happened that in the first week of March, General Aung San, the Commander-in-Chief of the Burma Defence Army, mobilized a lot of officers and soldiers, and he was given a hearty send-off by the people because he created a sort of impression that he was going to fight at the front against the British.

Burma Defence Army Fights for the British

But subsequently, he crossed over to the Allied Forces. He manipulated so nicely that even the Japanese also gave him sufficient arms and ammunition because he seemed to be going to fight the British.

From the first week of March, we also got some information that relation between Mr. Ba Maw and General Aung San was getting strained, and it was on the 17th or 19th of March that all of a sudden, we were alerted by the Supreme Command. We put up a special guard at the Headquarters.

The rank and file of the Burmese Army were so much indisciplined that the Burmese military officers had no control over them. The relationship between Dr. Ba Maw and Netaji continued to be cordial, however, the relation between General Aung San and Dr. Ba Maw became strained. Meanwhile, we found that the Allied Forces were advancing towards Rangoon.

March 1945 Netaji’s Cabinet Meeting

On or about the 25th of March 1945, Netaji held a Cabinet meeting. In this meeting, other officers also came. The following were present in the Cabinet meeting:

• General Loganathan
• General Chatterjee
• Shri J.A. Thivy
• Shri S.A. Ayer
• Col. Aziz Ahmed
• Shri Debnath Das
• Shri Parmanand

At that time, Netaji began to think of a new strategy in the context of the new situation, and he sent a word to General Bhonsle to come over there. He took some decisions regarding withdrawal and other movements in the context of the new strategy, which he discussed in consultation with the Military Officers.

It was decided that our line would be along the Sittang River. Netaji reviewed the whole situation and, as a result of that, certain important decisions were taken. The first decision on the positive side was that we will take our defense along the east side of the Sittang River. It was decided that the INA and the Japanese would retreat and occupy new positions on the line of the Sittang River.

Rani Jhansi Regiment

At that time, the first thing to do was to take some of our Rani Jhansi girls. The Rani Jhansi Regiment was a regiment that consisted of Indian women who fought side by side as combatants. Their number in Rangoon was about 600 to 700. In Burma, there were as many as half of them, say about 1,000. The total strength was 2,500.

It was decided that the Rani Jhansi girls belonging to Burma would stay at the camps till Netaji remained there. So Netaji decided that those who came from other territories should be evacuated, and that we shall consider those girls who are residents of Burma in the future as the exigency arose.

In the Cabinet, plans were formulated for the evacuation of such Rani Jhansi girls who came from territories other than Burma. I was assigned the duty to make arrangements for the evacuation of about 350 members of the Rani Jhansi Regiment in two batches, along with Azad Hind treasure that was in the Azad Hind Bank, along with some important documents.

After consultation with the Japanese authorities, because I had to fix a route, it was decided that I would start on the 29th of March for Bangkok.

Retreat and INA Treasure

Bhaduri was in charge of the Bank at Rangoon. The treasure given to me by Bhaduri himself was valued at about Rs. 1 crore in Indian currency. There were 17 sealed boxes. We were given details of the contents. They were mostly ornaments and gold bars.

Then, on the 29th of March evening, I left with Captain Rawat and 350 officers and men as a guard. Netaji decided that I should take one batch of about 200 girls along with the treasure of 17 boxes. Captain Rawat was in charge of the soldiers, and Lt. Pritim Lal was in charge of the 200 girls.

The arrangements were that on the 29th, I would take one batch and wait on the other side of the river till the 1st of April. Meanwhile, on the 31st of March, another 150 girls would come and join me at Sittang, because it was very risky to take all the girls at once.

We arrived at Sittang on the 30th morning. We had to face a lot of bombing from the Allied Forces, and we got the report that we were almost surrounded by Burmese insurgents. So, myself and Jamuna Singh with two or three soldiers again left Sittang on the 30th evening and arrived at Rangoon on the 31st morning, reported to Netaji, and delivered back the…

The gold treasure was not taken since I told him that it was too risky, as that area was already surrounded by insurgents. On the 31st of March, another batch of 150 girls scheduled to depart for Sittang was therefore stopped.

I again went to Sittang. They were waiting for me, and we came to Moulmein with 200 girls plus 350 officers and men as escorts. We were attacked on the way, and we lost two of our women, Lt. Josephine and Lt. Stella.

I arrived at Moulmein, and from there, we took a train to Bangkok. We arrived on the 7th of May. It took about 5 weeks to reach Bangkok due to bombardment and dislocation of communications. About one-third of the distance we covered on foot through jungles and the countryside.

Bangkok in May 1945

On the 7th of May, we reached Bangkok along with the Rani Jhansi girls. Only two women were lost. Upon arriving in Bangkok, we came to know that the Germans had already collapsed on the 1st of May 1945.

Note from Tanvi: This section is mentioned in The War Diary of Asha-san as well. Asha was in Bangkok when the Ranis returned.

On the 12th of May, we learned that Netaji and his party had already arrived at the destination (Bangpong) near Bangkok, about 12 or 13 miles from the town, since at that time, the railway was stopped due to bombardment.

So, immediately, we took some trucks and carts and went there on the 13th of May 1945. At that time, Netaji was accompanied by:

• Major General Kiani
• Shri Ayer
• Shri Thivy
• Shri Parmanand
• Mr. Karim Ghani (under arrest)
• Col. Thakur Singh
• Col. Malik
• Major Abid Hassan
• E. Bhaskaran

along with Rani Jhansi girls, left Rangoon on the 29th of April and arrived on the 13th of May. The distance between Rangoon and Bangkok was about 400 miles. We arranged transport and brought Netaji.

Netaji’s party consisted of about 50 or 60 girls because most of the girls belonging to Burma were sent to their homes. Netaji had about 60 officers and men with him. There were no extra military personnel with him; for personal protection, about 30 guards were with him along with the Ministers and staff officers.

The following were the important officers and ministers accompanying Netaji:

• Shri Ayer
• Shri Thivy
• Shri Parmanand
• General Kiani
• General Bhonsle
• Shri Karim Ghani (under arrest)
• Major Abid Hassan
• Shri Bhaskaran

You can read the rest of the report online at either the National Archives of India, or the declassified Netaji files.

Adding a bit of the end of the report which mentions when Debnath Das met Anand Mohan Sahay in Hanoi (August 1945).

The post Debnath Das of The INA / Indian Independence League (IIL) appeared first on Tanvi Srivastava.

1. The Corfu Trilogy — By Gerald Durrell

Two-line review: British humour tinged with racism and a lot of natural history. The childhood island paradise we all dream of.
Great for: Chuckling aloud and having your partner wonder what you’re up to!
Read on: Kindle Paperwhite 8 GB (my favourite Kindle variety!)

2. Deaf Republic by Ilya Kaminsky

बहरा गणतंत्र — इल्या कामिन्स्की, अनुवाद अरुण जी

Two-line review: The absurdity of the war in Ukraine in a lyrical narrative / poetic style. Found the Hindi version a better read than the New Yorker version. (Still in progress, so I will update later).
Great for: Simple but hard-hitting take on the war.
Read on: Paperback (Hindi)

3. A Most Wanted Man — John Le Carré

Two-line review: Not that quick (at 480 pages) airport read about a Russian Chechnyan stranded in Germany and those out to save him and those out to get him. Contemporary issues brought to life.
Great for: Not as fast-paced as I expected, but great characters. You have to love John Le Carré for the intricate backstories he creates for his characters.
Read on: Paperback

4. Women at War: Subhas Chandra Bose & The Rani of Jhansi Regiment by Vera Hildebrand

Two-line review: Re-read. Detailed research into the Rani of Jhansi Regiment and some of its members. Mentions Asha-san and Anand Mohan Sahay too. However, the translations used and implications drawn of certain characters are inaccurate. I will take most character portrayals in this book with a pinch of salt; however, the background research is wonderful.
Great for: Those interested in the INA or Netaji or inspiring women.
Read on: Paperback

5. Ruskin Park: Sylvia, Me and the BBC by Rory Cellan-Jones

Two-line review: Picked this up because I, as a child, used to live near Ruskin Park in London (off Champion Hill). A poignant story of a boy’s fraught relationship with his family, especially his mother.
Great for: Those interested in the BBC.
Read on: Kindle Paperwhite

6. A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth

Two-line review: What can you say in two lines? Feel like I’ve been living in Brahmapur for the last three decades. A not-so-concise history of post-Independence India brought to life by about six dozen characters.
Great for: Everyone. Took me a full month+ to read it, but thoroughly enjoyed it!
Read on: Kindle Paperwhite — Free on Kindle Unlimited at the moment (highly recommended, else you’ll need very strong wrists).

7. Eve out of Her Ruins by Ananda Debi

Two-line review: Life in non-touristy Mauritius told through three very different characters. As lyrical, as beautiful as a book can get.
Great for: Those looking for an intensely powerful and beautiful read.
Read on: Paperback

8. White Oleander by Janet Fitch

Two-line review: Complicated relationship between a mother and daughter, brought to life by absolutely stunning prose.
Great for: Those looking for a lyrical read.
Read on: Kindle Paperwhite

9. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Two-line review: Strong female characters weaving their own path in 1950s USA. Has you chuckling along with it. The audiobook is excellent with the narrator (Miranda Raison) creating so many distinct characters with just her voice. Incredible!
Great for: Women and Men of all shapes and sizes
Read on: Audible

More coming soon…

The post Best Books of 2023 (A Reading List) appeared first on Tanvi Srivastava.

This is a book that defies easy classification being part history, part memoir, part literary writing, so we appreciate the organisers for including the book in their longlist.

https://agblfprize.in/

The post Longlisted for the Atta Galatta-Bangalore Literature Festival Book Prize 2023 appeared first on Tanvi Srivastava.

Dear Writers,

Looking to improve your craft? Do you think you’re missing some tools that can help you improve your game? Over the years—mostly through trial and error—I have learned that the simplest tools are the best. So while you may be veering towards Scrivener or the Hemingway App (please, do explore), I’ve found nothing beats good old Microsoft Word (even on a Mac) for productivity.

Here are my favourite writing tools for novels in 2024

• Microsoft Word — Yes, Microsoft Word has existed since the pre-historic era, but there’s a reason for that. It is diverse enough while being simple enough. Does that make sense?
  
  A few tips—stick to Times New Roman, font size 12 pt, black. Under Paragraph, make sure you double space and indent the first line. Chapter headings should be in bold, but the same size and colour. Make sure you use the “Styles Pane” and modify the header styling.
  
• Use Microsoft Word’s Navigation — This is a tip that changed my writing life a couple of years ago. If you’re writing a long piece of fiction (or non-fiction), you undoubtedly have lots of chapters and sections. It’s generally very hard to traverse through this section by scrolling, especially when you’re trying to edit. The solution to this is to use the Navigation Pane which opens up on the left-hand side of the screen. All chapter headings (marked as headings in the styles pane) will appear on the left, make it easy for you to navigate. The Navigation Pane opens if you go to View > Navigation Pane.
  

• Use Notes — I use the Notes app on my Mac regularly. The app is a great way of storing research, fleshing out your characters, and generally organising information. Make sure you use folders to organise your work. You can easily paste screenshots and links. Works great for character and plot development too.
  
• ProWriting Aid — Prowriting Aid is a great (paid) tool to improve your writing. It makes your writing crisper, helps you remove redundancies, and also helps in the overarching flow of the book. It gives you a document score, and lots of tips on how to improve it. The only con I would say that it is a bit complicated to use (if you want to use all the featurs). Overall, highly recommended, and I preferred it to Autocrit!

• Grammarly — I don’t use Grammarly for long-form writing. For short pieces, it is a blessing. I am still using the free version. (With the knowledge that Grammarly is training its AI bots using my words!)
  
• Convert to PDF and Read Out Loud — The best way to do line-by-line editing is to hear your words out loud. While Microsoft Word also has this ability, I prefer to convert my document into a PDF and then use the free Adobe Reader app to read it out loud. You can also change the voice and speed, matching what works best for your story.

• Just Focus — Is another app I use regularly. It’s a Chrome extension that blocks out all those horrible sites you are addicted to (who needs to read so much news? Or scroll endlessly on Twitter?) Since it doesn’t block the internet entirely (you can customise which websites to block), it allows you to research while writing.

Daily Writing Checker — Some friends and I have a Google Sheet set up as a daily writing checker. It’s based on a template I found online, but I’ve customised it iwth a script to send us daily email updates (with a lame joke!)

These were the best writing tools that I use in 2023, and will continue to use in 2024. Hope they’re of some help to you!

The post Best Writing Tools For Novels (and Non-Fiction Too) — 2024 appeared first on Tanvi Srivastava.

I recently read Patricia Highsmith’s book on Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction. It’s a short book of about 120 pages, first published 40 years ago in 1983. Patricia Highsmith is probably best known to modern readers for her Ripley series, specifically The Talented Mr Ripley and Strangers on a Train (both of which have been made into well-known movies).

This book is for serious writers, but not necessarily only for those writing suspense fiction. Most of the points Highsmith makes in her book struck a chord with me, however, the points I’m mentioning below are things I believe I have to improve on. There’s a lot more in the book, and I suggest writers to purchase the book and go through it themselves.

Ideation When Writing Fiction

• Jot down notes in a small notebook
• 3-4 words that can evoke a thought or mood
• When you have no ideas, browse through the notebooks
• Combine two ideas to create stories
• Once you have an idea, give it a break and let the story develop subconsciously. You’ll soon be ready to write a story.
• Ideas must be fleshed with characters, the setting, the atmosphere. You must know about their backgrounds even though it may not always go in the book.

Conviction and Fiction

• Have the feeling and conviction that more ideas will come from the same place the first idea came
• More strength will come from the same place where your first strength came
• “You are inexhaustible as long as you’re alive.”

Record of Emotional Experience

• In suspense novels (and in all other forms of fiction) while the plot may be calculated, the scenes and descriptions will be based on the writer’s own experiences
• First-hand and real experiences will bring the book alive

Plotting For Suspense Fiction (Also applicable to all kinds of fiction)

• The incomplete plot — The story must be alive while the writer is writing it. It, sometimes, need not even be complete because it should be still entertaining the writer
• Start with a chapter outline to save yourself time and prevent rambling
• Always think, “How will this chapter advance the story?”
• The first third of the book works, atmosphere, character, setting, etc. The last quarter appears foggy, and it is usually hard to solve the problems there till you get there.
• “Feel a story” before you write

The Likeable Villainous Hero

• When writing suspense novels, sometimes the hero is the villain, psychopathic or neurotic. Then how do you make them likeable?
• Give them as many pleasant qualities as possible — generosity, kindness to some people, fondness for the arts, etc. Can be a contrast to his criminality.

How to choose the correct point of view for your story?

• May take you 20 pages to realise the POV is not right. Change it.
• First person singular most difficult and restrictive
• Easiest is the third-person singular, from the POV of the main character
• Two POV makes it quite interesting — both to read and to write. 
• Single POV makes it more intense.

Using your sense for building atmosphere

• Use all five or six senses. Smell, colour, sound, sixth sense.

The First Draft & Action

• The first line. Should be something that moves and gives action.
• First chapter — Should include lines of action. Even if that means potential action.
• There is action or the promise of action in every good novel. In suspense stories, the action is apt to be the more violent kind. That’s the only difference.
• Tendency to over-describe, over-explain. Don’t describe everything in a room, but use a few words to depict a room as rich, poor, neat, careless, fussy, masculine or feminine.
• Be able to see one chapter ahead of what you’re writing to keep progressing

The Snags

• Usually in the second half of the book. One feels trapped.
• Ask yourself, “What do you want to happen?” Why did you write this book?
• What effect do you want? Tragedy, comedy, melancholy, or whatever. Be aware of the effect before you start writing.
• If something feels off towards the end of the story, the groundwork for that character probably doesn’t exist. You need to lay the seeds of future action in the past.

The Second Draft

• Read through the full story as a reader, without stopping
• See large gaps — emotional, plot.
• Jot down notes — awkward writing, section too brief, point not emphasised enough, boring.
• Strike out unnecessary sentences
• Clarity is most important. Unclear sentences should be clarified. 
• Cut one or two sentences at the end of chapters easily. Even though you may have strained to produce them.
• Try to cut while keeping in mind the target word count. 60,000 to 80,000 words (240 to 320 pages).
• Cutting is painful and difficult, and more will come and it will be more and more difficult.

A sense of contact

A sense of joy when writing

• The physical room you write in will become a place of fond memories. Can transport you back to those joyous moments of writing.
• I felt this with The War Diary. I did a lot of my writing and editing in Delhi during COVID. My grandmother’s old room with musty curtains and the smell of wood. Birds twittering, children causing havoc somewhere, but those moments of solitude and joy with only the words for company.

Review of Patricia Highsmith’s Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction

I would recommend this book to more experienced writers, who are specifically looking to write longer works of fiction. While Highsmith gives a lot of advice to short story writers, I feel Highsmith’s experiences noted here are more suited to those looking to write long-form fiction. This could be suspense (which is probably the thriller genre of today), or any other genre. The anecdotes mentioned here are very personal and based on Highsmith’s long and productive career in producing outstanding works of fiction, so will definitely strike a chord with any budding writer.

The post Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction with Patricia Highsmith appeared first on Tanvi Srivastava.

Who Were The Tokyo Boys (INA Cadets)?

The Tokyo Boys or the INA Cadets were a group of 45 young men selected by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose to join the Indian National Army and go for advanced training to Japan. 35 cadets joined the Imperial Japanese Army Academy and 10 were selected for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Academy; they lived and trained in Japan between 1944 and 1945.

After the Japanese surrender in August 1945, these men were stranded in Tokyo. Several of them were housed in the Sahay home in Ogikubo, and looked after by Asha-san’s family, including her mother Sati and sisters Tulu and Baby.

When Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s ashes were brought to the Sahay home in Tokyo by Col Habibur Rahman, the Tokyo Boys took turns in keeping vigil over the urn. One of the Tokyo Boys carried the urn to its final resting spot in Renkoji temple. Details of this are mentioned in The War Diary of Asha-san.

Do we know the names of the Tokyo Boys?

I found a list of the Tokyo Boys in the National Archives of India. This list was created by the British Intelligence upon their return to India on 30.12.1945. They (accidentally) landed in Madras on board the ship IMS Glenearn, causing some dismay in the Home Department as they were originally supposed to land in Singapore.

Where were the Tokyo Boys from originally?

Most of the Tokyo Boys were from Burma, Singapore and Malaya, hence the British government didn’t quite know what to do with them when they returned to India. There was also the fear that the Tokyo Boys would share stories of the bravery of the members of the INA, and cause further foment in India.

List of Names of the 45 Tokyo Boys / INA Cadets

Here is the list of the 45 Tokyo Boys, along with their intentions upon returning to India. I have tried to update their whereabouts with the latest information available.

1. B. Ramesh Rao (Ramesh Sakharam Benegal) (Rangoon)
   S/o B. Shankara Rao
   C/o ( l ) T.S.Rao, M.B.K. Stationary Articles Firm Rangoon and (2) Swami Ram Dass Ashram, Kanbangod, Mangalore.
   Address: C/o M. V. Nadgar F/1 Anand Ashram, Proctor Road, Bombay
   Remarks: On 16.4.46, it was reported that Ramesh had been asked by the INA Relief Committee to be ready to proceed to Calcutta for an interview in connection with a course in Electrical engineering.
   Update 1992: Residing in Bangalore, Karnataka, India; Air Force Colonel.
   Update 2023: Deceased in 2003; Air Commodore; Author of Burma to Japan with Azad Hind: A War Memoir
   Update 2025: From Mrs Benegal: “I am Mrs Meera R Benegal, wife of late AirCmde Ramesh s Benegal MVC AVSM. My husband AirCmde Ramesh was a freedomfighter being 1 of the Tokyo cadets. They were taken prisoners after the famous explosion of the Atom bomb and their training came to an end when they were taken prisoners –16,17 years. They were freed in India after the famous trial at the Red Fort in Delhi. He was recognized a freedom fighter only in 1991 and then after he got his FF pension. He passed away in 2003. After his demise, I got the fly pension .”
2. S. V. Sharma (Malaya)
   S/o C.V.S. Sharma
   General Hospital Alorstar Kedah, Malaya.
   Address: C/o K. R. Sriniwasan 114 St Leo’s Road Bombay
   Remarks: Selected by the INA Relief Committee for training at Jadav College of Engineering and Technology, Bengal.
   Update 1992: Residing in London, United Kingdom
3. S. Bala Krishna Sharma (Malaya)
   C/o No. 2
   Address: No. 2
   Remarks: Present intentions unknown
   Update 1992: Residing in Singapore
4. Attar Mohd Khan (Malaya)
   S/o Abdul Rehman Khan of Village Mehta Nangal, PS Beas District Amritsar
   Living at 122 York Road, Penang, Malaya
   C/o Mammonhan Kapur Egerton Road Lahore, Punjab
   Remarks: Has no intention of returning to Penang. Is privately preparing for the Matriculation Examination of the Punjab University to be held in 1947
   Update 1992: Brigadier, deceased in Pakistan.
5. Sat Parkash (Satya Prakash Sharma) (Malaya)
   S/o Daulat Ram of Village Daula Nangal PS Beas District Amritsar Punjab
   At present living at 8, China Street, Penang, Malaya
   C/o Ram Rattan 18 McClagan Road, Lahore Punjab
   Remarks: He has volunteered for training at the Jadav Institute of Engineering and Technology, Bengal, arranged by the Central INA Committee Delhi and has received instructions to report to Delhi.
   Update 1992: Residing in Harrow, Middlesex, United Kingdom
   Update 2023: Passed away in 2015 according to his grandson Rajan Sharma.
6. Harbans Singh
7. and Anup Singh (Malaya)
   Sons of Ajit Singh of Lahore
   At present living at 14C Annexe Road, Penang Malaya.
   C/o Piara Lal Kumar Advocate, 4 Mozang Road, Lahore
   Remarks: Not inclined to go back to Penang. Reported to have taken the Matriculation Exam. of Punjab University held in March last.
   Update 1992 (Harbans): Residing in New Delhi, India.
   Update 1992 (Anup): Deceased in the early 1950s.
8. Shiv Charan Singh
9. and Harcharan Singh Virick (Malaya)
   Sons of Gurcharan Singh
   Jat of Ophulweran Dist Shiekhpura, Punjab, at present a lawyer in Penang, Malaya.
   C/o C.S. Deva 8 College Road Lahore
   Remarks: Joined the Senior Cambridge Class of St Anthony School Lahore with effect from 1.3.1946.
   Update 1992 (Harcharan Singh): Residing in Sydney, Australia.
   Update 1992 (Shiv Charan Singh): Residing in Melbourne, Australia.
10. Sukhbir Singh Nindra (Malaya)
    S/o D.S. Nindra of 346 Dato Karmat Road, Penang, Malaya.
    (C/o L. Kathyab, Srinagar, Kashmir.)
    Update 1992: Residing in Punjab, India; PSEB General Manager.
    
    C/o Naranjon Singh Bhandari, o Eminabad, Dist. Gujranwala, Punjab.
    Remarks: Selected by the Central I.N.A. Relief Committee for training at the Jadvar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Bengal.
    Update 1992: Residing in Punjab, India; PSEB General Manager.
11. Guruswamy Gandhi Dass (Burma)
    S/o M. Guruswamy of 126 Dalhousie Street, Rangoon, Burma
    Remarks: Died of Malaria on I8.2.46
12. ST. Rajan (Malaya)
    S/o P.M. Sami Chettiar 28th Brickfield’s Rd., Kuala Lumpur, Malaya
    C/o.F.M. Samy Chettiar Kulloorsanda Aruppukottai Raluk Police Station, Ramnad, Dist* Madras.
    Remarks: Present intentions not known.
    Update 1992: Deceased in Africa.
13. R.M. Annamalai (Singapore)
    S/o Ramaswami 47 Market Street Singapore, Malaya
    Shanmuganathapuram, Devakoyyai Taluk Police Station, Ramnad Dist Madras.
    Remarks: Present intentions unknown
    Update 1992: Resident of Karaikudei, Tamil Nadu
14. G. Ganapathy (Malaya)
    S/o P. Govindasamy 50-L, Postal Barracks, Cannolly Road, Ipoh, Malaya
    *C/o S. Marudu Esq., Puduppathy, Tirupattur Post Ramnad, Dist. Madras
    Remarks: Has been asked by the Central INA Relief Committee to take up either Aero Ground Engineering course or Textile course whichever he chooses
    Update 1992: Deceased in Kuala Lumpur in 1988.
15. V. Natarajan (Singapore)
    S/o Vellasami 49 Market St., Singapore, Malaya
    Pattamangalam Tirupathur Police Station Ramnad, Dist. Madras.
    Remarks: Present Intentions not known.
    Update 1992: Residing in Singapore.
16. R. Meyyappan
    S/o Ranganathan Chettiar.
    L.P. Ranganathan, C/o Kandanur, Sakkottai Police Station, Ramnad Dist., Madras.
    Remarks: Selected by the Central INA Relief Committee for training at Jadav College of Engineering and Technology, Jadavpur, Bengal.
    Update 1992: Residing in Bombay, India.
17. M. Gandhi Nathan (Singapore)
    S/o Mukhayya Pillai 9 Morris Road, Singapore.
    Kallal Kallal Police Station, Ramnad Dlst. Madras
    Remarks: Selected by the Central INA Relief Committee for training at Jadav College of Engineering and Technology, Jadavpur, Bengal.
    Update 1992: Residing in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
18. N. Karuppiah (Singapore)
    S/o Narayana
    9 Morris Road, Singapore
    Silator, Aranthangi Police Station, Ramnad Dist. Madras.
    Remarks: Selected by the Central INA Relief Committee for training at Jadav College of Engineering and Technology, Jadavpur, Bengal.
    Update 1992: Deceased in India in 1988.
19. D. Ganarajan (Burma)
    S/o M.D. Rajan 31, Mahamyang Road, Rangoon, Burma.
    No. 4 Diwan Rama lyengar Road, Kilpauk, Madras.
    Remarks: Selected by the Central INA Relief Committee for training at Jadav College of Engineering and Technology, Jadavpur, Bengal.
    Update 1992: Residing in Kerala, India.
20. K.M.V. Nachiappan (Singapore) – Mentioned in The War Diary
    S/o M. Vallippan 45 Market Street, Singapore.
    Nachiapuram, Tirupathur Police Station Ramnad Dist Madras.
    Remarks: Present intentions not known.
    Update 1992: Residing in Madras, Tamil Nadu, India.
21. M. Meyyappan (Singapore)
    S/o Malayandi 36 Market Street, Singapore.
    Muthupatnam, Karaikudy Police Station, Ramnad Dist. Madras.
    Remarks: Present intentions not known.
    Update 1992: Residing in Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India.
22. K. Thuraisamy or K. Doraiswamy @ K.T. Swamy
    C/o S .K .Karuppusamy Chettiar Chinnayya Goundenvalasu, Moolanpur Police Station Coimbatore Dist. Madras.
    Remarks: Has been asked by the Central INA Relief Committee to be ready to leave for Bombay, to Join the Aeronautical Engineering Course.
    Update 1992: Deceased in 1992
23. K .R.Sekharam (Malaya)
    S/o Dr. Krishna R Tolokdatoh Malaya.
    Kollathur, Thirayaur Taluk Trichinopoly Dist. Madras.
    Remarks: Present intentions not known
    Update 1992: Deceased in Madras in 1992.
24. Devasagayam, Dasan (Malaya)
    S/o Devashayam, 881 Bukit Chagar, Johore Baru, Malaya.
    Irangalur, Dist. Madras
    Remarks: Present Intentions not known
    Update 1992: Residing in Madras, India; Indian Airlines pilot
    Updated 2026: From Dr Julia Dasan, settled in Seychelles. “My Dad was Devasakayam Dasan from Malaya . He was born in Malaysia joined the INA received the sword of honour from Netaji Subash Chandra Bose which is now donated to the museum in Orissa. He was released as a Prisoner or war in Madras from where he began his flying career.He was a Check Pilot and Senior Commander on the 747 Boeing with Air India and retired as Operations Manager Air India Mumbai in 1984. The family migrated to Chennai in 1988 and he passed away in 2013.”
25. Nani Gopal Chaudhuri (Malaya)
    S/o Dr. D.C.Chaudhuri of 91 Birch Rd. Seremban Malaya and of V Bolachaung Dist. Tippera, Bengal.
    Remarks: Reported to have been traced in Tippera; visited INA Rest Camp in Calcutta in March last; not known whether he returned home.
    Update 1992: Residing in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
26. Ajit Kumar Ghosh (Malaya)
    S/o N.N. Ghosh f 238, Wood Rd., Port Dickson, Negri, Slmbillan Malaya.
    Remarks: On arrival in India gave his address as that of N.G. Chaudhuri. Has not yet been traced.
    Update 1992: Residing in Selangor, Malaysia.
27. Bimel Kishore Dev (Burma)
    S/o Bindhu Bhushan Dev, 9 Chelmsford Street, Rangoon and of Mukherji Lane, Serampur, near Calcutta, Bengal.
    Remarks: Not yet traced.
    Update 1992: Deceased; in the Burmese Navy.
28. Somerandra Karmakar (Singapore) – Mentioned in The War Diary
    s/o T. Karmakar 10 Bunna Road, Singapore and of Mukherjl Lane, Serampur, Bengal.
    Remarks: Not yet traced. Has relatives in Howrah and Hoogly
    Update 1992: Residing in Jamshedpur, Bihar, India.
29. Anil Ranjan Dutta
    Son of A.B. Dutta, from Katha, Burma, and Bhangagar, Faridpur District.
    Remarks: Was at the INA Relief Committee Office, 131 Bow Bazar Street, Calcutta in March last. Present whereabouts unknown.
    Update 1992: Residing in New York, President of Lama Shipping; deceased in the United States in the 1990s.
30. Ajit Sen Gupta
    Son of Anil Sen Gupta, from 7 Bukit Chagar, Butterworth, Malaya, and Hoogly, Bengal,
    Guru Prasad Hay Lane, Calcutta.
    Update 1992: Deceased in Ranchi in the 1950s.
31. Sushil Chatterjee (Malaya)
    Son of Taran Chatterjee, from Bilmol Street, Kuala Selangor, Malaya, and Brahmapur, Dist, Halsa, Bengal.
    Remarks: Not yet traced.
    Update 1992: Deceased in Calcutta in 1982.
32. Ranjit Das (Singapore)
    Son of H.C. Das, from 254 Rangoon Rd, Singapore, and Naya Bazar, Dacca, Bengal (Mukherji Lane, Serampur, Bengal?).
    Remarks: Not yet traced.
    Update 1992: Residing in Bombay, India; airline captain.
33. B. Karmakar (Singapore)
    Son of T. Karmakar, from 10 Burma Rd, Singapore, and Mukhrji Lane, Serampur, Bengal. Remarks: Not yet traced.
    Update 1992: Residing in New Delhi, airline captain.
34. N.C. Mukherjee (Malaya)
    Son of S.K. Mukerjee, from 349 Govt. Quarters, Kuala Pilah, Malaya, and 26 Thalpukar Rd, Calcutta.
    Remarks: Reported to have proceeded to Barisal and thence to Dacca. Not yet traced.
    Update 1992: Residing in Selangor, Malaysia.
    Update 2025 from Debasis Chatterjee: My elder maternal uncle Lt Nepal Chandra Mukherjee S/o. S K Mukherjee did his graduation in mechanical engineering from Jadavpur University. After that he did further studies in Glasgow. He returned to India and worked for some time in Larsen and Toubro in Bombay. He returned to Malaysia in 1953-54 and served as an engineer in the Malaysian Government. He expired on 26th May 2010.
35. P.K. Mitra (Malaya)
    Son of Dr. S.K. Mitra, from Johor Baru, Malaya, and Calcutta.
    Remarks: Living at INA Rest Camp, 6 Dwaraka Nath Tagore Lane, Calcutta.
    Update 1992: Brigadier, deceased in 1975.
36. K. Navaratnam (Malaya)
    Son of Kandavanam, Kota Babharu, Malaya.
    Remarks: Upon arrival in India, he expressed his desire to go to his grandfather, Sabapathi, in Jaffna, Ceylon.
    Update 1992: Deceased in Patna in 1949.
37. R. Balaraju Naidu (Malaya)
    Son of Ratnaswamy Naidu, 910 Jalan Padang, Green Town, Ipoh, Malaya.
    C/o INA Relief Committee 13 Bow Bazaar St. Calcutta
    Update 1992: Residing in Bombay, India.
38. Mancadu Kumaran Ramkumar (Malaya)
    Son of M.R.K. Nair, from Kulathoor, Travancore State (address in Malaya not known).
    Update 1992: Residing in Trivandrum, India; Army Major.
39. C.P. Krishna (Malaya)
40. and C.P. Narayanan
    Sns of T.P. Kerunakaran Nair, from 7 Garden City, Malacca, and Chittor village, Trichur, Cochin State.
    Remarks: Left their home for Calcutta in the first week of March last to contact INA Relief Committee and to see if they could get back to their parents in Malaya.
    Update 1992 (CP Narayanan): Residing in Kingston, United Kingdom; Air India pilot.
    Update 1992 (CP Krishna): Residing in Bombay, India; Air India pilot.
41. V. Ganapathy (Singapore)
    Son of Venkitachalam (deceased), from 49 Market St, Singapore, and Kadiapatty, P.O. Ramachandrapuram, Pudukotah State.
    Update 1992: Residing in Tamil Nadu, India.
42. N. Damodara Menon (Malaya)
    Son of Dr. N.K. Menon, 73 Perak Rd, Penang, Malaya, and c/o Ramu Menon (brother), Student Presidency College, Madras.
    Update 1992: Residing in Madras, India; Indian Airlines pilot.
43. Robert S. Prosper (Malaya)
    Son of J. Prosper, and S. Prosper, c/o S.V. Permandeese, Water Works Inspector Johore Baru. c/o S. Prosper, Teacher, St. Joseph’s School, Nagercoil, Travancore State.
    Update 1992: Residing in Miri, Sarawak, East Malaysia.
    Update 2026: From his granddaughter Geraldine Hallay. “He was born on 10 July 1925 in Pallam, Kanyakumari district (then part of Travancore State). My mother, Mercy Jacintha Prosper was born in October 1953 and grew up in Johore Bahru, Malaysia. I know that he was based in Bombay in the late 40’s, then transitioned to engineering and moved to Malaysia in the mid-1950s. In the mid-1980s he took up a government engineering post in Brunei, and eventually settled in Miri, Sarawak, where he died in the late 1990s.”
44. Cecil Lakshman Thevar (Malaya)
    Son of K.K. Thevar, Victoria Avenue, Penang, and c/o Mrs. C.P.M. Menon, Chorupal Pathipara House, Trichur.
    Remarks: Present whereabouts not known.
    Update 1992: Residing in Stormont County, Canada
45. J. Rabindra Nath, (Malaya)
    Son of Janardhanan Pillai, from Battupahat Town, Johore State, Malaya. c/o Janardhanan, Mavelikkara, Travancore State.
    Update 1992: Deceased in Malaysia.
46. Bishan Singh
    Deceased on the way to Japan in 1944. Air Commodore Ramesh Benegal’s memoir gives details have his untimely death.
    

Experiences of Attar Mohammad Khan (Tokyo Boy from Malaya)

Here is an account from one of the Tokyo cadet members Attar Mohammad:

Netaji used to take personal interest in the progress of the cadets as he was training them for leading the future Army and Airforce of India. According to his reminiscences after Japan surrendered the trainees were discharged from the Imperial Military Academy in Tokyo and were brought to Manila where the British took over them and kept them in detention. The food given to them was sub standard. American forces however were considerate and helped them a lot. In Nov 1945 the trainees were huddled in the storeroom of a small aircraft career that left Manila for Hong Kong. The British soldiers treated the trainees like ordinary criminals and murderers. They took away all the valuables in possession of the trainees like fountain pens and wrist watches. In Hong Kong they were put up in a local jail and the British soldiers were extremely rude and rough. A soldier inserted a sock into the mouth of one of the cadets. On 10 Dec 1945 they were put onboard a ship and were put up in a store room near the boiler that was extremely hot. They were kept under strict vigilance by Dutch sentries. On 29th December 1945 they reached Madras. All 45 of them were interned in a camp and interrogated by the C.I.D. The boys were neither given any provisions or clothing and were given only Rs 5 to reach Lahore.

Source: https://www.netajisubhasbose.org/post/treatment-meted-out-to-the-tokyo-cadets-by-the-allied-forces

INA Cadets Return to India

Just came across this telegram regarding the INA Cadets return to India in January 1946.

INDIAN POSTS AND TELEGRAPHS DEPARTMENT. 5 JAN 1946

45 INA CADETS RETURNED FROM TOKYO FULSTOP THE DAILY INDIAN EXPRESS MADRAS HAS AGREED TO OPEN A COLUMN FOR THE FUND OF THE INA RELIEF COMMITTEE MADRAS FULSTOP PLEASE WIRE YOUR APPROVAL AND BLESSINGS TO THE RELIEF FUND SCHEME OF (150) THE INDIAN EXPRESS FOR PUBLICATION ==

S B ADITYAN SECRETARY MADRAS INA RELIEF COMMITTEE 9 BROADWAY MADRAS

Letter from S.A. Ayer, Meeting the Tokyo Cadets in Madras (1946)

10, Annakuli Mantapam Lane, Madura 13/3/46

Dear Sardarji,

I propose to leave here on Sunday the 17th, spend two days in Madras (18th & 19th) where I hope to meet the Tokyo Cadets, drop in at the I.N.A. Camp and meet the Relief Committee, leave Madras on the 20th, arrive Poona 21st morning to have Darshan of Gandhiji that day or the next according to his convenience, and reach Bombay by the 23rd.

I do hope you will be kind enough to spare me a little time as soon as I reach Bombay as I wish to meet you without much delay.

Thanking you and with best regards,

Yours truly, S. A. Ayer

P.S. I am writing to Pyarelalji at Poona about my going over to Poona.

Source: The National Archives of India.

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