1944: Victory at Imphal and Kohima
Subhas Chandra Bose looks at his watch. It was the morning, and they were in Indian territory. "It is time." he announces. The city of Imphal, after years of fighting was finally in Indian hands.
Free Indian hands. He vows that it will stay that way. To the shouts of "Delhi Challo!", his troops marched alongside his Japanese counterparts. It seemed that Calcutta was in his very grasp, and his dream of freeing his country was possible. "It seems that the Japanese Empire is increasing each step," remarked General Mutaguchi, "Within a month, we will include even Britain in our grasp!" Bose smirked upon hearing this comment. His goal was to see a free India, not one dominated by the Japanese. But at this point, he had no choice. They were his hope.
15 July, 1944
The Japanese forces and the INA plowed through Eastern India, where Bose's rousing speeches increased the INA's numbers. With Kohima and Imphal now firmly in Indian hands, Bose looked upon his next target intently: Calcutta. The gem of the Indian Orient, the capture of Calcutta would mean almost certain success in the struggle for independence. The generals had written up a plan, involving the Japanese Navy, and soon the plan was set. An invasion of Calcutta was to be launched within the month. Bose knew that he would win, for Bengal was his homeland. He would have a special kind of leverage there that he wouldn't have across India. What he didn't know, was that the British had amassed troops in Calcutta, preparing for the invasion that was to come.
INA Progress July 1944:
