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May 11, 2003
Review: Rebel with a cause
THIS book has been very appropriately named, because it deals with that chapter of the history of the Indian freedom movement which, without doubt, was the turning point in the struggle and which, in fact, hastened the independence of India. This is that phase of Indian history when Subhash Chandra Bose launched his armed struggle with the help of the Indian National Army (INA), the military arm of the Azad Hind Government in exile. Indians attribute the success of their freedom struggle to Gandhi’s single-handed endeavours through his philosophy of ahimsa (non-violence). It is not realized that Gandhi’s ahimsa was effective only as a result of Bose’s politics and the INA’s strategy of taking up arms against the British Army.
Parveen Qadir Agha, the daughter of Colonel Ihsan Qadir of the INA, on whom this book focuses, correctly wrote in the closing lines of “Dhundhli Yaaden” (Foggy Memories), the first chapter of the book under review, “yeh kitab usi baghi fauj ki kahaani hai jisay moarrikheen gumnami kay andhay kooen mein daal chukay hain” (this book is the story of the same rebel army which has been consigned to the ‘blind well’ of obscurity by historians).
As the author, Ahmed Saleem, has stressed in the foreword, the book has been written to serve a dual purpose. It is designed to highlight an important yet little known hero, Colonel Ihsan Qadir of the INA, and in the same context to revive the memory of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, the INA, and his close associates such as General Shahnawaz, Dhillon, Saigol, Captain Lakshmi and many others.
The book is in two parts. The first part mainly deals with the family background of Colonel Ihsan Qadir (the son of the renowned couple Sir and Begum Abdul Qadir), his childhood, his getting admission in Cambridge University but his decision to join the Indian Army, his mysterious disappearance from the Burma front where he was posted during the second world war and his reemergence as a member of the first INA of General Mohan Singh.
The INA was actually the brainchild of General Mohan Singh. He raised it while in captivity as a Japanese prisoner of war (POW). Overwhelmed with patriotic feelings for his motherland, Singh felt that the time had come to shun ‘ahimsa’ and take up arms against the British. After discussing the issue with his confidant Major Akram — and with the blessings of the Japanese — he launched the first INA to an enthusiastic response from other POWs, both officers and sepoys. The book gives a vivid account of the exploits of this army, and the significant role of Captain Ihsan Qadir, as incharge of the Azad Hind Radio. But this INA did not last long and when differences cropped up between General Mohan Singh and the Japanese about its role and how it should be run, he was arrested by the Japanese and the INA was disbanded.
The second INA was raised by Subhash Chandra Bose after his arrival from Germany. Ihsan Qadir was assigned the job of raising a civilian volunteer force. He succeeded in raising a force of 30,000 volunteers who were given basic arms training and were ready to take over the civil administration of the liberated areas. Seventeen girls also volunteered and signed the oath of allegiance with their blood. In the mean time Colonel Ihsan Qadir was given yet another very important assignment of creating inter-faith fraternity and brotherhood between the people of different religions in the INA. He achieved this objective with equal acclaim from Netaji Subhash Chandra and the members of all religions in the INA.
The second part of the book provides glimpses of Netaji’s early life. Later he developed differences with Gandhi and made an adventurous escape to Germany via the tribal areas and Afghanistan. He earned the title of Netaji as a token of devotion and reverence from his followers. He introduced ‘Jai Hind’ (long live India) as a form of greeting. The account of his journey to the Far East in a submarine, in which he travelled under water for about three months along with his most trusted colleague Abid Hasan, are very thrilling and speak highly of his courage, determination and extreme dedication to the cause of liberating his motherland from the yoke of British imperialism.
The main theme of the book mainly relates to Colonel Ihsan Qadir’s life till his return to India, his trial in the Red Fort and ultimate release after sometime. Thereafter he entered local politics but was soon disillusioned with the political activities of the office-seeking politicians in India, and later in Pakistan.
The book can rightly be considered a tribute to the heroes of the INA in the words of Sir Winston Churchill “So many” (now living in freedom) “owe so much to so few”.
Tawareekh ka Aik Gumshuda Warq
By Ahmed Saleem
Dost Publications, 8-A Khayaban-i-Suhrawardy, PO Box 2958, Islamabad
ISBN 969-496-211-0
139pp. Rs120
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