Subhas Chandra Bose
Subhas Chandra Bose (1897-1945) was a Bengali nationalist who fled to Germany at the start of World War II in order to get support from Hitler for Indian independence. When this failed, he travelled to Japan. Bose helped organize and later lead the "Indian National Army" put together with Indian prisoners-of-war from Singapore and Southeast Asia.Some of these troops which participated in the Japanese conquest of Burma did reach India but pulled back with Japan's retreat.
Bose and the unit's "heroism" is still remembered among many nationalist Indians (especially in his native Bengal) and is also fondly remembered by apologist Japanese historians who see Japanese efforts to support Bose as proof that it was fighting a war on behalf of the oppressed peoples of Asia.
Bose had once been president of the Indian National Congress, but stood a second term against the wishes of Gandhi, who supported Pattabhi Sitaramayya. Although he won the election, Gandhi's continued opposition led to the resignation of the Working Committee which further put pressure on Bose to finally resign.
Bose died in a plane crash over Taiwan while trying to get to Tokyo.
See also:
