The Fascist Republic of India: An alternate history of Independent India

The beginning
  • 10 April, 1944
    Subhas Chandra Bose sat on his desk listening to his aide-de-camp about the fight in Kohima,
    "The Japs have been attacking the British positions and apparently have managed to take the fight to the Deputy Commissioner's bungalow."
    "The DC's bungalow ? Has it fallen ?"
    "No sir, both of them have dug trenches separated only by The Tennis Court"
    "That's fucking hilarious. What about the British reinforcements ?"
    "They'll take another 10 days to arrive."
    "Which means that the Bungalow must fall before that. Only then can we takeover Kohima and attack Dimapur."
    "That would be ideal, sir. But how do we accomplish that ?"
    "Tell me 2 things Habib. How many INA men are at the Bungalow, and how many Indian soldiers are there under British command ?
    "We have about 2,000 in addition to the 15,000 Japs and the British have around 1200 Indians out of 1500."
    "Get the Jeep out, Habib. I am going to take Kohima"



    11 April, 1944
    Lieutenant General Sato, the Japanese Commander at Kohima, was furious on hearing that Bose had arrived at the Japanese positions.
    "What the hell is wrong is with you, Mr. Bose! You're not supposed to be here!
    "May I remind you that you are speaking to the Prime Minister of the Provisional Government of Free India"
    Habib said.
    "Titles do not work on battlefield you schmuck"
    "Lieutenant, Calm down!"
    Bose thundered in his deep voice.
    "I am here to help you. God knows that you need it. Now tell me why aren't we able to cross a bloody tennis court with 10,000 men ?
    "Their supplies are not running out. The constant airdrops are an obstacle."
    "I hear another charge is being prepared."
    "It is."
    "Cancel it. And get me a megaphone."


    10 INA men waving white flags were ordered to move across the Tennis court, with firing suspended for the moment. The British were perplexed as to what was happening. Was the invincible Japanese army about to surrender ? Suddenly an INA soldier spoke up in Hindi,
    "NETAJI IS HERE TO SEE YOU!"
    The Indian soldiers were surprised, perhaps pleasantly but their British superiors were not able to understand what was going on. An Indian soldier stood up and asked
    "WHERE IS HE ?"
    That was when the Megaphone rang in Hindi,
    "MY BRAVE MEN. I AM HERE TO ASK A FAVOUR FROM YOU, AND AS YOUR NETA YOU CANNOT REFUSE ME. STOP FIGHTING FOR THESE ENGLISH BASTARDS. JOIN ME. LET US LIBERATE OUR NATION TOGETHER. WE HAVE BURMA. NOW LETS TAKE BHARAT AND START WITH KOHIMA.
    GIVE ME YOUR BLOOD AND I SHALL GIVE YOU FREEDOM!"

    For the next 30 seconds, there was pindrop silence. The British Commander Stopford was not giving any orders. Neither was Sato. A Sikh soldier standing behind Stopford put a pistol to his head. So did two more soldiers. Then another bunch of them aimed their guns at their British comrades and so on until over a thousand men of the British Indian Army had mutinied.
    The INA men and the Indian soldiers both climbed the court and began to embrace each other. General Sato ordered his men to start arresting the British soldiers.
    The Battle of the Tennis Court had been won. The Union Jack was burned and the INA flag was raised on the Deputy Commissioner's Bungalow, alongside the Rising Sun Flag. Kohima had fallen. Imphal and Dimapur were next.

    Who was the founder of Azad Hind Fauz? - Quora

    Subhash Bose inspecting troops before the attack on Imphal.
    On his right walks General Mohan Singh, the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian National Army(Azad Hind Fauj).
    c.1944
     
    Imphal
  • Hideki Tojo was a happy man when he heard of the fall of Kohima. He now had knife on British Empire's jugular. While Japan was facing reverses in the Pacific, the Burma theatre now became far more important. More and more Japanese soldiers and materials were now needed there. If only he could somehow cutoff India...Subhash Bose was essential for this. The man had to be placated. Tojo called him the next day to congratulate him on the victory.
    "Good Morning, Subhash. How are you ?"
    "Couldn't be better, Hideki, how are you ?"
    "You've made me a very happy man. Congratulations on taking Kohima."
    "Well then, Hideki, I need you to make me happy as well."
    "Anything Subhash."
    "Give me more men. At least a 1,00,000. A whole mechanised division and 5 Air Force squadrons. 2 bomber and 3 fighter."
    "You've got it pal. But reinforcements after this will be very hard to come by. So be very careful."
    "Thank you, Hideki."


    The joint INA-Japanese forces numbered at around 20,000 before launching an offensive on Imphal. The British forces' main supply route had been cut off at Kohima and the huge supply dump at Kohima included abandoned artillery, munitions and huge quantities of rice in the nearby Naga villages. This saved Japan's army from starvation and exacerbated British problems. They were only being supplied though aerial drops.

    The British forces were commanded by Lieutenant General Geoffry Scoones and he commanded about 10,000 men in Imphal. Although his force had a substantial number of British brigades(around 40%), he still feared a mutiny and decided against any pre-emptive offensive. He was going to face the siege.

    On 17th April, 1944 Axis forces attacked Imphal from the North, East and South. Most British resistance on the Northern and Eastern flanks was easily mopped up, it was in the south where the Japanese bore the brunt. General Scoones' 254th Indian Tank Brigade rained hellfire on Japanese infantry, with Japan raking up 500 casualties on this front within a week. The British on the other hand had 200 dead with their positions in Imphal being constantly shelled. The Japanese field commander, Lt. General Remya Malaguchi had also ordered an assault on Dimapur under General Sato. This was a stalemate since the British brigades defending it and the Japanese attacking it were of equal strength.

    The Tank Brigade, after practically destroying the Japanese advance south of Imphal, flanked the Japanese 33rd Division in the east. Malaguchi was confident of taking Imphal by the end of the month, even with Allied aerial superiority, but the Tank brigade was a serious headache.
    The INA's Subhash Brigade under Captain Shah Nawaz Khan launched a counter-attack against the Tank Brigade on 25th April with the objective of pushing them back south and from there into Imphal. A Bahadur Brigade was organised as a special forces to conduct espionage and sabotage behind enemy lines. Colonel Shaukat Malik was tasked with operating it.
    The INA found its first independent success in Moirang, when Shaukat Malik led 10 men into the British encampment in a daring raid. They easily blended in with the Indian soldiers and infiltrated the area commander's tent, one Subedar Ishar Sharma.
    With bayonet on his neck, Ishar Sharma was harshly awakened from his sleep,
    "Good to see you Sharma"
    "What the fuck are you doing I m your off-"

    Suddenly a rifle butt broke his nose
    "No Sharma. See, you're mistaken. We are not the British Army. We are the INA."
    Sharma while bleeding profusely, begged for mercy
    "I am not going to kill you, soldier. You are after all one of us. Now go outside, rally your soldiers and tell them that your brigade has switched allegiance and joined the Azad Hind Fauj"
    Moirang fell on 30th April. This was the Tank brigades's first major reversal.

    On 3rd May, 3 Japanese battalions took the Nungshigum ridge, overlooking the main airstrip in Imphal. The Japanese led death charges on the airstrip and while they did not manage to to take it, the airstrip was so damaged that allied planes could no longer fly against the Japanese force. Malaguchi ordered a renewed offensive from the north again, but this time without being threatened by the RAF.
    Casualties had been high on both sides, with 7000 British dead and 15000 Japanese, the INA taking a 1000. With no air superiority and the security of aerial supply parachutes being compromised, the British forces were starving and morale was low.

    The last nail in Imphal's coffin was the arrival of a new Japanese Field Army of 1,00,000 men in Mandalay which began to move towards Imphal. British reinforcements were not so forthcoming. This boosted the Japanese morale. The new offensive broke the British and they surrendered on May 7th, 1944.


    220px-Geoffrey_Scoones.jpg

    IV Corps commander General Geoffry Scoones photographed after surrendering Imphal to Japanese forces
    c.1944


    The allied command was shocked. The fall of Imphal and Kohima now exposed India to a Japanese invasion. The allies had suffered a huge setback in mainland Asia, even while the Americans were beating the Japanese in the Pacific. Britain now had to split the troops to protect the home islands and India. Churchill and Roosevelt urged Stalin to declare war on Japan relieve pressure on India but Stalin flat out refused to do so until Germany was defeated.

    The Japanese leadership on the other hand was elated. Tojo decided to send another 2,00,000 troops to help in invading India. The Imperial Japanese Navy also began to contemplate sending a carrier strike group into the Bay of Bengal, even though the American naval superiority in the Pacific was rising day-by-day.

    Subhash Chandra Bose, in a radio broadcast on May 10th, 1944 from Imphal made an address that would be remembered as The Imphal Address.

    "Our nation has reached a juncture, a critical point where we must pick a side. Do we chose those who oppress us, loot us and force us to fight their wars or those, who sacrifice their own young men for our liberation. My countrymen, 3 days ago the Indian National Army took Imphal. It is the first nail in the coffin of the British Empire in India. I implore you to rebel against these Imperialist devils and not rest until every last Britisher is thrown out of this country. Go and kill their civil servants, destroy train tracks, cut down the telegraph wires, burn down their police stations. Avenge all the humiliations that they have inflicted upon us. Remember the sacrifices of Bhagat Singh, of Lala Lajpat Rai, of Mahatma Gandhi. Avenge Jallianwala Bagh. All the brave men who are forced to fight under British yoke for their imperialist ambitions, desert your posts and join the INA. Together, we shall liberate our country. Remind these bastards of 1857. From Peshawar to Kaniyakumari, from Porbandar to Dhaka, Don't ask them to Quit India, Make them Quit India!"

    The address sent shockwaves throughout the country. Every man, woman and child supported Bose. The entire congress machinery threw itself behind him, even though the congress leaders like Gandhi and Nehru were opposed to it. The Viceroy begged Churchill for reinforcements but around 2 million Indian troops were dispersed around the world, in England, Italy, Iran and Africa. There was also the fear that these troops on reaching India, would mutiny and join Bose.
    Viceroy Wavell, in order to placate the Indian masses made the fatal decision of releasing Gandhi, Nehru and a few other prominent politicians from detention. They decided to hold a session in Kanpur and announced their support to Subhash Chandra Bose and the INA. They also announced that Britain must immediately hand over power to Indians and leave the country. Internally they despised Bose but they had to support him to protect their own hides.

    The Quit India Movement was reinvigorated, with violence.
    When Gandhi was asked by the press if he condoned the violence, he said,
    "Non-violence is my ideology but I would prefer Violence to cowardice."

    Wavell once again jailed the congress leadership. This was another blunder as it only served to anger the people. As a result the British Government sacked him and his predecessor Lord Linlithgow was appointed to his second term as the Viceroy of India.

    On 27th May, 1944 The Imperial Japanese Army in conjunction with Indian National Army launched 3 simultaneous offensives towards Chittagong, Dhaka and Guwahati with 3,50,000 troops, 500 tanks, 150 aircraft, 1600 artillery guns and 700 Armoured fighting vehicles. The objective was to take all 3 cities and move into Western Bengal before the rains fell in July.
     
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    The beginning of the end
  • Pondicherry
    Aurobindo Ghosh had intently listened to the 'Imphal Address' and was quite pleased to see a fellow Bengali reviving the old revolutionary cause. He also wanted the British out and for the first time in the last 200 years, had they been militarily defeated. He had abandoned politics 4 decades go, but after listing to Subhash, he wanted to go back. Perhaps it might mean death, but he would help the country become Independent. Aurobindo called up his old revolutionary friends in Bengal from the days of the Anushilaan Samiti.

    "How are you, my boy ?"
    "I am managing, Auro Da."
    "I trust you've heard Subhash's speech."
    "I did. Perhaps there is hope for this country after all."
    "There certainly is, Batukeshwar. I have a task for you."
    "Your wish is my command, Auro Da."
    "You do remember what they did to Bhagat ?"
    "Da, I-I why are you bringing him up ?"

    Suddenly the image of Bhagat being hung came in front of his eyes. Batukeshwar broke down.
    "I need you to remember Batuk. I want that rage in you. For what you're about to do, it is required."
    "What is it, Auro Da ?"
    "How many Revolutionaries are you still in contact with?"
    "20. Maybe 30. Why, what do you need them for ?"
    "You are going to be the Fifth column, son. Subhash has brought the war to India and we must help him. Gather your men. Make your bombs and contact Subhash's man. Help them in taking Chittagong and Dhaka."
    "Very well, Da. I will not let you down, I promise you.
    "Vande Mataram"
    "Vande Mataram"


    Batukeshwar Dutt gathered his trusted associates at his safehouse in Chittagong and laid out the plan for them. There were a single rail line between Chittagong and Dhaka, for cargo, but had been repurposed to handle passengers when Imphal fell. The two cities were connected only by 15 Telephone poles and a single main road between them.
    They were to destroy the track and the road and ensure that all poles were cut so as to destroy communications.
    Batuk also contacted Shaukat Malik and was given special instructions to undertake an operation in the middle of the British garrison in Dhaka.

    Aurobindo, on the other hand, disguised himself as a Pathan and travelled to Calcutta, once again to make an effort to liberate the motherland.

    Tokyo
    Hideki Tōjō had a new card up his sleeve. He had a peace with the Soviets, so he was secure on that front for the time being. His offensive into India had been a tremendous success and was going to get even better. The thorn in his side was China. No matter how many men and how many offensives, the wretched Chinese refused to surrender. The Americans were a separate pain in the arse. The navy would not be able to keep up with them for long. So it made little sense to throw in scarce resources into a lost cause. The Imperial government had sanctioned Operation Ichi-Go to link up South China with French Indo-China. The main objective was to neutralise American airbases in Sichuan and Guangxi to protect the offensive into India and establish a secure supply line for the army in India.

    Tojo had decided to abandon further expansion into China for the time being. Once Ichi-Go would achieve its objectives, he planned to make the front-lines in China static and then make a tacit agreement with Chiang Kai-Shek to go after Mao's Communists in the North. Chiang, he figured, would be more than happy since he feared the Communists more than he did Japan. General Hayao Tada was brought out of retirement and sent to Shanghai.

    His orders were to convince Chiang to make an unofficial ceasefire with Japan and then go after the Communists, perhaps even take some help from the Japanese.

    Japan had decided to focus its energies on India, where a sympathetic populace awaited Subhas Bose and his Japanese allies. Tojo had issued orders directly from the Prime Minister's office to the area commander of the Burma army and Malaguchi to ensure that their soldiers did not harass the Indian locals. It was termed essential that the population be pacified if Japan was to win. The mistakes of China could not be repeated here.

    London
    Winston Churchill was a very angry man these days. His drinking had become worse, the courtesy of his Indian subjects. He was not as worried about the Nazis as he was about India. "Stalin can take care of the fucking Krauts", said Churchill when he made a phone call to President Roosevelt a week before the commencement of Operation Overlord, in order to convince him to cancel the offensive and attack the Japanese in India instead. Despite his adamant protests, the bloody Americans would not listen to him. "Give India independence and the Japs will have to go back" he says. What would a Yankee know about an Englishman's attachment to the empire ?

    How could he be known as the man who gave away India ?

    Churchill took another swig of the scotch, perhaps his 20th of the day. He was no longer keeping count.
    India wasn't getting any reinforcements anytime soon, Churchill said as much to Linlithgow. "Hold them with what you have". But he knew they didn't have anything. Hardly 50,000 white troops to protect the Empire's crown jewel. At this point he could only pray for the Indian troops to not rebel en masse and for the viceroy to not be moron.

    It would take only one slip up for the whole country to be engulfed in flames.

    While the Allied Command prepared to launch the D-Day invasion, Linlithgow slipped.

    Amritsar

    Mohan Singh Nagoke was a man who hated the foreign oppressors of his country. In the freedom movement, he'd resigned from a lucrative job under the DC of Amritsar, been shot while protesting and had served time. When he heard Netaji say "Avenge Jallianwallah Bagh", he knew that the time to join the fight had come. The Viceroy had ordered all governors to ensure that no seditious activities took place. The Governor of Punjab, Sir James Glancy had ordered a strict curfew across the province.

    On 25th May, Nagoke decided to defy and in his capacity as the Jathedar of Aakal Takht, Nagoke ordered all Sikhs to come to the Golden Temple to attend the Sarbat Khalsa. 500 men from Amritsar gathered in the temple, armed with swords, spears, pickaxes, local-made, 12-bore rifles, and 5 ex-soldiers armed with Lee Enfield Rifles.

    Nagoke in an impassioned speech declared that Netaji had attacked the Britishers in Bengal and now "it is our patriotic duty to destroy the British and either let them swim away or let their dead bodies float to England".

    The Amritsar Deputy Commissioner was extremely worried at these developments and decided to take a team of 10 officers to clear the Gurudwara the next day.

    As the 11 white men walked into the Gurudwara (keeping their shoes on and without covering their heads), the Commissioner announced on the megaphone,
    "VACATE THE PREMISES IMMEDIATELY. I REPEAT VACATE THE PREMISES IMMEDIATELY OR ELSE YOU WILL ALL BE ARRESTED. LEAVE NOW OR YOU WILL ALL BE ARR--
    Before the DC could finish the sentence he was shot in the face and the officers were charged by the mob. Within the next 10 minutes the whole team had been murdered, torn to shreds and their jeeps burned. The news spread across Amritsar like wildfire and the DC's office informed the Governor of his death.

    Governor James Glancy considered himself a man not to be messed with with. He was a soldier of the king and was going to inflict a brutal punishment on these savages. The governor ordered the 3rd battalion of the Punjab Regiment to march on the Golden Temple and to escort all citizens out.

    Dead or Alive.

    The soldiers arrived outside the temple in the early hours of 27th May. The battalion commander, Major John Simon decided not to ask them to come out. He decided that there was war going on it and rebels must be treated accordingly. He ordered fire on the temple, which was returned for a few minutes before being silenced.

    The next decision that Simon would take would be the one most fatal to the British Empire in India

    He ordered the two tanks with him to open fire on the Akal Takht, unless the men do not surrender. 5 shots were fired and the temple was charged by 700 soldiers. Mohan Singh Nagoke along with all of his men were slaughtered in cold blood. The Temple was filled with bodies, ammo shells and debris. Soldiers paraded around looking for rebels.
    Reflections on June 1984; media and global indifference backs India

    The destruction brought upon the holiest site of Sikhism by British troops. The picture taken by one Satpal Singh, a congress worker, did rounds across India and the news of it spread like wildfire. Hindus and Muslims too were dismayed to see such unwarranted destruction. Even the Muslim League called it a 'terrible tragedy' and called upon the government to action restraint. The Congress demanded the immediate resignation of Governor Glancy and the court martial and sentencing of Major John Simons. The Akali Dal gave public calls to assassinate the Viceroy and the Prime Minister.
    Subhash Chandra Bose announced that it was an attack on the very soul and identity of the nation and that he would not die before avenging it.


    Linlithgow himself was startled at this action by the Governor. He was at a loss about containing the fallout. While anything had not happened anywhere yet, tension was brewing and it was about to go off, sooner rather than later. All he could was hold down the fort.

    Dhaka
    Dhaka did not have a large garrison, with only about 12,000 troops and half of them Indians. Chittagong had 10,000 with only 2,000 British troops. The IJA attacked with 1,00,000 with 70,000 under General Sato attacking Dhaka and 30,000 under Bose's command attacking Chittagong.

    The resistance in Chittagong was minimal with the Japanese 53rd division shelling the British positions 24/7. The allied Air Power did not work as well here since the Japanese brought their own this time and allied bombing was unable to protect Chittagong for long.


    The British Commander tried to call for reinforcements from Calcutta but found that the telephone wires had been cut and the only road leading to Dhaka was destroyed. The city was surrounded and under supplied. The IJA was not letting any aerial food drops reach it due to the constant presence of Japanese planes. 7 out of 10 drops made to the troops but the troops only got 2 of them since the rest were either stolen or destroyed by the locals

    On the 3rd day of the siege, the Indian troops, all of whom were Sikhs mutinied when they saw the pamphlets dropped by the Japanese.
    The pamphlets had picture of the destroyed Golden Temple, captioned in Hindi,

    "BE TRUE TO THE GURU, NOT THE ENEMY. KILL THE BRITISH AND JOIN THE INA."

    2 hours later the Sikh troops murdered all British soldiers and surrendered the city to INA General, Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon.

    The Chittagong harbour had 5 Royal Indian Navy Cruisers who bombed the victorious axis forces, amassing their casualties to 2,000. When it became known that Chittagong had fallen, the ratings deserted their ships and went to the INA men. The British officers could not man the ships alone and were also forced to surrender the following evening.

    Chittagong fell on 30th May.

    The siege of Dhaka went on simultaneously. The Japanese 54th Armoured Division had 20 Chi-Ha medium tanks and 20 artillery pieces bombing the British positions but here the resistance was fierce.

    The British Commander was seemingly confident of holding off the Japanese advance but the supply situation was similar to Chittagong.

    In addition an incident that took place on 31st May that made him very worried about what was going to happen next.

    The 3 Anti Aircraft guns in Dhaka were bombed by 3 civilians. They were apparently cleanliness personnel on the barracks. At 1:00 AM in the night, the 3 of them armed with 3 grenades each went to clean the area around the guns. They went and sat under one gun each and took the pins out of 3 grenades they each had and just sat under the guns until they went off. The soldier on duty could only look on in disbelief.


    The next day the Japanese airdropped 2,000 troops all over Dhaka and after some intense fighting, took the city.

    1971 War: How A Photograph And A BBC Report Hastened Pakistan's Surrender

    The Dhaka Airdrop

    Dhaka was taken on June 1st.

    The offensive had around 7,000 Japanese and INA casualties and about 6,000 British troops dead and 4,000 Indian troops dead.

    The British military command in India was not shocked at the fall of Dhaka and Chittagong. They knew it was coming. It was only a delaying manoeuvre for them to beef up defences at Calcutta. General Joseph Stilwell tried to convince the the Viceroy to let him take his Chinese troops back to Changsha to defend it against the Japanese and asked him not to try and defend Calcutta with the unreliable Indian troops and rather organise a defence at Patna and cover the northern flank. That way the only option that the Japanese would have would be to either go through the mountains in the north, or through the forests in Odisha. But this was rejected by the British command claiming that India was a higher priority for the British Empire than China.

    Stilwell wasn't going to get to take any Chinese troops back to China. He flew back to China to inform Chiang.

    The Japanese were once again quite happy with their progress in India. The next target was Calcutta. Even China didn't look bad now. Morale was up in the Empire. The Tojo government milked this victory dry for propaganda.

    For Churchill, meanwhile, the drinking problem just got worse.
     
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    Bengal has fallen
  • Europe
    The Allied Command was in a contrasting mood to say the least. Operation Overlord, or D-day as it was now coming to be known had been successful. 5 beachheads had been established at Normandy, but the cost for the allies had been quite high. The Germans had expected an attack at Pas-de-Calais and Von Rundstedt wanted to place the 20 armoured Panzer division there but on adamant insistence from Rommel, Hitler had ordered them to be kept in reserve, to be launched wherever the invaders hit. So when the allies invaded, they were greeted by the best of Germans defensive measures including the Panzers.

    While the total allied aerial, numerical and technological superiority managed to overwhelm the German defences, allied casualties had been very high. Out of the invasion force of a 1,76,000, they had taken almost 90,000 casualties, with the British having lost 50,000 men from their force of 60,000.

    The German did not fare any better, having lost 4 of their divisions in addition to the 50,000 defenders on the beaches. In total, the German losses stood at 1,20,00 thanks to absolute allied air superiority and the decision to move the armoured divisions to Normandy.

    This was Pyrrhic victory at best for Britain and this was reflected in Winston Churchill's conversation with President Roosevelt, who on the other hand felt Jubilant on this victory.

    "Congratulations Winston. This is the beginning of our victory."
    "Thank you, Mr.President . Congratulations to you too."
    "You don't sound too happy bud. What's the matter ? We won."
    "Yes sir. The allies have won the battle, yes, but Britain just lost its military."

    Such crippling losses were now very difficult to replace. Britain just didn't have enough young men, not too different from the Germans. The Americans and the Soviets apparently had an infinite pool of men to draw soldiers from. Churchill took another swig and thought that Britain too had an infinite pool to draw from, only it was being drained by that wretched Bose.

    The Americans, meanwhile, began to pour men and material into Normandy. The liberation of France was underway. A joke was also ongoing in allied circles that they had used a "Sledgehammer to crack an egg"

    Linlithgow again requested for more troops but Churchill could not even deny them any longer. He simply said, "I don't have any with me, Lord Linlithgow."
    He decided to appoint Mountbatten as the Commander-in-Chief of the British Indian Army and ordered him to hold off Bose and the Japs till American boots could be put on Indian ground.

    What more could go wrong ?


    India
    Netaji was perplexed at the thought of the allied victory at D-day. He now knew that it was almost certain that the tripartite nations were going to lose the war. It was only a matter of time. Today it was the shores of France. Tomorrow it would be Bengal. The American steamroller was going to flatten everything in its path. His most important objective now was to liberate India as soon as possible, before British guns were bolstered by Americans.
    His thoughts were interrupted by Habib,
    "Good evening, sir."
    "Ah, good evening Habib. How are you ?"
    "I am good, sir. A penny for your thoughts perhaps ?"
    "Pour me a drink first"

    Netaji sipped his scotch
    "The Americans, Habib. They've only just started. Germany is going to fall soon. I give them 6 six months, an year at most."
    "Well we only need their allies on the other side of the earth."
    "You don't understand, Habib. The Japanese are nothing compared to the Americans. Tojo can keep telling me about the 'Asian Century' but the truth is that they are losing ground in the Pacific. We need to step up our game and take India before the Americans turn their attention towards us."
    "Of course, sir."
    "Call Mutaguchi, Habib. I need to speak to him"
    "Good evening, General. Prime Minister Bose will speak to you now."
    "Good evening, Prime Minister Bose. How may I be of service ?"
    "Good evening, General. I trust that you know of the Normandy landing."
    "Yes, quite unfortunate."
    "Indeed. We need to step our offensive. I want India liberated before the year is out."
    "We are in agreement, sir. When do you want to move on Calcutta ?"
    "Let's have rest tonight, Remya. We move tomorrow. Good night"
    "Good night, Prime Minister."


    Patiala
    The Maharaja of Patiala, Yadvindra Singh, in his capacity as the Chancellor of the Chamber of Princes and President of its standing committee had convened an emergency session of the Chamber to discuss the ongoing session. He had called the session at his estate in Patiala, rather than doing it in Delhi. Viceroy Linlithgow called the Maharaja to tell him not to have the meeting.

    "Good morning, Your Excellency. What can I do for you ?"
    "What is this ridiculousness over the Chamber meeting being in Patiala, Your Majesty ?'
    "Quite normal. We wish to discuss the situation in Bengal and we'd prefer to do it over game of polo and cricket in the Motibagh."
    "That meeting is supposed to be held in Delhi."
    "That is the prerogative of the Chamber, Your excellency, not yours."
    "Need I remind you of the wartime powers of the Viceroy, Yadvindra ?"
    "Need I remind you that Princely India has contributed 2,50,000 men to your cause in this war ?"
    "I do know that an-
    "It would serve you well not to upset the few allies that you have left, Your Excellency. The meeting will be held in Patiala. And may I suggest that there are more pressing matters in the East where Your Excellency's attention would serve us all much better."


    Linlithgow was forced to allow the meeting to go ahead. The support of the princes was essential if India was to be kept.

    In Patiala, other than Yadvindra Singh, 108 other princes attended the session.
    While the princes indulged themselves in luxuries ranging from the most expensive bottles of liquor to the finest of European and American women, and games of polo and cricket, Yadvindra Singh held another meeting with some of the more powerful princes, namely Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner, Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala, Pratap Singh Rao Gaekwad of Baroda, Maharaja Umaid Singh of Jodhpur, Maharaja Sawai Man Singh of Jaipur, Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu & Kashmir, Maharaja Balarama Verma of Travancore, and Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan of Hyderabad.

    "Gentlemen, two important developments have taken place in the last week. The Americans have secured a beachhead in France and Bose has taken half of Bengal and the entire North-east. The Viceroy barely has another 30,000 British troops with him and in my estimation, he is going to make a final stand at Calcutta with them. The question that stands before us is, do we support him after he loses ?"
    Pratap Singh spoke, "Yadvindra ji, you do realise that you talk of treason. And besides how are we going to possibly benefit from a victory of Bose ?"
    "Young man, we are going to benefit by getting a free nation. They can call us special friends of the Empire all they like, but we are only glorified slaves of sorts.",
    Maharaja Ganga Singh said
    "But what can we do Ganga Singh ji ? The last king that challenged British authority on the subcontinent was Ranjit Singh and they decimated his whole family. I have no desire to share a similar fate." Osman Ali responded
    "If our autonomy as independent rulers is preserved, I do not have a problem in supporting Bose. That is my condition." This was Hari Singh.
    "Gentlemen, I propose that we declare our subsidiary alliances with British Raj null and void. Out of the 2,50,000 troops we have mobilised, 2,00,000 are in India. Let's call them back. We will send a messenger to Bose and tell him he has our support if he can take Calcutta. I am certain that Lord Linlithgow cannot do anything to punish us if we do so at the same time. At the same time we tell him that our support is conditional, that our autonomy be maintained in a post-war Indian federation."
    "Agreed"
    said the whole cabal.

    "Who would've thought that it would take a civil servant from Bengal to unite the Indian Kings against the hated foreigner."
    A messenger was sent to Dhaka to inform Bose and seek the assurance of autonomy from him. Bose was delighted to have received the messenger but his expert poker face betrayed no hint of his happiness. He told the man that he promises that all Maharajas would be allowed to rule their states and keep their titles, except for defence and foreign relations. The messenger told him that the day Calcutta falls to INA, the Chamber of Princes would declare the end of the subsidiary alliance, which would mean an effective declaration of independence from the British Raj.

    The Maharajas meanwhile returned to making merry.

    Bengal
    On June 7th, 1944 the INA and IJA launched the invasion of Calcutta of with 3,00,000 men, 200 tanks, and 75 aircraft. In addition to this, the INA was now fielding 1,00,000 men on their own(30,000 of them were only new recruits, untrained and poorly equipped). The whole army was charged, more so with Bose learning of support from the princes.

    Lord Louis Mountbatten had been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the British Indian Army and had decided to make a stand at Calcutta. He had about 30,000 men from the Viceroy's army, along with 70,000 men from the Chinese X-Force army under General Sun Li-Jen. Unfortunately for them, they had only 40 tanks and 30 aircraft(Joseph Stilwell had ordered all American craft to China to help them against Ichi-Go). Their morale was down as well, since the British had lost four continuous battles and Chinese wanted to fight in their own county not Calcutta. Mountbatten had made a point to not to include any Indian troops, owing to the previous mutinies and an extremely hostile population.

    Calcutta had three airports and 20 anti-aircraft guns. Shaukat Malik's Bahadurs were coordinating with Batukeshwar Dutt to figure out a way to disable those guns to tip the odds in the INA's favour.

    The first shots were fired at 6:00 AM when the INA's first tank brigade, named the Peshwa Brigade had begun to advance against the British field fortifications outside of Calcutta at Barrackpore and fought the 7th Indian armoured brigade.

    Barrackpore, the place where the Indian rebellion of 1857, was the site of an interesting battle. The INA had 20 tanks as opposed to the five with the British. The British had laid mines which took out two of the Indian tanks. The brigade engineers tried to remove the mines but constant firing was preventing them from doing so.

    What emerged from Barrackpore was a group of 30 odd men, dressed in civilian clothing riding on horseback towards the mines. As the British commander, confident of the mines, viewed them with curiosity, he ordered not to shoot at them. What he witnessed next was shocking and distilled a fear into the hearts of the British soldiers. The civilians all went and stood on the mines and slapped their horses away. They were standing on the mines and jumped off at once, triggering all of them and clearing the field for the Indian tanks to progress.

    What followed was the Indians making a short work of the British tanks due to the numerical superiority and the INA men attacking Barrackpore and taking it by 8:00 AM. Batukeshwar Dutt's revolutionaries had once again proven their worth to the nation.

    Meanwhile Aurobindo Ghosh had arrived at the Calcutta Railway Station at 9:00 AM.
    The news of the old leader and revolutionary being in Bengal had spread like wildfire. A huge crowd of over 50,000 people had gathered at the station to catch a glimpse of him but he was nowhere to be seen.
    Suddenly a small and frail Pathan man stoop up on a bench and began to speak in chaste Bengali, while taking of his cap and clothes. From underneath emerged a small, old man dressed in a white dhoti with a long white beard.

    "RISE UP HINDUSTANIS. OUR NETAJI SUBHASH IS OUTSIDE FIGHTING FOR OUR FREEDOM WHILE FOREIGNERS OCCUPY OUR CAPITAL. NOW EVEN THE ,MAHATMA SAYS THAT VIOLENCE IS PREFERABLE TO COWARDICE. RISE UP AND KICK THESE FOREIGNERS OUT. THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO BE HERE. THEY EVEN HAVE AN ARREST WARRANT AGAINST ME IN MY OWN COUNTRY. LET'S SEE THEM TRY TO ARREST ME AGAIN."
    "VANDE MATARAM!"
    "VANDE MATARAM!"
    "VANDE MATARAM!"

    The chant spread into the crowd.
    "VANDE MATARAM- GET DOWN FROM THERE!"
    "VAN- GET DOWN FROM THERE!"

    The British officer shouted twice on his megaphone. Aurobindo smiled at him and kept shouting.
    The officer pulled out his revolver and shot Aurobindo in the face.
    The crowd fell radio silent. The British officer thinking that he had scared them, shouted "DISPERSE!"


    It was as if the crowd had been possessed. The British officer was mauled to death within seconds. Next the train was derailed, passengers still inside it. The mob began to march towards the Governor's mansion, now joined by the police as well. With a few loyal policemen and his staff, the entrance was barricaded and Governor Casey called up Lord Mountbatten in the barracks to send troops to protect him soon or he was going to be murdered by the mob. When Mountbatten asked him how large the mob was, he was told that "all of bloody Calcutta is here, sir."
    He dispatched a contingent of 2,000 troops at 11:00 AM to disperse the mob but they found themselves attacked by the mob which had now grown in size to about 1,00,000 with men, women and children all armed with sticks, stones, axes, and an odd rifle here and there. The troops were all killed and an unknown but a much larger number of civilians were killed as well. The Governor's mansion was stormed and finding the doors locked, a mob leader got an evil, a truly evil idea. He was involved in the Chauri Chaura incident two decades ago.

    The mansion, locked, with the Governor, his family and staff still inside, was set on fire.

    The mob was now encroaching on the huge military base that now contained the bulk of the British and Chinese force, along with their tanks. Mountbatten wanted them to move out but Sun Li-Jen had no desire to sacrifice his elite forces to a bunch of unruly Indians. Moving out would mean having to kill all of them and then face the Japanese and Subhash. He flat out refused Mountbatten and asked him to surrender while they still could.

    On the other hand, half the British aircraft were destroyed on the ground by the Japanese bombers since they did not have any orders to hit any targets and the other half was taken apart by the mobs(who accidentally managed to blast some of the bombs on themselves while taking them apart) when they stormed the airports. Only one pilot made it out and flew to Delhi.

    With the allied troop stuck inside, surrounded by the mob, the Japanese army moved into the city with minimal resistance.

    They soon sent out INA jeeps to the Military base to start negotiating a surrender with Lord Mountbatten. The jeeps were let inside and they established a direct line with Netaji.

    "Good afternoon, Mr. Bose"
    "Not so much for you, Mr. Mountbatten"
    "No it is not"
    "From my vantage point, My Lord, and it is a pretty good point, you have two options."
    "And what might they be ?"
    "Option one- you let my troops inside. Surrender to them and I shall protect your and Sun Li's force from the mob."
    "Bloody ridiculous. Whats the other one ?"
    "I give enough guns to the mobs outside, place a few tanks, incite an even large mob to eventually break into the base butcher every last one of your soldiers. Oh and I'll order my pilots to bomb the smithereens out of you."
    "So to summarise your choices, a dignified surrender or be thrown into an unmarked mass grave. You have 30 minutes."

    Saying this, Bose cut off the phone. Bose knew he had the leverage and he exploited it. 30 minutes later, Bose sent in his Commander-in-Chief General Mohan Singh to take Lord Mountbatten's surrender. Mohan Singh asked that Mountbatten had not called back yet so why was he being sent just yet, to which he replied
    "The silence speaks louder than the bombs, Mohan."
    Silence did speak louder. Mountbatten was in no position to resist. Almost 4,00,000 troops had just moved into the city along with about 2,00,000 angry residents. He was surrounded with no air cover, no supplies and no reinforcements.

    At 3:00 PM IST June 9th, 1944, Lord Louis Mountbatten, the Supreme Commander of Allied forces in South-East Asia and the Commander-in-Chief of the British Indian Army surrendered himself, General Sun Li-Jen, 1,00,000 soldiers, the capital city of Calcutta and the British Indian province of Bengal to General Mohan Singh, the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian National Army and General Mutaguchi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese India Army at the Calcutta Military Garrison.
    The next day the Chamber of Princes announced that the subsidiary alliance of all Princely states with the British Raj stood severed. All Princely troops were ordered to return to their native states and leave British territory.

    The British Raj had begun to crumble. Its days were now numbered.

    Netaji in a radio address said,
    "Today, my countrymen, we have liberated Calcutta from the British yoke. We have reversed 200 years of history and inflicted defeat on an Empire on which they claim the sun does not set. It was you, the people of our great nation, who proved them wrong. Rise up again my countrymen. Rise up everywhere. In Peshawar, in Karachi, in Lahore, in Amritsar, in Ludhiana, in Shimla, in Delhi, in Kanpur, in Patna, in Odisha, in Madras, in Sindh, in Bombay, in Gujarat. Everywhere in India. Our time has come. The Princely states have cast their lot in with the people. Rise and march to Delhi, my fellow Indians. 'Chalo Dilli' and let us burn the Union Jack and unfurl the Tricolour on the Red Fort and take our country back.

    Vande Matarma! Vande Mataram! Vande Mataram!


    Nehru Govt Not Only Spied on Bose, but Shared Details with British Intel  MI5: Report - IBTimes India

    Netaji being welcomed by an adoring crowd in Calcutta after its liberation.

    Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Speech and Quotes: Inspiring Quotes on 124th  Birth Anniversary of Indian Revolutionary and Nationalist Leader Netaji

    Netaji giving his famous 'Chalo Dilli' speech at the Calcutta Garrison.
     
    The New Dawn
  • India
    Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose now stood at the precipice of history. He was the man who had single-handedly liberated his homeland. He had humbled the mighty British Empire.
    Bengal was where they started, and Bengal was where it would all end.
    Bose now had an India in rebellion. All he needed was to fill the vacuum that had been left by the British. The British still were not gone though.
    The Viceroy still held Delhi with 500 men, but other than that riots were wrecking the entire country.

    Mobs as large as those in Calcutta had formed in every major Indian city. The Governors of Bombay and Madras had to be evacuated by Royal Navy battleships. The mobs only stopped their pursuit into the harbours when they were fired upon, killing a large number of them. All British civil servants were also being killed en masse across the length of the country along with their families.

    There was a combination of riots and celebration about Calcutta and Bengal being liberated. The mobs were simply uncontrollable due to the lack of army personnel. The Princely States were calm with their troops being recalled to their territories.

    Bose now issued a universal proclamation for all jailed Congressmen to be released from jails. The Viceroy issued orders to do no such thing and that Bose would very soon be defeated and kicked out. His orders fell on deaf ears and even the places in which they were obeyed, jails were broken open by the mobs. He had also sent two teams under Shaukat Malik to Pune and Ahmedabad to escort Gandhi and Nehru respectively to Calcutta, lest they should try to give any statement against him.


    A week later on June 18th, 1944 the top Congress leadership including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Sarojini Naidu and others gathered in Calcutta for the 54th session of the Indian National Congress. Out of the 3,000 delegates attending from all across India, Netaji alone stood for the party presidentship unopposed, and was unanimously elected as the President of the Indian National Congress with all 3,000 delegates voting in his favour, some because of their love for him and other because of their fear.

    The Indian National Congress adopted the Indian Declaration of independence formally declaring India's independence from the British Empire. The 'Calcutta resolution' as it came to be known also declared that all Indians must stop the rioting and killing and return to their normal lives. It said that district congress leaders and workers should organise the administration in their local areas until the Indian government could take over.

    Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Vinayak Savarkar, the leaders of the Muslim League and the Hindu Mahasabha, respectively were in Calcutta during its liberation and had been placed under house arrest by Bose. He had a meeting with India's two primary communalists after the declaration of independence and told them to tow the line
    or else.

    "Good evening, gentlemen. I trust that you have been taken care of well."
    "Couldn't complain, Netaji. The hospitality was good. But we both wish to be free to go."
    "Why is that, Jinnah ?"
    "Well, we want to hold our own session. I don't support this declaration of yours."
    "Ah yes, I am aware of that. Why are you so silent, Savarkar ? I believe you oppose our independence as well."
    "You have a fine way with words, Netaji. I want independence but have no support for your declaration."
    "Well, I sometimes am left wonderstruck about my own achievements, gentlemen. Who could have thought that you two would be united on an issue."
    "Yes, quite hilarious indeed. When can we leave ?"
    "Oh calm down Jinnah. Now see here is what the two of you are going to do. You will be issuing a statement of unanimous support for the Declaration of Independence and you will be merging both your parties with the Congress."
    "Bloody ridiculous. I am not going to do that. What the hell are you saying ?"


    Netaji sitting on the couch, calmly sipped his tea while sternly looking at both the men sitting across from him.

    "Gentlemen, I will have both of you killed in bomb explosions in two separate cars. I will pin the blame on a few British loyalists and then invite your party leadership to come and join me in avenging both you great men."
    "You wouldn't dare!"
    "How do you think Aurobindo and Governor Casey died, gentlemen ? That poor British colonel did not shoot him. My man in the mob did. The man who burned Casey alive- he was my man as well. Do not think that I will think twice about having both of you swines bombed back to oblivion."


    Both the men fell silent and were shocked at Bose's admission.
    "You both shall issue the statements tomorrow and dissolve your parties. That will be all, gentlemen. Thank you, you may leave."

    As they both stepped outside, Netaji called out to Habib. "Habib, good to see you. Call Prime Minister Tojo."

    "Good morning, Hideki. How are you ?"
    "Just wonderful, Subhash. I am great. What can I do for you ?"
    "India is a de facto independent nation now and I have you to thank for it."
    "This is the Asian Century, Subhash. No one is happier than I am."
    "I am glad. Hideki, I want Japan to change its role from a military one to an advisory one in India."
    "What do you mean ?"
    "I mean that in another month, the Viceroy will sign the declaration of independence and depart from India. Now if I were to keep the massive Japanese army in Delhi, it would seem like one Imperial government has been replaced by another an-
    "Those men took Bengal for you, Subhash"
    "And I am eternally grateful to you. The resources of my nation are open to your industries, my people are open to work in them. Make no mistake, Independent India is fully committed ally of the Japanese Empire. I want Japanese advisors to build up industries in India. Our Army, our navy, our Air Force. Send your people to migrate to India. To build new lives here. It is just that my people can eventually see the visible presence of Japanese armies in India as contentious. Don't withdraw them at once but keep them posted in Bengal, in Burma and gradually deploy them elsewhere."
    "That is a big demand, Subhash. I will have to consult with my cabinet. I will get back to you."
    "Thank you once again, Hideki.
    "Goodbye, Subhash."


    Hideki knew this would happen at one point, thought Subhash. And he had not asked them to pack up completely. Only that they stay put in the East. There were going to be problems with the Japanese in the future. Perhaps not now, but definitely in the near future.


    He decided to send Dr. B.R Ambedkar to the United States of America to seek recognition for the Independence of India and Liaquat Ali Khan to the Soviet Union for the same. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was sent to London to convince the British government to recognise India's independence. Sardar Vallabhai Patel was given the task of asking the princely states to send their forces to be inducted into the INA to takeover the British military infrastructure across the country

    The four men were sent on their missions and Netaji along with Gandhi and Mountbatten marched towards Delhi with 2,00,000 INA soldiers(only about 90,000 men were fully trained veterans while the majority of the force were untrained recruits).

    Netaji arrived in Delhi on 21st June and went straight to the Viceroy's house.
    "Pleasure to meet you, Lord Linlithgow."
    "A distinct displeasure, Mr. Bose."
    "That's Prime Minister for you, Lord Linlithgow. Anyhow, let us dispense with the friendly banter. Here's the instrument of transfer. Sign it."
    "What if I don't ? You cannot kill me."
    "I most certainly won't, My Lord. I am no savage. But in the British estimation, my people certainly are, savages. All I have to do is to give them the tacit incitation to attack the Viceroy house. 500 men, is it ? They won't be lasting longer than 10 minutes. After that the mobs will rape your wife and daughters and force you to watch it. Then they'll burn your son and grandkids alive. And finally your head will be cut off and mounted beside the Union Jack on the Red Fort. Then I'll stroll in and takeover.

    Netaji looked at the Viceroy and laughed.
    Dear fucking god, you look terrified Victor. Relax. You have another option. Sign the Declaration of Independence, the instrument of transfer of power and I'll allow both you and Mountbatten to live safely in India until the war is over and then return to Britain."

    Linlithgow angrily signed both the documents and remarked,
    "Fuck you, Prime Minister Bose. I hope you and this cursed land burn in hell."


    Lord Linlithgow was made to announce the British surrender on the All India Radio and BBC India. This was broadcast throughout the Japanese Empire and the German Reich as a huge propaganda victory. The broadcast was also played in the UK, USA and the USSR.



    On 22nd June, 1944 Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose gave his world famous speech, "Blood and Freedom" in front of an adoring crowd of a million Indians and hoisted the new Indian tricolour atop the Red Fort, and simultaneously brought down the Union Jack. India was now an independent nation.

    14 Viceroy Lord Linlithgow Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty  Images

    Lord Linlithgow announcing the British surrender to Indian forces

    circa-1940-lord-victor-alexander-linlithgow-viceroy-of-india-and-lady-picture-id3431415

    Lord and lady Viceroy Linlithgow leaving the Viceroy house for the last time

    Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's struggle within Congress

    Gandhi and Bose share a light moment during the celebration after the flag hoisting

    How Subhas Bose's Dream Of An Industrial Future For Free India Varied With  Mahatma Gandhi's Ramrajya

    Gandhi and Bose standing up for the Indian National Anthem at the Red Fort

    Indian Flag 1947 High Resolution Stock Photography and Images - Alamy

    Independent India's flag hoisted atop the Red Fort



    London
    Winston Churchill listened to Linlithgow with tears in complete disbelief. He would be known as the man who lost the Crown’s jewel. Bose now had an effective control over the entire subcontinent. The Viceroy and the Commander-in-Chief were in custody. Out of the 11 provincial governors, two had been killed, two had fled and the rest had surrendered to Bose’s armies. The treacherous princes had also withdrawn their forces. Churchill had nothing to defend it with. He had half-a-mind to flatten entire cities with his planes but that would an exercise in vanity. There were no troops to take India back. The Americans refused to send any troops to India. They said India cannot make a difference since the Indian and Pacific oceans are under allied control. China can be supplied through the Soviet Union. They wanted the British Indian troops to be used in Italy and France. Those men would anyway be useless to attack India. Those buggers would desert the moment they made it to India. Even the King had admonished him for not having the foresight to know how the situation was in India.
    He was even more incensed to know that Bose had sent Nehru to negotiate with the British government. As a bloody equal, the nerve of these buggers.

    Nehru arrived in Britain on 26th June and was met by Anthony Eden, the British Foreign Secretary.


    “Good morning, Mr. Nehru. How are you ?”
    “Fine and dandy, Mr. Eden. How are you ?”
    “Well, not in a good way. Your so-called independence has left a bad taste in our government’s mouth.”
    “Oh come on now, Anthony, you are winning this war. The Krauts and the Japs have another year at most.”
    “We most certainly are, Jawahar, but we are not too happy with the loss of India.”
    “The British government was going to grant independence after the war anyhow.”
    “Perhaps, but we do not take to rebellion too kindly.”
    “Be that as it may, Anthony, India is an independent nation now and Prime Minister Bose wants an equal and amiable relationship with Great Britain.”
    “Prime Minister Bose. I think Prime Minister Nehru has a better ring to it. Don’t you ?”
    “Divide and rule does not work any more, Anthony.”
    “Let’s say that I do recognise your independence. What do I get in return ?”
    “India becomes neutral in the war. We will allow our troops to serve in Europe until the end of the war.”
    “Neutrality perhaps but the other thing is already underway.”
    “We can always pull the rug from under you, Anthony. It happened in India only a month ago. These men won’t fight if we tell them not to.”
    “Is that a threat, Jawahar ?”
    “No, it is a reality.”
    “I will talk to the Prime Minister but I will not promise you anything.”
    “Very well, Anthony. Thank you.”


    Washington D.C.
    Ambedkar arrived in Washington and was met by Secretary of State Cordell Hull. The Japanese government was not told about this visit and it was made in secrecy. Ambedkar was instructed to get the United States to recognise India's independence in exchange for neutrality in the war. Ambedkar had to wait five days to get a meeting with Hull and only got the meeting when Hull's assistant told him that man calling himself 'Independent India's representative' wanted to meet him.

    "Good afternoon, Secretary Hull. How are you ?"
    "I am fine, Mr. Ambedkar. What can I do for you ?"
    "Firstly, thank you for meeting with me with sir. I am here representing the new Independent Indian government."
    "Ah, yes. I heard the Viceroy's address. I suppose I should congratulate you on independence."
    "Thank you very much, Secretary Hull. I would like to get down to brass tacks now."
    "Go ahead then."
    "Prime Minister Bose wishes for the United States of America to recognise India as an independent country."
    "Why would I want to do that ? You are fighting our ally in cahoots with our enemy."
    "The enemy of my enemy is my friend. I believe your country employed the same metric when you aligned with the French to get your independence. How have we done anything different ?"
    "Perhaps not. But that does not explain how an Independent India is advantageous for the United States."
    "You are beating the Japanese in the Pacific but they are still the kings of a third of Asia. If you recognise our independence, we'll officially adopt neutrality in the war and allow China to be supplied through India."
    "All that for only recognition ?"
    "Well of course if you recognise us, it means that you seek our friendship as well. And we'll also need American dollars to rebuild our war torn nation, your advisors to train our armies."
    "Let me sit on it, Ambedkar."
    "Thank you, Mr. Hull."

    As Ambedkar stepped out of the door he said,
    "I wouldn't wait too long, Secretary Hull. Your frenemies in Moscow might make a move before you do."

    Moscow
    Liaquat Ali Khan's visit, unlike Ambedkar's visit, was heavily publicised. Bose wagered that the Japanese had a non-aggression pact with Soviets, so why couldn't he ? Tojo should have no objections and if he did then Bose was simply not bothered about it.

    Liaquat Ali was received by the Soviet Foreign Minister, Vyacheslav Molotov at the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    "It's a pleasure to meet you, Liaquat Ali."
    "Likewise Mr. Molotov."
    "Congratulations on the independence of your country, Mr. Khan. All of us in the Soviet Union are quite happy."
    "I am glad to know that, Mr. Molotov. I am here on an important mission here, sir. Prime Minister Bose is very much impressed with how the USSR has built up its industries and its agriculture and he wishes to replicate the same in India."
    "The Soviet Union would be happy to extend help but premier Stalin is concerned about PM Bose's closeness to Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany."
    "That closeness was simply a need of the hour, sir. Just like the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact. We have no special attachment to Nazism or Hitler. We have achieved independence and now our objective is to maintain that independence. To that end, we would be extremely grateful to have Russia recognise our independence."
    "Look, I'll be honest with you Liquat. I would recognise your country tomorrow BUT we need something in return."
    "What might that be ?"
    "Russia has sought a warm-water port since the last 3 centuries. And our search is still going on. Let us have a naval base at Karachi and you'll have recognition of independence and protection from any retaliation from the United Kingdom or the United States."
    "I-I thank you Mr. Molotov. I will speak with the Prime Minister and get back to you as soon as I can."


    Bose had his three men making rounds with allies to get them to recognise Indian independence. At the same time Sardar Patel was trying to get the princes to cough up more troops for the INA. Netaji now also decided to take a tour of India to drive up recruitment for the INA. He conveniently took Gandhi with him to show a united front to the people.
    Netaji was of the opinion that even if either one of the Americans and Russians backed him, he would have to fight the Japanese. The Japs had a strong force in Bengal, albeit grossly undersupplied. They were living on the supplies they got due to Bose's goodwill with the Indian people.
    Ichi-Go was also facing reverses and the IJN had just been decimated at Philippine Sea .
    Netaji only prayed that he could have a strong enough army to force the Japanese troops to surrender before the fight. In the long term he hoped to have some of them stay back in India after the war to maintain a good relationship with Japan.

    Independent India was a reality. The British had been kicked out of India. Bose was now the absolute ruler of India. Unanimously Elected Congress President, Prime Minister of the country, legitimised by Mahatma Gandhi. The Congressmen respected him, the Maharajas deferred to him, and the people loved him. Bose could not be happier and had only one thought in his mind,

    "I AM INDIA'S NEWEST GOD."
     
    Winston's folly
  • Britain
    Winston Churchill was thirsting for vengeance against the Indians. He was even more incensed about Nehru coming to London to ask for recognition of Indian independence. His government declared all persons in Britain of Indian ancestry to be arrested and declared them enemy aliens. Since these were not White Germans, the treatment meted out to them was quite rough. All of their assets were frozen, and they were arrested en masse. From here things took a bad turn. Winston Churchill in his alcohol-fueled fury issued an internal order that Indians were not to be protected from angry Britishers. He sanctioned their wholesale massacre.

    The riots of 1981: When anarchy gripped the West Midlands | Express & Star

    A picture of Central London depicting Indians fleeing from British mobs

    There was gruesome retaliation for independence. In the cities, Indian men were shot, beaten up, and in the more ghastly cases, they were tied up together and doused with fuel and were set on fire. Several Indian women were paraded naked before being raped and then murdered. The ones who were jailed had it even worse. Mobs shouting "Justice for Glancy" burned down entire police stations with prisoners still in them.

    In the countryside, the violence was even worse. In certain rural areas, an especially horrible method was chosen to murder Indians.
    Their limbs were tied to four horses and a shot was fired in the air, so that all four limbs came off at once.

    While certain members of the government like Clement Attlee gave a subdued opposition to the riots, saying that law and order had to be maintained in wartime but it had the tacit sanction of the entire British political class, including the King.

    There was some respite for Indians living in Ireland as they peopled the government refused to kill Indians as they had some sympathy for them. The Indians had also waged a war of independence and managed to defeat them so the Irish protected the Indian workers on their properties.

    Around 6000 people were murdered in 3 days, including some members of prominent Indian families.

    A few companies of Indian troops stationed in England were also attacked and were killed as well. They managed to shoot back at the rioter and killed a number of them.

    The state sanctioned massacre was viewed with disgust across the world. The Germans and Japanese used it for propaganda purposes. The Americans and Canadians whilst not condemning it publicly, privately made it known to Churchill that they did not support it. Brazil and Mexico publicly denounced it. Most of them were concerned that the British government had sanctioned the massacre and this gave a bad reputation to the allied cause, which was to liberate oppressed peoples. The British government, on the other hand maintained that the people were angry over the British citizens killed in India(even though Bose had not killed any prisoners of war and had given safe haven to the viceroy and the commander-in-chief) and was unable to control their anger.

    Subhas Bose on the other hand declared that if Churchill was a man, he should come and attack India, not unarmed citizens 5000 kilometres away.

    Winston Churchill called Roosevelt to tell him that he was ordering the Royal Navy to start shelling Indian ports and his carriers to bomb the hinterland as far as they can. Civilian targets were on the table. Roosevelt told him not to do that. Those assets were better used against the Japanese, not the Indians. But Churchill refused to do it. He remarked to his assistant "I am going to rain hellfire down on these savages. Then I'll teach him about manliness."

    When Nehru heard of this, he requested an urgent meeting with Churchill to request him to stop the violence. But he only got to meet with him 3 days later after the riots and killings had died down and the bombing campaign had commenced. Nehru decided to act Independently and decided to tell Churchill that India would accept dominion status until the end of the war. Churchill was heavily drunk when he called Anthony Eden to bring Nehru to meet him.

    "Good morning, Prime Minister. Pleasure to meet you."
    "Sit."
    "Thank you, sir."
    "Out with it then. What the fuck do you want ?"
    "Mr. Churchill I-I, you have to protect the Indian subjects in Britain. Innocent people are being killed."
    "Subjects ? BLOODY SUBJECTS ?! YOU REBELLED AGAINST THE BRITISH EMPIRE."

    He walked off and poured himself another whiskey.
    "Mr. Prime Minister, please stop this massacre. Stop your planes. I will talk to Bose, I'll convince him to agree to dominion status an-
    Churchill threw the glass of whiskey at Nehru's head
    "You bloody arsehole. Do you think you savages deserve Dominion Status ? By the time I am done with you I'll mount Gandhi's head on the Red Fort."
    "This is preposterous, Winston. What is wrong with you ? This is no way for a gentleman of your stature to behave."

    This triggered Churchill
    "Now a lowly savage will tell the most powerful man in the BLOODY BRITISH EMPIRE HOW TO FUCKING BEHAVE ?!"
    Churchill pulled out his pistol and aimed it at Nehru's head. Eden, who had been silent all this while suddenly spoke up
    "Winston NO! Put the gun down, don't shoot him he's a bloody diplomat!"
    "He's no fucking diplomat. They are no country. They are a colony. MY GODDAMN COLONY. GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE, YOU SWINE."


    Nehru was scared and quickly left the PMO. He was now even terrified of walking to his hotel from the office. He hailed a taxi and got into the car. When he reached his hotel, he asked the taxi driver how much the fare was. His Indian accent betrayed him and the taxi driver, later identified as one Harry Johnson, pulled out his gun and shot Nehru in the neck, without realising who he was, only knowing that he was an Indian. The hotel manager, a good friend of Nehru's had his men subdue the taxi driver and rushed Nehru to the hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival.
    Even though the driver had acted completely on his own, it was widely believed that the British government had ordered the assassination. Bose also considered it to be a revenge hit by Churchill and condemned it as such.

    India
    When Netaji heard that Churchill had ordered the occupation of all Indian ports by the Royal Navy and that Nehru had been murdered, he sprang into action. His first order was to destroy all docking and other facilities in all ports except Karachi. He also asked all Indian naval personnel on Royal Indian Navy Ships to desert and come to Indian forces. The British would have to shoot at their own men to get the ports.

    He also ordered the immediate nationalisation of all British assets in India.

    "Good morning, Liaquat. How's the Russian winter treating you ?"
    "Quite well, Netaji. How are you ?"
    "Good good. Liaquat, you have my authorisation to inform Mr. Molotov that they can have a base at Karachi."
    "Splendid, Netaji. The rest of the terms stay the same ?"
    "Yes, Liaquat. In exchange, they will protect our nation against the British attacks. Ask them to dock a submarine or two at Karachi."
    "Very well, sir."


    Liaquat went straight to the Foreign ministry to tell Molotov.
    "Ah. hello Mr. Molotov. How are you ?"
    "I am doing well, Mr. Khan. You're here quite early."
    "With good reason, sir. Prime Minister Bose has agreed to the terms of our discussion."
    "Haha that is great Mr. Khan. That is quite great. I will have a treaty drafted and we'll sign it in the afternoon. My men will consult with you regarding the wording."


    On August 5, 1944 the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and India signed a Treaty of Friendship with the major provision being the allowance of a Soviet naval base at Karachi and the recognition of India as an Independent nation. Other provisions included the Soviet Union sending experts and advisors to India to help in building up industries, improving agriculture and help in improving the training of its army. The agreement also stated that Indian troops can only be used to serve against Germany and Italy, not Japan and if they were to fight, they would only fight under Indian and Soviet generals.

    When Tojo called seeking an explanation for the treaty with the Soviets, Bose told him that he was simply following Japan's lead in pursuing a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union. He was still at war with Britain and the Americans. But Subhash had no intention of fighting the Americans. Only the British. He told Tojo that the Pact only strengthened their position in Asia- Japan could now focus on China and the Pacific without worrying about India.

    The Americans did not oppose it. They felt that they had to maintain a neutral position between Britain and Russia with regard to India and decided to continue the previous position of non-interference. Their priorities were Germany and Japan.

    Churchill was extremely angry at the signing of the treaty. He had managed to bomb Mumbai, Madras and Calcutta and had killed around 15,000 people. The ports had been made useless before the Royal Navy could come and occupy them. Bose had come up with a master plan to prevent these ports from falling. The Royal Indian Navy ships had only their British officers on board while the crew deserted. The officers could neither leave port, nor use the ships to bomb the harbours. They were stuck. The Royal Navy could not kill their own loyal men just to occupy unusable ports. Therefore the hinterlands were bombed but the ports were not taken.

    Stalin purposely slowed down the offensive against Germany in the East. When Roosevelt asked him to accelerate the timeline, he told him that unless the British stopped bombing India , the offensive would go at its current speed(which would mean Germany would have more resources to devote to the western front). Churchill was under extreme pressure from the Americans and had to finally relent. The bombing campaign ceased but Churchill held onto Sri Lanka, Lakshadweep and Maldives. He wanted to ensure that these were available to stage future campaigns against India.

    After the British bombing ceased, Netaji declared a week's mourning for Nehru's death.

    He said, "This is the greatest loss that India, as a nation has suffered in this war. Pandit Nehru was India's greatest freedom fighter and was like an elder brother to me. Unlike me, he was a firm believer of non-violence and the goodness of other people. It is the misfortune of all our people that his trust was taken advantage of by that devil, Churchill. This only serves to prove that the Englishman is a barbarian. Panditji spent his last moments fighting for his nation. Jawaharlal Nehru was a true patriot."

    Nehru was given a state funeral which was attended by the top Congress leadership including Gandhi, Patel and Bose and over 250 Maharajas. The Junior Japanese and Soviet foreign minister also attended the funeral. Over 8,00,000 people were gathered at the funeral. Nehru's barbaric death truly shocked the nation and despite India's independence and the new alliance with the USSR, the national mood was saddened due to the death of one of India's tallest leaders.

    Rare Photos Of Jawaharlal Nehru Funeral Procession

    Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's state funeral in Delhi on 7th August, 1944.
     
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    A New India and A New Front
  • Gwalior
    Initially, there had been celebration all around the city after the Viceroy's surrender. The people were showering the INA men with flowers but that had all been overturned into a period of mourning after Pandit Nehru was assassinated. The Maharaja of Gwalior had commissioned a statue to commemorate Nehru.

    Atal, who had obtained a college education had decided to work on it as well. He had joined the Arya Samaj. Now he had taken membership of the congress as well. He only stayed back in the Arya Samaj on his father's insistence. Atal, like millions of other young Indian men had been enamoured by Netaji. The man who had single-handedly liberated India and ruined the British Empire. He had not participated in the Quit India Movement but had enthusiastically heeded Subhash's call to attack British officials.

    The war was still raging in Europe and East Asia but that of no concern to Atal. He was working on the Nehru statue for now and once that was done he had decided to join the army. He figured he owed it to Bose to do his share for the nation. Atal was also a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, a hindu-majoritarian organisation but was now disenchanted with it. The organisation's leader, M.S Gowalkar said that Muslims were traitors and foreigners and for the longest time he believed it. He had hated muslims for the longest time and had an opinion of absolute abhorrence for Muhammad Ali Jinnah. However the events that had transpired over the past year had had a deep impact on Atal.

    Jinnah had announced that he no longer sought Pakistan and merged the League with congress. Then there were the stories of the legendary spy chief Shaukat Malik. He was also a muslim. The visceral hatred was not completely gone yet but there was new sense of unity and reconciliation in his mind.
    "Maybe they aren't so bad after all" thought Atal.
    His father was conservative Hindu Brahmin and while he also supported Bose, he had no love for the Muslims. He had kicked his son out of his home precisely because of their conflict regarding faith. Atal was becoming secular and abandoning overt rituals whereas his father resented this.
    The final straw was when Atal asked his father to accompany him to the house of the girl he wished to marry. His father thought a marriage might make the lad more responsible and could potentially reconcile them both. But his father and senior members of the community were incensed when they got to know that the girl was a muslim. The girl's side was just as bad. They had no special love for the Hindus. This only made the two lovers more determined to be together. They both decided to flee to Delhi to get married and here Atal signed up to be deployed.
    This was increasingly the case with a lot of young Indians in big cities. While the generation before them remained ever entrenched in their dogmas, the new generation seemed to be leaving them behind, perhaps as a relic of the British Raj. Everyone had contributed equally towards liberating India, Netaji had said as much. As a result Delhi had become a melting pot of various religions. Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians everyone lived in peace.

    This did not mean that society had become egalitarian overnight. Smaller towns like Gwalior were still highly conservative and orthodox. Religious conflict and casteism were still prevalent. Riots had not happened in a while but there was underlying tension however it had not transpired into widespread conflict, yet.

    But change was coming. Slowly but surely, change was coming.


    New Delhi

    J.R.D Tata had been quite happy about India now being an independent nation but was not too keen on the violence unleashed on Indian soil. It was bad for business. He had been broken by his friend Nehru's death. Despite that, as India's leading industrialist he was doing his best to cooperate with the government. Bose had met him personally to appoint him as the manager of two joint projects with the Soviets and the Japanese.

    "It is good to see you, Jeh. I am sorry for summoning you so urgently but this is important."
    "Of course, Netaji. What can I do ?"
    "Well, I have a bunch of experts coming from Russia and Japan to undertake certain projects in our country."
    "Sounds promising. I am sure that will help with our employment problems."
    "That is the hope but I need you to be on joint management with them. Our government will retain the majority share at 90 percent whereas the rest will be with the Soviet and Japanese government. I am appointing you to run them on the government's behalf."
    "It would be my pleasure Netaji. I am always ready to serve our nation. What are the projects ?"
    "Well the Russians are going to help us build a dam on the Sutlej. I am being told that it can help us provide electricity to all of North India."
    "And what are the Japanese going to help us with ?"
    "Well, I think that might be bit of a new domain for you but I am sure you can handle it."
    "Heh, we have got our finger in each pie, Netaji. I am sure we can handle it. What is it ?"
    "I want you to build an indigenous aircraft for India. We cannot rely on the Japanese for air support. We need to build our own aircraft."
    "Very well, sir. I can handle that."
    "Thank you, Jeh."


    Jeh and the other industrialists, both big and small had small measure of resentment for Netaji. He had made a minimum daily wage of ₹5 for all industrial workers in private and government enterprises mandatory. He had also announced a slew of worker welfare measures such as paid maternity leave, banning of child labour by all children under 15, making it compulsory for factories to conform to hygienic and environmental standards set by the government. While in the short run, these measures could cause problems for small businesses by raising their costs, Netaji believed that this was beneficial in the long run. This increased his popularity among the workers even more.
    He believed that private enterprise was central to developing the Indian economy as a means of creating incentive and competition but at the same time deemed it important that workers were not exploited for the sake of profit. Subhash rejected Nazi and Japanese economic policies, considering them to have been tailor-fitted for war. He wanted something in the middle of the planned soviet economy and the capitalist American economy. An economy of planned capitalism. He wanted to implement a new upcoming system of Dirigisme in India.

    Under that, the large-scale industrial development was to be done almost exclusively by the government with only Indian conglomerates like the Tatas being allowed to serve under contract. Bose had decided to keep foreign collaboration to a bare minimum, just enough to get the technical know-how and to retain maximum Indian control. The initial collaboration with the Soviets and the Japanese was a step forward in that direction. He was looking to collaborate even with the Americans once the war was over.

    War in China
    While the domestic front was going smooth, there was now some tension on the Chinese frontier. An alliance with the Russian communists also meant that Subhash was sympathetic to the Chinese Communists. That coupled with the fact that Subhash's other ally was at war with Chiang and his nationalists meant that territory in the Himalayas was ripe for the taking. The Casus Belli was the Chinese X-force fighting in the Battle of Kolkata. India was going to launch an offensive into tibet and south-western China in collaboration with Japan. The main objective was to capture and annex territory upto Lhasa. The offensive was launched on a large scale with over 4,00,000 troops in addition to about 2,00,000 Japanese troops. The aircraft and armoured divisions used in the liberation of India were to be used here. The fall of India had collapsed all allied forces in Burma and India and the lend-lease supplies to China from the Himalayas had ceased. American airbases had also been closed off as they could not be supplied any longer and as a result neither side held absolute air superiority in Tibet. The Chinese nationalists had around 5,00,000 troops in Guangxi and Hunan fighting the Japanese and now had to divert them to Tibet to fight the Indians. The offensive was planned in conjunction with the Russians and the Chinese Communists, who had doubled down on their own guerrilla campaign.

    On December 1st, 1944 the offensive named Operation Everest was launched.


    Somewhere in the Baloch desert...

    Lieutenant Geoffrey Langlands stood before a 100 soldiers and officers of the British Army in the middle of the Baloch desert.
    "Gentlemen, the Raj has fallen to the rebels. The princes have deserted us and the wretched subjects of our colony have revolted against us. These are ungrateful pricks who have no gratitude for all the things the British Empire has endowed them with. They have murdered our governors, officers and civil servants. They have the gall to arrest the representative of His Majesty The King."
    "TO HELL WITH THE INDIANS!"
    "DOWN WITH BOSE!"
    "BOOOO!"
    "Well gentlemen, I for one do not intend to let the status quo stand. 200 years ago we took this country with a handful of men. And now we are going to take it back. Remember how bravely men like Robert Clive, Arthur Wellesley, and Lord Dalhousie fought and defeated these savages. We are the descendants of these great men. We shall emulate their success."

    The Lieutenant handed over a letter to a soldier and announced,
    "Private Horton, take this letter to the British commander in Tehran and inform him of our rebel alliance. With their assistance, we are going to attack the INA forces and destroy their infrastructure. I will kill Bose with my own hands."
    "ONCE AGAIN THE UNION JACK SHALL FLY PROUD ON THE RED FORT AND INDIA SHALL ONCE AGAIN BECOME THE JEWEL IN OUR KING'S CROWN. GOD WILLS IT!"
    "GOD SAVE THE KING!"
    "GOD SAVE THE KING!"
    "GOD SAVE THE KING!"


     
    'Hannibal has crossed the Alps'
  • The Indian army had been divided into 3 parts to launch a 3-pronged assault into china. One would move from Ladakh towards Western Tibet. This army was placed under General Sadul Singh, the Maharaja of Bikaner, who had returned to India from Italy with 10,000 of his state forces. He was leading a 1,00,000 to capture the area upto the Mansarovar lake and build a road connecting it to Srinagar and to construct a military base with an airstrip at Mansarovar. There was minimal resistance here. Sadul Singh was British-trained and had served in Europe. He was marching his army in the form of a supply train, on horses while simultaneously constructing the road. There were mechanised divisions as well but these were civilian vehicles mostly, repurposed to carry soldiers and equipment and possessed virtually no armour. Shiquanhe was tibet's second-largest and westernmost city. It had a very weak garrison of a few dozen Buddhist monks armed with sticks, pikes and other such medieval weaponry. Sadul Singh took ten days to arrive but had managed to overrun them within an hour of arriving, slaughtering them all.

    By December 12th he had arrived at the Mansarovar lake with 10,000 of his troops which had cars. The cars were, unquestionably unsuitable for the terrain and weather and were very soon made unusable. Indian forces now had effective control over Western Tibet and had begun the construction of the road and the military base. Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu also volunteered to finance a railway track, which was sanctioned by the Indian government.

    Chiang's forces were kept busy by the Japanese in the South West and were well away from disturbing Sadul Singh.

    The second army was to enter central Tibet from Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan, three independent states who were strong-armed into allowing passage into China. This army had 2,50,000 men and had the largest amount of armoured regiments and was provided air cover(mostly by the Imperial Japanese Air Force). This was being lead by the Commander-in-Chief of the army, General Mohan Singh. Here the Tibetans had a decent army of 10,000 modern soldiers stationed in Tibet. This was the total effective strength of the Tibetan Army.
    Once again Chiang shirked from diverting forces to Tibet, which in his mind was already de facto independent and he had more pressing concerns in the east, i.e, the relentless attacks by the Japanese and the Communists. The entire strength of 5,00,000 had been deployed against the Japanese in Hunan and Changsha.

    Mohan Singh had sent an emissary to the court of the Dalai Lama to surrender and be annexed into India. In exchange, they offered to appoint him regional governor and allow him some degree of autonomy. The emissary was humiliated with his hair being cut off and was told that the Indian army should return. Incidentally, the emissary was a Sikh, a community that held hair in high regard. This caused much anger amongst the Indian soldiers, who now wanted to butcher Tibetans- man, woman and child.
    On December 15thh, 1944 Mohan Singh ordered an aerial assault on Lhasa and ordered his mechanised divisions forward. He went with his soldiers to ensure that the Dalai Lama was not murdered. He needed to secure his person so as to ensure that the next Dalai Lama could be appointed without much hassle and that the population did not revolt.

    Lhasa had no anti-aircraft guns and suffered heavily in the air raids. The Indians consistently bombarded Lhasa, with two artillery shells even hitting the Potala Palace. In what now came to be known as the Battle of Lhasa, around 70,000 Indian troops faced off against 3,000 Tibetan soldiers and militias. The final casualties were as follows,

    3,000 Tibetan soldiers dead along with 20,000 citizens killed in Lhasa
    The Indian side had merely 94 casualties.

    The soldiers had pillaged the city until the arrival of Mohan Singh who ordered it to be stopped and immediately court-marshalled the officers responsible. The British journalists in the city were murdered and the Austrian Nazi Heinrich Harrer was told to make a movie of the Indian capture of Tibet and write a long article on it. The movie and the article were doctored to depict the Tibetans welcoming Indian troops and showering INA parades with showers. It even showed the Dalai Lama embracing Mohan Singh. Even the British journalists, before being murdered, were forced to testify before camera about the magnanimous Indian takeover of the city. Mohan Singh ensured that the world would not come to know about the atrocities in Lhasa. Bose approved of his actions, even though he did not like the soldiers conduct. The documents about the truth of the invasion were classified and buried.

    The Dalai Lama was captured and forced to sign the instrument of annexation of Tibet on January 1st, 1945. The Dalai Lama was exiled to Peshawar, far away from his home to prevent any popular uprising in Tibet. He still remained Dalai Lama but now he was only a ceremonial puppet head. The world was told that he wished to visit India and learn about it. In the same Treaty of Lhasa, The Kings of Bhutan and Sikkim also decided(but were much likely forced) to join India. They retained their princely titles and local autonomy.

    Nepal, however still insisted on maintaining its independence. The Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana rejected Bose's attempt at annexation but the king, Tribhuvan was sympathetic. The Indian government appointed Sardar Vallabhai Patel as ambassador to Nepal to orchestrate a coup to give power to the king and annex Nepal.

    The Burma theatre on the other hand was a disappointment for Bose. The joint Indo-Japanese force did manage to take Changsha but with huge casualties with 30,000 Indian troops dying here. Bose had however had scored a diplomatic victory with Japan by lending Indian manpower. However this was the first and last time. Japan was being driven back in the Pacific and China was a stalemate.

    Bose considered the debt paid. India no longer owed anything to the Imperial Japanese Empire.

    Now, he was looking to consolidate his new territory in Tibet and construct military bases all around to prevent any attempt by Chiang to retake it. Sadul Singh was appointed military governor of the region until the war ended. He had full authority to use any means necessary to quell any seditious activity.

    Burma, on the other hand, was virtually free of Japanese troops who had now moved north into China. Bose considered Burma a part of India, being inherited from the British Raj. He moved 1,00,000 troops into Burma and categorised it as a regular deployment. The Japanese command did not like this but was in no position to object and even if they did, they had no power to implement their objections. He began to fortify Burma's border with Indochina. He did not have any desire to rule beyond Burma, which he considered a tropical forest full of disease, but still strategically important. Bose estimated that the Americans will attack Indochina to liberate it and might return it to French colonial control. He could fight the French and defeat them but there was simply no question of attacking the Americans. Direct fighting was not a possibility but Indian agents should be spread all across Vietnam to endear India to them.

    Shaukat Malik was sent to Hanoi.


    Balochistan
    Lieutenant Langlands stood before the massacred bodies of the villagers on the outskirts of Peshawar. He and his men had attacked the village and massacred all its inhabitants. The reason was that the village head had killed and raped a British woman. At least that's what they thought it was. They raped the women before killing them and buried the children alive. They raised three, 8-foot tall crosses and crucified the village head and his two sons before burning the crosses. After looting the entire area for supplies, they rode back to their base and prepared to attack Peshawar. The garrison was small, of only about 150 men and they had no idea about the British rampaging in the countryside.

    On the village Masjid, a large wooden board was hung that read,
    'GLORY TO THE EMPIRE'
    and the Union Jack flew atop it.

    Private Horton meanwhile had arrived in Kabul and sought an audience with an Afghan noble to convince him to launch an invasion of India and re-establish the empire of Abdali. He told them Bose was busy in Tibet and would not be able to focus on the western frontier. However these appeals fell on deaf ears since the King of Afghanistan had a very pro-axis and now a Pro-India policy.

    Disappointed, Horton pressed onto Tehran.
     
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    We are over
  • New Delhi
    Nikolai Novikov was the Soviet ambassador to Egypt. The Soviet Union was closing in on Germany and was going to defeat it soon enough. Josef Stalin was now planning to open up the front against Japan and help the Chinese communists defeat Chiang Kai-Shek. Stalin, paranoid as he was, wanted another front against his eastern enemies in the south.

    Stalin wanted India to join the war against the axis powers.

    Nikolai received a telegram from Molotov informing of his new posting to India. He was tasked with convincing Bose to attack the nationalists and the Japanese in South-East China. He arrived in Delhi on 10th March, 1945 and met Liaquat Ali Khan.

    "Ah! Good morning ambassador Novikov, how are you ?"
    "I am well, Khan Sahab. It is a pleasure to meet you."
    "Likewise Ambassador. Would you like some tea ? or coffee perhaps."
    "Tea sounds good, sir."
    "Splendid. Shaamlal! Bring us two cups of tea. So, ambassador, I trust that this not routine diplomatic mission. What brings you here ?"
    "You have keen observations sir. I do have an agenda."
    "Tell me, Nikolai."
    "As you know, our boys are pushing up into Germany and are going to take Berlin soon enough."
    "Good."
    "Indeed, but that is not all. Another enemy lies on the east which must be dealt with."
    "The Chinese ?"
    "You are brilliant at feigning ignorance, Khan Sahab but no. Not the Chinese. The enemy is Japan."
    "So you intend to break the non-aggression pact ?"
    "At some point, yes. And we want you with us."
    "Well, that puts us in a bind. I will have to speak with the Prime Minister about this."
    "I would indeed be grateful if I could get a meeting with the Prime Minister."
    "That should be easily arranged."
    "Thank you, Liaquat. Remember, time is of the essence. Comrade Molotov has asked me to get obtain your stance by the end of this month."


    Later that evening at the Prime Minister's residence
    "Are you sure that is what he said ?!"
    "I am positive, Netaji. They want to us to declare war on Japan with them."
    "This is a difficult position we are in, Liaquat. The Japanese helped us win independence. If we go to war with our benefactors then what does that say about us ?"
    "Netaji, if I may ?"
    "Sure go ahead."
    "I think we should declare war on the Japs to satisfy Russia an-
    "AND FIGHT THE ONLY FRIENDS THAT WE HAVE ?!"
    "Hear me out, sir. A declaration of war is a mere formality. Our provisional government declared war on the Americans and they did not even bother to respond. Let us declare the war on Japan and switch sides. Just like the Italians. That should pacify Stalin. But we won't attack the Japs. That way we can honour both our alliances."
    "No, no I am not going to do that, Liaquat. I cannot betray Tojo like that. Tell Novikov its not happening."
    "Sir, the Japanese are losing the war. Manila fell a week back and the Americans have taken back the Philippines. They'll soon be in Indo-China and before we know it, right outside Bengal."

    Netaji fell silent. He was perplexed. Betraying Russia would mean that British bombing would resume. Betraying Japan would go against his own principles. Liaquat was stubborn about his position. Others would gave the same counsel. The Mahatma was useless on military matters. How he wished Nehru was alive. His counsel on these matters would have been invaluable.

    The silence was interrupted by Habib as he rapidly knocked the office's doors. Bose was a bit startled and asked him to come inside.
    "Habib, my boy, you seem out of breath. What happened ?"
    "I-I have urgent news sir."
    "Tell me."
    "Prime Minister Tojo just resigned from his position, sir."
    "Are you fucking kidding me ?! Are you sure about this ?"
    "Yes sir. Apparently, he no longer has the Emperor's backing and has been forced out."
    "These bloody royals. Tojo is the only one who still has a chance of winning the war for them and they are firing him. Who is the replacement ?"
    "Kantaro Suzuki is the new Prime Minister, sir."
    "GODDAMN IT! Well, okay that settles it. Here's the plan gentlemen. India is no longer a supporter of the new Japanese government. Our aims are now different. I have to do something. I will speak to you later."
    "Very well, Netaji."
    "Habib, get me Tojo on the phone and summon Ambedkar."
    "Yes sir"


    Habib placed the call to Hideki Tojo's private line.
    "Hideki, what is this I here about you resigning ?"
    "It is the Emperor's wish, Subhash."
    "I am really sorry, buddy."
    "Eh, it is what it is. What can I do for you ?"
    "The Soviets what me to join them in fighting Japan, Hideki."
    "Well, I wouldn't blame you if you chose to. The war is lost for us. The army and the navy want to grind it out to get a better deal but that is not going to happen. The Americans are hellbent on destroying us."
    "Come to India, Hideki. The Americans will execute you. Hell, they would not even spare the Emperor."
    "I am grateful for the offer, my friend, I really am but like you, I also love my nation and my Emperor and it is my duty to live and die in their service."
    "This is the point of no return, Hideki. I will try my best to keep our fighting to the minimum. India is always open for you, brother."
    "Goodbye Subhash."
    "Goodbye Hideki"


    It was close to 10 when Ambedkar arrived at Netaji's house.
    "Good evening, Netaji."
    "Good evening, Babasaheb. Forgive me for summoning you so late but I have an urgent task for you."
    "Not at all, Netaji. Your wish is my command."
    "Good. You need to leave for the United States right away. This time however you will lead an official diplomatic mission and ask them to recognise India. Tell them that we are ready to declare war on Germany and Japan and join the allied side. In return, they must ask the British to withdraw all their ships from the Indian Ocean and to handover Maldives, Lakshadweep and Sri Lanka to us."
    "With all due respect, Netaji, the Americans would not fuck over the British so willingly."
    "No ? What do you suggest then ?"
    "You gave the Soviets a base to stop the British. Give one to the Americans to kick them out completely."
    "Give a base to the both of them ? Hmmm...you just might be onto something."
    "Habib, tell Liaquat that he can give the green light to Novikov."
    "Yes sir."


    Ambedkar arrived once again in the United States but this time he was leading a delegation of 12 people and was received by the Secretary of State Edward Stettinius Jr. Unlike last time, this being an official diplomatic visit, the Indians were granted proper courtesies.

    The United States Department of State
    "Come Mr. Ambedkar, take a seat, it is a pleasure to see you."
    "Likewise, Secretary Stettinius."
    "What can I do for you then ?"
    "I will get down to business straight away, sir. We know the winds of war are blowing in your favour. Our objective was to attain independence and for that we fought the British. But we have no desire to fight any other allied nation. In fact, I am here to seek an alliance with you just as we did with the Russians."
    "How would we benefit from that, Mr. Ambdedkar ? You are in cahoots with the Japs and they have caused us a heap of trouble."
    "I'll remind you, Mr. Stettinius, that we sent over 2 million of our boys to fight a war we had noting to do with. We sent them two decades ago as well. Both the times we were promised independence but the promises were not kept. I think you, as an American, would sympathise with our sentiment. That being said, I am not here to secure an alliance on the basis of morality alone. I am prepared to offer incentives."
    "What are they ?"
    "We are prepared to declare war on Japan and open a front against them in Burma and Indo-China. In return, we want you to act on your policy of pushing for decolonisation and ask the British to handover the islands of Sri Lanka, Lakshadweep and the Maldives and you have to grant us diplomatic recognition."
    "When would you declare it ?"
    "As soon as you're done with the Germans."
    "Give me a day to speak with the President, Mr. Ambedkar and I will let you know."
    "Thank you, Mr. Secretary."


    The next day
    "I think we have a deal, Mr. Ambedkar but there's one caveat."
    "What is that Mr. Secretary ?"
    "You have given the Soviet Union a naval base. We want similar naval facilities in Kolkata for the agreement to go through."
    "That is a big ask, Mr. Secretary. Do I have your assurances about recognition and the British ?"
    "You do, Mr. Ambedkar. You have my word and the written assent of the United States Government."
    "Very well then"


    The secret agreement was signed on 18th March, 1945 and would be made public with the capitulation of Germany. The prominent terms of the treaty were that India would declare war on Japan and officially join the allies. In return, the islands of Sri Lanka, Maldives and Lakshadweep would be handed over to India. The United States of America would recognise the independence of India and establish diplomatic ties. Lastly, the US Navy would assist on ferrying Indian troops in Europe and North Africa back to India and would be allowed to use port facilities in Kolkata."

    The next two months were spent by India trying to get ready for the war against Japan. Over 2 million Indian troops had returned to India from Europe, North Africa and the Middle-East. Several members of the German military had also travelled with them after deserting their units or after escaping as prisoners of war. In addition to these experienced veteran troops, India had also received over 150 aircraft, including fighters and bombers, from the Americans and 100 tanks from the Soviets to carry out operations against the Japanese in Indo-China and South-East China.
    Germany surrendered on 8th May, 1945. Adolf Hitler had killed himself a week before when Berlin had fallen. On 12th May, 1945 Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose announced on radio that India was now in a state of war against the Imperial Japanese Government. He also said the war against the Suzuki government and not the people of Japan.
    The Casus beli was the displacement of the Tojo government.

    Two Sikh members of the Free India Legion with a member of the Luftwaffe.  Date unknown. [800x790] : r/HistoryPorn

    Two Sikh members of the Indian Army pose with a member of the Luftwaffe before the three of them leave for India

    P-40 Warhawks, 10th Air Force, Burma, 1943 | Wwii aircraft, Air and space  museum, Fighter jets

    American-made P-40 Warhawks stationed in Burma, operated by Indian personnel

    Still Rolling: The T-34 Tank

    Soviet T-34 tanks in Lahore
    12 Best Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose ideas | subhas chandra bose, indian  freedom fighters, freedom fighters

    Netaji announcing the declaration of war against Japan
     
    Last edited:
    The end of the beginning
  • Vietnam
    The Indian declaration of war was a declaration only in name. Despite the transport conditions being good enough to move a large number of troops, Bose only sent 1,00,000 troops placed under General Prem Kumar Sahgal. The general had been ordered to move as slow as possible and was told not to enter Chinese territories. The Indian forces were going to attack Indochina from Burma. This was part of Netaji's overall objective to liberate Indochina and create an allied and independent puppet state.

    Shaukat Malik had spent the last few months lobbying various Indochinese groups to garner support for an Indian invasion of Indochina. The strongest among them was the faction led by Ho Chi Minh, the leader of the Viet Minh independence movements. Malik had offered him incentives to support the invasion, the primary one being that an independent Vietnam would established with Ho Chi Minh as the Prime Minister.

    It was rainy evening deep in the jungles of Vietnam where Ho Chi Minh and his guerrillas were currently hiding. They had not expected a tall, burly Indian feller to have been sighted in this place. Shaukat Malik, however had managed to find his way and as a part of his psychological tricks, had decided to travel alone, without security.
    "Who's there ?"
    "A friend."
    "Put your arms up!"

    "Take me to your leader, soldiers."
    "Who the fuck are you ?"
    "I am Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose."
    "Hanh, is he Bose?"
    "Are you mad ? What would Bose be doing here ? Besides he does not look like that."
    "Surrender bastard. Or I will shoot."
    Shaukat raised his arms and let the soldiers lead him. The soldiers were rather perturbed by the presence of this mysterious man claiming to be Bose. Usually they would have shot him and buried him but his outrageous claims and unusual appearance made them take him to Minh.
    "Comrade Minh, this man says he is Bose."
    Minh burst out laughing.
    "What would Bose be doing in this godforsaken jungle, my boy ?"
    "He wouldn't. I would, Mr. Minh."
    Minh looked Malik up and down for a minute and some stared at him with a steely gaze. Malik was not disturbed and stood like a rock, while lighting a cigar.
    "And who might you be ?"
    "Someone who is here to help you."
    "Help me do what ?"
    "Why liberate your country of course. Kick out the Japs and the French."
    "And let the vaccum be filled by the Indian." smirked Minh.
    "You break my heart, comrade. Bose rules over India and governs 300 million subjects. Trust me, he has enough. His intentions and my instructions, however are much nobler. We do not like European rule in Asia and we wish for Vietnam to be independent just like us."
    "What do you want in return ?"
    "Friendship with you of course. Your government signs an alliance treaty of mutual benefit. Your country gets protection and economic aid."
    "Very well then. I am agreeable to it. But Vietnam will a fully independent country."
    "We will settle for nothing else."
    Shaukat produced a copy of the Bible and placed it in front of Minh
    "If you want confess then I am afraid I am no priest."
    "I am not really a religious man." Shaukat opened the Bible and took out a document that read 'Indo-Vietnamese treaty of alliance'.
    "What's this then ?"
    "This is the key to your independence, my friend. Here is the seal of the Government of India, under signed by Prime Minister of India, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose"
    "How do I know this document isn't forged ?"
    "Tou quote you, Comrade Minh, what man would travel to this godforsaken jungle, just to con the leader of Vietnam."
    "Fair enough." Minh signed the treaty.
    Shaukat shook hands with Minh and turned to leave.
    "I didn't get your name."
    "Lets keep it that way, comrade. I will see you soon."


    Japan had diverted most of its troops to China from Indochina and kept only a token garrison of 20,000 troops in Vietnam, who were mostly concerned with occupation duties rather than being an actual fighting force. The primary objective for the Indian troops was to capture Saigon with minimum fighting. Sahgal's army was assisted by Vietnamese guerrillas and, contrary to the expectations of French and Japanese colonial officials, the Indian troops were welcomed by locals. On June 18th Indian troops had arrived on the outskirts of Hanpoi and asked the Japanese commander to surrender. The commander was told that he was facing overwhelming forces without adequate supplies. If he surrendered, him and his troops would be respectfully taken to India and post-war would have the option to either return to Japan or settle in India. Seeing how generous these terms were and that the allies might not be so merciful. The Japanese fears were justified since it had been known that American soldiers had mutilated Japanese POWs on previous occasions and the torture of captured soldiers by Chinese guerrillas.
    It was only after General Sahgal spoke to the commander on radio and assured that safe passage would be provided and they would be treated mercifully.

    The Japanese garrison surrendered a week later and on June 24th, 1945 Ho Chi Minh announced the Vietnamese Declaration of Independence and the formation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The Indian government wasted no time in recognising it and activated the Treaty of Alliance. On July 1st, in response to this declaration, the French colonial authorities announced the formation of a constitutional monarchy under Emperor Ban Dai, and got the Emperor to declare war on India and Japan. Ho Chi Minh now began to organise forces and started moving south to capture South Vietnam. They hoped to achieve this before any allied forces could send any serious reinforcements.


    Japan suffered a devastating defeat in the Battle of Okinawa, with allies preparing for an invasion of the Japanese home islands. To reaffirm their previous agreements and to discuss the post-war future, the allied leadership was going to hold a conference at Potsdam in Germany. The big three- Harry Truman, Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill(and the new British Prime Minister Clement Attlee) were the participants. The allies reaffirmed their plans for the partition and occupation of Germany and Austria. The Potsdam Declaration(also signed by Chiang Kai-Shek) declared that Japan must immediately surrender unconditionally or face 'utter and prompt destruction'.

    The Indian government issued a statement that it agreed with the allied objectives in Germany but believed that a surrender should be negotiated with Japan and that it should be treated humanely. The Indian ambassador to Japan, K.K Chettur was asked to activate the secret operation codenamed, Chanakya. Chettur had been instructed to urge top Japanese scientists and generals to come to India. Amongst the targets were,
    -Viscount Masatoshi Okochi, Director of the Riken institute
    -Dr. Yoshio Nishina, a physicist working at the Riken institute and the leader of Japan's efforts to develop the atomic bomb
    -Dr. Bunsaku Arakatsu, the head of the F-Go projects, the imperial Japanese Navy's nuclear research programme
    -Surgeon General Shiro Ishii, the head of the notorious Unit 731
    -Major Fujiwara, a Japanese officer who had been instrumental in the formation of the INA
    -Admiral Osami Nagano, former Chief of Naval Staff
    -Lastly General Hideki Tojo, former Prime Minister of Japan

    Chettur offered Okochi, Nishina and Arakatsu to come to India and establish their laboratory anywhere they desired in India and told them they would draw handsome salaries and be offered complete immunity from an allied reprisals. Like the vast majority of Japan's citizens, the targets also believed that Americans would kill citizens with impunity.
    With the invasion of Japan being all but imminent, the three scientists agreed to travel to New Delhi. Admiral Nagano had also been given similar assurances by Chettur and was told that he would be employed by Bose to build the Indian navy. He was told that he would be afforded a similar rank in the Indian Navy. Along with the carrot, the stick was that Nagano in all probability would be executed by the allies and that his only safe recourse was to come to India. Nagano had initially refused the offer but later agreed with Chettur and embarked to India on a plane marked as belonging to the Government of India.

    Ishii was nowhere to to be found. Chettur could not ask the Japanese government about his whereabouts and Indian intelligence could not locate him.

    Hideki Tojo had told Chettur that he greatly appreciated Netaji's offer and that it would serve as an example to the world of a friend's magnanimity. He handed a letter to Chettur, writing that Netaji was Lord Krishna and that Tojo was his poor friend Sudama. He was grateful for his help but could not desert Japan. If the Empire was to go down, then he would go down with it. Hideki Tojo refused Netaji's offer to come to India and decided to play his cards in Japan.

    Other than these Japanese officials, several high-ranking Nazi officers and scientists had also arrived on the shores of Independent India. These included, among others,
    -Heinrich Himmler, the Reichsführer-SS
    -Otto Skorzeny, the German Lieutenant Colonel who had liberated Mussolini from his imprisonement
    -Walter Rauff, an SS officer responsible for the engineering of mobile gas chamber and gas van and responsible for killing nearly 1,00,000 Jews in Europe
    -Heinrich Mueller, the Director of Gestapo who had accompanies Himmler while escaping
    -Kurt Diebner, Director of the Uranverein(the German nuclear weapons programme
    -Abraham Esau, German nuclear physicist working on the Uranverein.

    The Second World War was drawing to a close. Germany had fallen and Japan was going to. India now prepared itself for a new and uncertain future in a new and uncertain world. India was a pariah of sorts in the new world order but it was a pariah far too important to be ignored, neither by the American steamroller, neither by the Soviet Bear, nor its former colonial overlords.
     
    They just dropped the bomb
  • New Delhi
    Bose was shocked.
    Gandhi was shocked.
    Stalin was worried.
    Churchill was happy.
    Truman was happy.

    The United States of America had just dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Empire of Japan had announced its surrender and the Second World War had come to an end. The Soviets were mopping up resistance in Manchuria. With Japan's surrender, all its territories too had been liberated. Indochina was liberated and an independent Vietnam that was aligned with India had been established. Thailand had signed an alliance treaty as well. The Chinese Communists had now resorted to attacking Chiang's forces out in the open and were taking over what was formerly the Japanese Empire in China. One event that had been a sort of known surprise was the Indonesian declaration of Independence. The Dutch and their allies did not like it but Bose was quite happy with it. But he had other objectives. He wanted Indonesia to be in his sphere of influence. The country was too big and too far to be made a puppet but an ally was to be made. So he sent Shaukat Malik to talk to their leader, the one they called Sukarno.

    Two important matters loomed on Netaji's mind. If the Americans could drop atomic bombs on Asia's premier power then India was not immune from it. There is an urgent need to build our own bombs he thought. If the Americans have it today, the British will have it tomorrow. And their wretched Victorian democracy, as he called it, could re-elect that madman Churchill back to power.
    What if he decided to drop them on India ? Ambedkar had told him that there were rumours that Churchill was begging Truman to drop some on Kolkata. Little did he know that the Americans were building a base there. Apparently, Nimitz himself was going to inaugurate it. But India could not be at the mercy of the Russians or the Americans. It needed its own Brahmastra. Netaji had summoned Homi Bhabha to Delhi to tell him to start the process of building the bomb for India.
    "Good morning Netaji, its good to see you again."
    "Likewise Homi. Here have a seat."
    "Thank you."
    "I trust you've heard of the news."
    "Ah yes. The Americans have really outdone themselves this time. Bloody atomic weapons."
    "Today it is Japan, tomorrow-"
    "It could be us. I realise that. I think I know why you've called me here."
    "Good. You have all the resources you want at your disposal. Money, labs whatever the hell you want. How soon can you build it ?"
    "30 months sir. Thats all I need."
    "I will only ask this once. Are you sure ?"
    "Hell yes."
    "Good man. I have another gift for you."
    "I love gifts. What is it ?"
    "I think you saw the group of Japanese and German gentlemen waiting outside."
    "Yes, I thought I recognised them."
    "They are the premier nuclear scientists of the axis powers and the leaders of their atomic weapons program."
    "Wow! What the hell are they doing here ? How the hell did they even get here ?"
    "You don't need to know that. What you do need to know is that they will all be working under you. Choose a site for your lab and testing and get to work Homi."
    "See you in 30 months, Netaji."


    Homi chose the desert of Rajasthan as his test site. Kota to be exact. His team included the top Indian nuclear scientists, Piara Singh Gill, P.K. Iyengar, Swami Jnanananda, Raja Ramanna and Bhabha's student Vikram Sarabhai. General Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon was appointed as the head of the programme codenamed Operation Brahmastra. The scientists were told that the Thar desert would be their permanent residence until the bomb was built.

    The second was the question of the islands in the Indian Ocean. Ambedkar arranged a phone call for the first time ever between an American President and the leader of independent India.
    "Good morning, Mr. President.
    "Good morning, Mr. Prime Minister. How are you ?"
    "Doing quite fine thank you. How do you do ?"
    "Great. How's independence treating you ?"
    "Well, I do feel somewhat like George Washington."
    "Hahaha that's great, Prime Minister. Now I have a matter of some importance that I need to talk to you about."
    "Before you do sir, I hear you've disallowed the Soviets from partaking in the occupation of Japan."
    "I, uh, yes, well it wasn't my decision alone, the whole allied war council weighed in."
    "What did you want to talk about, Mr. President ?"
    "Kolkata. You gave a port to the Soviets in Karachi. The US needs one in Kolkata. I understand you want certain islands in the Indian Ocean to be hated over to you from the British."
    "That is right, those were parts of the British Raj and now that India is independent, they are under illegal occupation of the British Empire."
    "Yes sir I understand. But you must understand my position here. I cannot organise a blanket transfer of power in these regions."
    "The Kolkata deal hinges on this transfer, Mr. President."
    "You have no navy, sir. How are you going to occupy it ?"
    "That is not-
    "Netaji, if I may, you've got to help me help you. I will help you get those islands back, but now is not the time. Take a while, build up your navy."
    "Very well, Mr. President. I'll build up my navy. And we'll assist your operations in the Indian Ocean."
    "Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister, I kn-
    "But I am afraid that Admiral Nimitz would be unable to inaugurate your base at Kolkata. Perhaps his successor can. I will personally welcome him. Aboard an Indian battleship. Thank you, Mr. President, you have nice day now.

    Then Netaji hung up.

    He hoped that Bhabha would deliver the bomb on time.


    Shimla
    Lord Linlithgow had been staying in the princely state of Patiala, at the old winter capital of the British Raj. Lord Mountbatten was there with him. The security was fierce. 15000 guards of the Patiala Royal State Forces had been posted to protect them, along with 5 armoured cars. This was due to the fact that there were around 1,00,000 protestors outside the palace grounds who wanted the their heads on pikes. These protestors blamed them for the destruction that took place at the Golden Temple. This led to a few lapses in security, which allowed Private Bill Morgan to slip through into the palace.

    Lord Mountbatten was sound asleep when he suddenly felt hand covering his mouth and restraining his hands.

    "Wffa--
    "Shhh sir. I am a friend. I am going to remove my hand now. Please do not shout."
    "Who the fuck are you, boy ?"
    "My name is Private Bill Morgan of the 1st Punjab Regiment, sir. 99 comrades of mine and I are engaged in a war against Bose's rebellion against the Crown. We intend to take back its jewel."
    "I have to admire your gumption, soldier. But a 100 cannot fight against the teeming millions of these savages."
    "We have sent a man to Tehran to notify the British commander to assist us. We have also managed to defeat the 150 man garrison in Peshawar and we have taken the city. We disabled communications so the Indians do not know as of yet but we do not have a lot of time."
    "I wish I could help you, young man, but right now I am a powerless man. I am prisoner of the Maharaja and his boss, Bose."
    "We realise the unfortunate situation, sir. 5 of my men are posing as Afghans and are protesting outside. We have a plan to rescue you. We will put it into action in a week."
    "Only me ? What about Lord Linlithgow and his family ?"
    "I am afraid only you sir."
    "Very well. What can I do to help ?"
    "You'll know soon enough sir. I'll take your leave now."
    "God save the king."
    "God save the king."

    Just as the private was climbing out of the window he said
    "Oh, and sir eat carefully."

    Lhasa
    Tibet was under the military administration of General Maharaja Sadul Singh. The train from Srinagar to Lhasa had been half-completed but the all-weather roads had been built and three military basis had been constructed. 40,000 troops were posted in Tibet to maintain strict military law. 24-hour curfews were imposed and all citizens were being ID'd. But the Indian military without its British intelligence was hopeless at maintaining such a strict order. And small rebellions had become common with shootouts and ambushes becoming regular affairs. Since the war was over, Netaji was looking to demobilise some of the troops and had rejected Sadul Singh's request for more troops.

    Netaji now decided to reap the fruits of his magnanimity. At the Lhasa airstrip, three transport planes of the Indian airforce had arrived carrying around a 100 men. To the Indian soldiers they seemed like the Gora Sahebs but with atrocious English and Hindi accents. They were wearing the Khaki Indian uniforms but had an eagle emblem on their shoulders and caps. There were rumours going on but no one knew what they were here for.

    Heinrich Müller, the former chief of the Gestapo had arrived in Lhasa.

    Rangoon
    Netaji had traveled to do a public tour of Burma in order to endear Indian suzerainty to its citizens. Gandhi was doing another one separately. While Gandhi went on to rant about non-violence and Indo-Burmese friendship, Netaji was meeting with another top ranking Nazi officer to come up with a plan to control Burma. The Burmese coast and the northern border region of Burma had been annexed into India. Ba Maw declared the Independence of Burma, with a brief constitution, part of which explicitly stated a perpetual state of alliance with India.

    Ba Maw became the Prime Minister of an independent, but a much smaller version of Burma. This, while Netaji held long discussions with his friend Heinrich Himmler.

    Heinrich Himmler in discussion with Subhas Chandra Bose at German  Headquarters, 1942 (b/w photo Stock Photo - Alamy

    Bose with Himmler making plans for prevention of rebellions in Burma

    Indian soldiers on patrol during the 1962 Sino-Indian border war.jpg

    An Indian patrol at the Mansarovar Lake

    Maharaja Sadul Singh Ji of Bikaner By Rohit Sonkiya | Royal family, Blue  bloods, Bikaner


    Maharaja Sadul Singh photographed with his sons in Lhasa before a dinner party organised at his mansion in honour of Heinrich Müller.

    World politics explainer: The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki


    The picture of the atomic bombing of Japan, popularised in the Indian press. This was done on orders of the Indian government to get public approval for building their own atomic bombs.
     
    God forbid
  • New Delhi
    Atal had been informed that he had been selected to be awarded for his bravery in Tibet. During the advance from Jammu and Kashmir he had single-handedly taken down an enemy nest, killing 5 with a grenade, shooting 4 more and taking down the remaining three with a fallen comrade's kirpan. Although this had not been publicised by the Indian government but Atal had also been responsible for executing three Tibetan citizens who had killed an INA soldier. It was not so much a retribution for the fallen soldier as it was a death sentence for burning an effigy of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

    After the war in Tibet was over a lot of the army in there had been decommissioned but Atal was kept on and had been promoted to Captain, commanding his own company. His wife was pregnant with child due next month. He'd made himself home at Tibet. He had heard talk that Netaji wanted to resettle Tibet with Indians. The soldiers would be provided living quarters for their families. Even now a lot of labourers from Bihar and farmers from Punjab were coming into Tibet, especially Lhasa. The capital city was a ghost town. Apart from the few thousand new civilians, the rest were all soldiers. The native population had been fully decimated or imprisoned with only a few dozen remaining free. The Dalai Lama, they were told was at Mahatma Gandhi's asharam in Sabarmati. His palace was occupied by the General-Maharaj Sadul Singh. Atal had met him once when he was told of his gallantry award. He was a peculiarly short man. Atal wasn't much tall himself as compared to the Sardars and Pathans. Monsters is what they looked like. Ah yes Lhasa, well like I said the city was being rapidly Indianised. A big statue of Netaji was being erected and already a few Mandirs, Masjids and Gurudwaras had sprung up all around. The various Buddhist temples had either been converted into barracks or repurposed into the other three mentioned before. Three or four were still functioning for the remaining Tibetans.

    Atal had also become good friends with a German officer named Captain Friedrich Schloz. 'Freddy' as Atal called him was surprisingly fluent in Hindi and had great knowledge of sanskrit. He and Atal often conversed in the latter. Freddy had been in the Hitler youth and then joined the German army. He had also met Hitler once too. He had managed to stow away with a platoon of Indian soldiers on an American ship. What irony, Atal thought. This was Freddy's first assignment after coming to India. There was still a big number of Tibetans around in Tibet apart from Lhasa. Freddy's contingent was here to ascertain how to make them all tow the line.

    His wife had written to him telling him that her brother had come to meet her in Delhi. He told both her that both Atal's father and father-in-law were unhappy about the union. He was fine with it. His own girlfriend was a Hindu. Delhi had been treating her well. She had become a teacher at a school run by the Congress. The doctor had said that she looked healthy and that they should expect delivery by September. They were worried that she would lose her job due to her child but Netaji's announcement of mandatory paid maternity leave had relaxed them. They now loved him even more.

    Their home had a little separate area for worship. On the right side was a bust of Lord Hanuman, on the left was kept a copy of the Quran.

    In the middle of them both was a photograph of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.


    Madras
    Netaji had arrived at the congress session at Madras, with rumours being rife and ranging from a declaration of war on Iran to an invasion of Ceylon. But the actual announcement was much milder. Netaji was going to announce his new cabinet. The congress leaders who had struggled to get freedom now were now looking to reap rewards. No one had the guts to go and ask Netaji himself for a cabinet berth. But they did hear that the Mahatma was being consulted about it and they continued to lobby him to put their name in. Gandhi listened to them patiently and assured them that he would try his best but the list had all been finalised. Surprisingly, Bose had agreed to all of Gandhi's pre-lobbying suggestions. Bose wanted to reward Gandhi's loyalty towards him and build more goodwill for him in congress. He would eventually give India democracy and this was a step into direction.

    Although the ministers were not elected leaders and could be dismissed at Netaji's pleasure.

    The Indian Cabinet:-
    1.)Prime Minister and minister of atomic energy- Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose
    2.)Minister of Home affairs- Sardar Vallabhai Patel
    3.)Minister of External Affairs- Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar
    4.)Minister of Finance- Chintaman Dwarkanath Deshmukh
    5.)Minister of Defence- Sardar Baldev Singh
    6.)Minister of Commerce and Industry- Chakravarti Rajagopalachari
    7.)Minister of Agriculture- Liaquat Ali Khan
    8.)Minister of Health- Rajkumari Amrit Kaur
    9.)Ministry of Education- Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
    10.)Minister of Princely Affairs- Maharaja Yadvindra Singh
    11.)Minister of Minority Affairs- Mohammad Ali Jinnah
    12.)Minister of Labour- Jagjivan Ram
    13.)Minister of Railways and Roadways - Sarojini Naidu

    Commanders of the Armed Forces:-
    1.)Chief of Army Staff- General Mohan Singh
    2.)Chief of Naval Staff- Admiral Ram Dass Katari*
    3.)Chief of Air Staff- Air Chief Marshal Subroto Mukherjee

    Special Advisors to the Indian Government
    Confidential advisors
    Special Advisor to the Indian Navy- Admiral Osami Nagano
    Advisors to the Indian intelligence agencies- Heinrich Himmler and Heinrich Müller**

    *The Indian Navy at the moment only consists of a few frigates and a couple of sloops and other minor ships. There are no capital ships. Ram Dass Katari has been appointed to have an Indian at the top rank. His job is to help Nagano build up the navy. The Prime Minister hopes to have a proper functioning navy within the next five years. The primary objective of the navy is to be able to project power upto the claimed islands and then subsequently be capable of challenging the British Navy and be the most powerful navy in Asia.

    **Both Heinrichs have been appointed to ranks in the Indian Army and to the rest of the world they are presumed dead. Currently they are assisting Shaukat Malik in the establishment and building of three primary intelligence agencies, namely-
    Indian Bureau of Intelligence(IBI), Domestic
    Indian Intelligence Agency(IIA), International
    Military Intelligence Group(MIG), Military
    Shaukat Malik serves as director of all three.


    New York
    "Sir, I am afraid the Prime Minister is very insistent on this. We never fired a single shot on any American soldier or on any Soviet for that matter. Our problem was with Britain. We grasped the opportunity and took our freedom. How can you justify excluding a country as big and important as India from this so called Security Council ? At the same time you want to award the position to a country embroiled in a bloody civil war."
    "Bhim, China fought against Japan with us. And our contention is to give the permanent seat to the nationalists."
    "Are you sure of the Nationalists' victory ?"
    "I am reasonably assured of this yes."
    "What if they lost ?"
    "What do you mean ?"
    "Given the President's distaste for Communism, I am sure you wouldn't want another communist state other than Russia on the council."
    "No, we would not. Where are you going with this ?"
    "What I am saying is that you'd want pro-american and capitalist state instead of a pro-soviet communist one."
    "Right-
    "And the only alternative that stands in place of the Chinese giant is the Indian behemoth, should the communists win, god forbid."
    "God forbid."

    Ambedkar took a sip of his water
    "Well then, Mr. Secretary, from my vantage point, I have a clear vision of the future."
    "What vision is that ?"
    "Should the communists win, they'd come for Tibet. And we don't wish to pick an unnecessary fight with anyone."
    "You'd give them Tibet ? That's-
    "For the right price, yes and no sir. We want a permanent seat in your council. The United States stands to gain from having us as an ally against a Communist China. Give us the seat and we maintain a hostile position against the Communists and you can supply the Nationalists through India if you wish."
    "You'd put boots on the ground ?"
    "50,000 of our men already hold Tibet. There will be more if necessary."
    "The President's directions are that without a base in Kolkata, nothing moves forward. Give us the port and you'll have everything you need."
    "There's one caveat."
    "What ?"
    "We want something more in addition to the islands."
    "Are you kidding me ? You want more territory ?"
    "No, Mr. Secretary. We want your assistance."
    "To do what ?"
    "To build the Indian Navy, of course."
    "Go on"
    "I am given to understand that the US Navy currently operates 7000 ships. We'd like to ask for 30 ships be given to us as a gesture of our friendship and that you appoint officers to our navy as advisors for a period of ten years to train our own officer corps."
    "And what do those thirty ships include ? An aircraft carrier perhaps ?"
    "We wouldn't mind having it. We have a long coastline to protect. In fact we want two. The finer details can be worked out between our deputies."
    "That's a big ask, Bhimrao. I will consult the President and get back to you."
    "Thank you, James."


    The Oval Office
    "So now he wants us ? Didn't seem like that when he hung up on me."
    "Ambedkar tells me that the Prime Minister is deeply regretful and seeks friendship with us. He's agreed to the base at Kolkata to be opened as soon as possible."
    "And given us a plethora of other demands."
    "Well, all due respect sir, they are not too unreasonable. And I think that we stand to gain from them."
    "How so ?"
    "Well for starters, I think that the Nationalists are going to lose the civil war. Without our troops on the ground they won't win. And if we send troops then so do the Soviets. Then there's the Congressional headache. The Indians are agreeing to hold Tibet against the commies and let us supply Chiang through their country."
    "What about the carriers ?"
    "Well, yes, that is a big ask. I am not inclined to agree to give two to them. But I think that we can train their officers in the states and then give them one. The other thirty ships would be some subs and destroyers. Nothing major. That way they are forced to rely on us."
    "What if we are to reject the proposal ?"
    "Then they'll go to the Russians. And the Kolkata deal falls through. It would be catastrophic then if Mao won. From the Baltics to Burma it would be all red."
    "Dear god, James. You have a flair for the dramatic."
    "I call em' as I see em' sir."
    "Alright then, tell them that we agree to the terms. But only one carrier and they'll get it after three years. Let us start building the base and we"ll inaugurate by March. Regarding the permanent membership, I think we can work on expanding it. China is a wildcard. If they go communist, we'll need India to offset the balance."
    "I'll let him know sir."


    The following day
    "We have a counter for you, Mr. Ambedkar."
    "Alright, let's have it."
    "1 carrier. After three years. And your officers are trained in the United States."
    "Okay. What else ?"
    "The base construction begins next month."
    "What about the islands ?"
    "First the base, then the islands."
    "We have a deal, Mr. Secretary."
    "Congratulations, Mr. Foreign Minister."


    Winston Churchill was highly opposed to letting India into the United Nations let alone the Security Council. Clement Attlee however felt that the proposal was not as objectionable as the old dog made it out to be. British support could mean rapprochement between Britain and India. Britain still had business interests there. The support could get their assets unfrozen and they could get a favourable trade deal. He could personally persuade Bose. Churchill fucked Chamberlain's chances with Hitler. He wouldn't let him do the same thing to himself with Bose. There were still folks in India who didn't hate Britain that much. And vice versa. Attlee was still saddened about Nehru's death and the mass-scale killings of Indians in the United Kingdom. But he was the Prime Minister now. Not Churchill. India could have British support. The Bygones have to bygones he thought.

    Stalin on the other hand was supportive of having India in the council. The USSR had base in Karachi. The first warm water port in Russian history. He had won the Great Game at last and wouldn't lose it to something as ridiculous as a position on the security council. And besides the Indians needed someone to bankroll their development. Bose had come to him before anyone. The dog always remains loyal to its master, thought Stalin. So Molotov told Truman that the Soviet Union agreed to expand the council to include India.

    Chiang opposed the expansion. He demanded India vacate Tibet and Arunanchal and surrender it to Nationalist China, only then could any support be considered. Certain members of his cabinet weren't as opposed since Bose had respectfully repatriated over 80,000 Chinese prisoners back to their country. They thought that their stance would not matter if they lost the civil war and India's support in the war would be invaluable. The Chinese stance had heavy internal opposition but de jure it opposed expansion.

    The French were the most willing to include India. They had their enclave in Pondicherry and had no desire to lose it.

    The French and British support reminded Netaji of the days of the Carnatic wars. The pale-faces are once again vying to be included in India. Just as they begged the Mughals, they now wanted a friendly India again. But Bose was perturbed about and perhaps feared the retribution from the big powers. India had was in good place but was also in a bind.

    In this love triangle, no matter who India choses, the other will want blood.
     
    Last edited:
    All due respect sir, you need to fuck off
  • London
    Ambedkar had arrived in England to meet Clement Atlee. He was sent to negotiate with the British government for their assent to India getting into the security council. Earlier, Netaji had called Atlee to ask for his vote but he was told that Winston Churchill was putting a lot of pressure on the British government to vote against India. In fact, Churchill was actively lobbying the American and Russian governments to deny India entry.

    Netaji was also informed of rumours that the British Monarch was quite angered at the Bose government. It was the first time since the American revolution that the British Empire had lost territory. And it was on a just as massive scale as the American revolution. Even more so since it was the crown jewel that had been taken away. This was exacerbated by the fact two prominent members of the British royalty were being held as prisoners in India. This incensed the British aristocracy and the supremacist elements within it and in the conservative party.

    Thus, as a result Ambedkar had been sent to negotiate a settlement. A settlement to allow Atlee to show the conservatives a win and at the same time get India into the council.

    "Please have a seat, Mr. Ambedkar."
    "Thank you, Prime Minister. How are you today ?"
    "Well, I am still here, aren't I ? We are in quite a pickle here, Minister."
    "That's what we here to figure out, sir."
    "Here's what it is, Ambedkar. Churchill wants Bose's head on a platter. His entire party leadership and workers are on a war path. They would eat me alive if I vote for your nation. The Aristocracy is a separate problem."
    "I understand that sir and we want to help our cause in any way that we can."
    "That's good, Ambedkar, that's good, we're going to need that."
    "Pray tell."
    "Well, I need three things from you. Firstly, I need you to release both Mountbatten and Linlithgow. Second, I need you to unfreeze the British assets in India. If not all at least those in Bombay and Calcutta. Lastly, we need to start working on a peace treaty. We cannot let the state of war go on indefinitely."
    "There are difficulties revolving around this, sir. The people in Punjab want Linlithgow's head on a pike for the attack on the Golden temple-
    "I am given to understand he did not authorise it."
    "No, he did not but how will you make an angry mob understand that ? Regardless we will release them as soon as we can do it. Regarding the unfreezing of assets that can be done with immediate effect."
    "What about the peace treaty ?" We would ideally want to have it signed in Britain itself."
    "I am not sure if Netaji would agree to that, sir. He has expressed his strong desire to have the treaty signed in India."
    "That is going to be a problem, Bhim."
    "Well, how about neutral country ?"
    "Which one ?"
    "How about France ? Or the United States ?"
    "France is ravaged. I think the United States would be a better option."
    "We can send both of our representatives to coordinate with Americans."
    "Good. We need to make this happen quick, Bhim. Churchill's position is quite strong and we need these wins to weaken him. India and Britain have a very close relationship and I want our nations to reconcile. Friendship is our path to progress."
    "I couldn't agree more, Clement. Netaji also wants reconciliation."


    Shimla
    Lord Mountbatten wondered what Morgan was going to do. It had been a week. He was getting worried about the protestors. The servants told him that there were about a million of them, although he found that figure to be overblown. Shimla wasn't that big. Regardless of their number they wanted Linlithgow dead. Mobs wouldn't care if he himself was not involved. Morgan had managed to gain entry so there was some hope for getting out. It would not be possible to escape elsewhere into India. They were on the lookout for any and every white creature. No, the ports were out of contention. Even Tibet had been taken by Bose. Another route closed. The most optimistic plan was to get to Peshawar and then to Persia. There the allied troops could get him to Britain. But this depended on how tonight went. But Mountbatten wasn't tensed. Yadavindra Singh wouldn't kill him even if he caught him. So it was either escape or back to this hell. Mountbatten was having soup when suddenly he felt something in his mouth--
    It was piece of paper, folded a million times and soaking wet. He took his plucker and began to carefully open it. So, this is Morgan's signal, thought Mountbatten.

    "We'll be at your room at midnight. 3 of us. Have your military uniform ready. You will know the rest then. Burn this."
    Midnight it was then. Mountbatten lit a cigar and sat there waiting for Private Bill Morgan and his associates.
    The door was knocked at exactly midnight.
    "Good evening, my lord."
    "Good evening, young man. How are you ?"
    "Very well sir. Here's the servant's uniform sir. Please change into it and hand me your military uniform."

    Ten minutes later both men had exchanged their clothes.
    "Alright Private what's the plan ?"
    "Well sir, you're going to be leaving with Private Lee and Carson. They will be escorting you through the servants' entry from the back. Your uniform should give you an easy enough disguise. By the time you get out you'll blend into the crowd. Your beard should help. Lee will leave you both in the crowd and you will travel with Carson from Shimla to Ludhiana. From there you will get into a train to Lahore. In Lahore you will meet another one of our associates and you'll ride on horse to Peshawar. One more important thing sir"
    "What ?"
    "Once Carson gets you into the woods you'll change into another disguise- that of a priest and his disciple. You'll know the next disguise in Lahore."
    "Well, you certainly deserve credit for creativity private. What are you going to do ?"
    "I am going to impart some good old British justice sir. Nothing that you need to worry about."
    "Alright son. Be careful."
    "Goodbye sir."

    Mountbatten and the two privates made there way through the back-entrance. Apparently the guards were hobnobbing with protestors, allowing them a smooth escape. Once they made their way into the protestors, Mountbatten saw effigies of Linlithgow, Churchill, and King George. He was sort of relieved over his effigies not being burned. Regardless, when they reached what appeared to be the epicentre of the protest, Private Lee began to dismount the sack he was carrying on his back.
    "What's that ?"
    "Diwali."
    "What do you mean ?"
    "I am national- level hammer throw player sir. I am going to throw them around as far as I can and kill as many of these assholes as I can."

    He took out a contraption whose innovation and cruelty shocked Mountbatten.

    Fifeteen dynamite sticks were tied around a tank shell. Lee was going to explode it in the middle of these people. Men, women and children. Hundreds would die. and Lee was carrying three of them.
    "Don't do this. Come with us."
    "All due respect sir, you need to fuck off. Carson, take him."
    "Let's go sir."


    Back at the Palace
    Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu & Kashmir, Maharaja Sawai Man Singh of Jaipur and Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan had come to visit Lord Mountbatten and Linlithgow. Notably, these three kings were the most opposed to Bose's interference with their affairs and had been flirting with idea of independence. They wanted their discussions to evolve into that direction and reach the top quarters of the British executive. The newly-appointed minister of princely affairs, Maharaja Yadvindra Singh was set to arrive the next day since he was to host their meeting/party.

    The next morning, Lord Mountbatten came dressed in full military attire and a long overcoat, within which he was carrying a Thompson submachine gun, which he had assembled in his room. The three kings sat in their night suits in the garden sipping tea as they awaited his arrival.

    "Good morning gentlemen"
    "Ah, Lord Mountbatten, it is good to see you. How do you do ?"
    "Fine and dandy, Hari Singh. How are you ?"
    "I am good sir. Are you alright ? Your voice seems different today."
    "Oh, its nothing Maharaj. Only the sound of vengeance."
    "Vengeance ?"
    interjected Man Singh
    Suddenly the Nizam stood up and shouted, "You are not Mountbatten. Who the hell are you ? He is an imposter gentlemen!"
    "GUAR--

    Morgan whipped out his gun from underneath his coat and emptied a hundred bullets into the three premier Maharajas of India and ironically ended Britain's hope for getting the Indian aristocracy to rise up in rebellion against Bose.

    As the three Maharajas lay dead at the table, Morgan reloaded his gun and began to shoot at the guards. He murdered twelve of them before being shot dead himself.

    Delhi
    "It is true your majesty. About 800 people have been killed in bomb blasts outside your palace."
    "Who did it ?"
    "Hard to say at this point sir, there are no witnesses."
    "Only men or women and children as well ?"
    "Women and children as well sir. About 300 of them."
    "My god."
    "I have more bad news sir."
    "More ? What ?"
    "Maharaja Sawai Man Singh of Jaipur, Maharaja Hari Singh and the Nizam have all been shot dead and Lord Mountbatten has escaped his captivity."
    "Bloody hell. Bose is going to skin me alive. Alright leave me alone and call Sardar Patel. I am not going to face Bose alone."
    "Yes sir."
    "Wait a minute who shot them ?"
    "He was dressed in Mountbatten's military uniform, a white boy. 19, we think. British Army. We still haven't been able to identify him."

    "What is this I am hearing, Yadvindra ?"
    "It is true Vallabhai. Mountbatten backstabbed us. He took advantage of my hospitality and he murdered three kings."
    "Dear god, this is terrible. We are in a bad situation here. Shall we go tell the Prime Minister ?"
    "After you."


    In Netaji's office, two hours later
    "GODDAMNITT! Is this how you do your job ? You had 10,000 guards for fuck sakes are they that incompetent ?"
    "I am sorry for the lapses, sir I-
    "No Yadvindra this is inexcusable. I would sack you if I had another option to appoint to your position."

    There was uncomfortable silence in the room as Netaji got upto the window and sipped his scotch. Suddenly he spoke up.
    "Here's what's going to happen. Yadavindra, you need to visit all these princely states and ensure smooth succession. Have the new rulers swear an oath of fealty to us. These were the ones poking their heads. We have a silver lining her. If they dont listen to you feel free to appoint a government agent as a caretaker until they budge. Vallabhai, martial all your resources. Everything you have and find where Mountbatten has gone. At any cost, we need him alive. And find out the identity of this assassin. This is not the work of a lone wolf. He rescued an allied commander and killed three kings. This is the work of an outfit. Find out which. One more thing. Also find out why didn't they try to rescue Linlithgow."
    "Yes sir."
    "Now get out of my sight. Habib, call Ambedkar and tell him to gauge what our situation would be regarding the council if Mountbatten were to die."
    "Yes sir."

    Netaji went back to the window and returned to his scotch.
    "Fucking royals"


    Victims of the massacre of Vinnytsia in the Ukraine News Photo - Getty  Images

    Dead bodies of protestors being stacked together before their identification in Shimla.

    Old Photographs

    Bhimrao Ambedkar and his delegation with Indians living in London

    CIVIL WAR: DEAD SOLDIER. /nA dead soldier with a cannon ramrod next to him.  Photographed during the American Civil War, c1863 Stock Photo - Alamy

    Bill Morgan's dead body in the Shimla palace

    Capt.Amarinder Singh on Twitter: Humble tributes to the #Ironman of India,  #SardarVallabhbhaiPatel on his Birth Anniversary. His contribution to the  unity & integrity of India is remembered by all. Sharing this picture

    Maharaja Yadvindra Singh and Sardar Vallabhai Patel attending the funeral of Nizam Osman Ali Khan in Hyderabad.
     
    The Chinks in the armour
  • Burma
    The new regime in Burma had not satisfied every citizen.

    After the annexation of 2/3 of its territory and its ports by India, Burma had been turned into a rump, client state. Ba Maw was the premier but all ministerial appointments came from New Delhi. The Burmese nationalists and communists resented this. But there was not much they could do about it. The Indian National Congress had begun to operate in Burma and Ba Maw had been made the Burma pradesh president. All other parties were banned and the communist and nationalist leaders had all been arrested. A centralised system of state surveillance was setup in Burma under Heinrich Himmler. He was appointed the head of MIG-3(Military intelligence group-3 responsible for Burma).

    Himmler had vast experience in dealing with and perhaps exterminating populations who were detrimental to the rule of the government. He had replaced police stations with officers of the MIG-3 all across Burma even in the remote villages. Immigration to Burma had been ramped up with people from places as far as Punjab coming to farm rice. Even the new industries being set up were almost exclusively owned by Indians. As were most of the shops and small-scale industries whereas the working class was being created purely out of the natives. Himmler wanted Indians to act as a counterweight. While this happened, worker rights as declared by Netaji were followed strictly. Poverty was still rampant but those who had jobs had much better conditions then they did under the British. The stability of jobs and salaries and the better working conditions were favoured over nationalistic antagonism towards the administration.

    Then their was the question of indoctrination of the Burmese. In a rather clever move, it had been declared that all men, women and children had to get a Chinthe Lion(a highly stylised Burmese iconographic lion) stitched onto their clothes(kind of like the yellow star the jews had to wear in Nazi Germany). This was done for various reasons.
    One, to prevent any resistance agents to assimilate into the general population, since the administration set up offices to stich these Lions. This was under the clever guise of providing employment to the locals. This ensured the government kept a track of lions stitched and numbered and took photos of people while they had their lions on their person, making it highly difficult for the resistance to infiltrate.

    Secondly, this was done to prevent the Burmese from leaving Burma and entering India. Some of them were allowed to join the army but were posted outside of Burma. Before beginning their army training they were made to go through a three-month long course of brainwashing and indoctrination. This included pledges of absolute loyalty to India and Bose. This included the worship of Bose along with their traditional gods. These young men were also taught that Burma was an integral part of India and at some point must be merged within India. The hope was that they would grow up to be the leaders of Burma and would do Bose's bidding without question. So far a thousand of these troops had been selected into the Indian army and had been posted into areas which were high on patriotism such as New Delhi, Lahore, Bombay and Madras.
    The third policy that Himmler devised was encouraging the young bachelors of MIG-3 to take Burmese wives and raise their children as Indians. This was to be done simultaneously as Burmese soldiers would take Indian wives on their postings and that assimilation would be complete in a single generation.

    MIG-3 was doing a good job of restraining any resistance but there was an underground ring of dogfighting, where the resistance exchanged messages and met. The MIG-3 knew about the dogfighting but had no idea about the rebels there. They were planning something big. Everyone knew Bose and Gandhi were on a visit, so either of them could've been the targets. Security was tight but anything and everything was on the table.

    Meanwhile in Hyderabad
    "Well, who do you suggest we appoint the Nizam, Vallabhai ?"
    "The Nizam wished that he be succeeded by his grandson, Mukarram Jah."
    "No, no, no I've met him the boy is bonkers. He hates the British. He hates you even more. You appoint him king and he'll suddenly be one of the richest men in the world with enough capital to raise an army of Jihadis and finance the resurgence of the Muslim League all across this country. Sure, he is only thirteen and perhaps under our guidance we can affect some change but I do not want to take the risk. Not with how thinly we are stretched in Tibet. Hell, if Mukarram rebels and Churchill wins an election we are all fucked. I asked the royals to cast their lot in with me so I'll be the first one they guillotine."
    "Who else then ?"
    "Let's appoint the son, Azam Jah. He is not interested in ruling. Appreciates the creature comforts of life and isn't as devout a muslim as his son. He is a good friend of mine and I think I can control him."
    "And isn't that going to scare the other royals since the dead Nizam's firman is being ignored ?"
    "Well its either this or a megalomaniac teenager who fancies himself the founder of the next Caliphate ?"
    "I am reluctant Yadvindra, but I trust your instincts. Let's go ahead with Azam Jah."
    "Very well."



    Jammu and Kashmir
    Maharaja Karan Singh had ascended the throne as the new Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir. Unlike his father he had a deep mistrust of Netaji. He had strong suspicions that Bose had a hand in his father's killing and that Bill Morgan was only a pawn. He was entertaining ambitions of declaring the independence of Jammu and Kashmir. He could probably get help from the Russians or Winston Churchill, he figured. Given that Sheikh Abdullah already wanted to gain power in the state the Maharaja summoned him to his palace in Srinagar to discuss terms.
    "Good morning, your highness. How can I be of service ?''
    "Good morning, Sheikh Sahab. You are aware of what has happened to my father. Now I am about to tell you something that will impact the future of both of us and our peoples."
    "Yes sir."
    "I want to declare independence from the Indian government and establish an independent state of Jammu and Kashmir. I will agree to appoint you as my Prime Minister and authorise a parliament as long as I am the supreme authority of the land."
    "I am agreeable to it, Maharaj but you do not have an army. And kingdoms don't run without armies."
    "We will raise one. You'll help me. We pool in our resources and we-
    "Where would the money come from, sir ?"
    "I'll use my sovereign fund. Don't worry about the money. I won't live down my father's death so easily."
    "Very well, what can I do ?"
    "Summon your supporters in as large numbers as you can. Invite Jinnah to Srinagar. If we can instigate the Punjab muslims at the same time it'll have greater impact."
    "How does Punjab come into the fray ?"
    "Distractions, Abdullah, distractions. You also need to send someone to see the Nizam in Hyderabad. I will send an envoy to Jodhpur. Let's how much support we can muster."
    "Once this arrow is out of the bow, there is no coming back, Maharaj."
    "Release it, Sheikh Sahab. I am ready."


    Lahore
    Lord Mountbatten had arrived in Lahore dressed as sanyasi priest with private Carson pretending to be his disciple. They had managed to stow away on a bullock cart going into Ludhiana. The fact that Carson spoke hindi with thick indian accent helped them. Mountbatten pretended to be mute. In Ludhiana, they bought two tickets under their aliases for train to Lahore.

    Langlands had himself come to Lahore dressed up as Nihang Sikh warrior along with seven of his soldiers, travelling as a Jatha from Peshawar who had come to pray at Nankana Sahib. He was going to extract Mountbatten himself and bring him to Peshawar. In Peshawar, they had access to a plane which they were going to use to transport Mountbatten out to Tehran. The only problem was that the train was late and none of them knew how to fly a plane.

    Bose was sparing no expense on the investigation. He had recalled Shaukat Malik from the midst of his negotiations in Indonesia in the raging civil war. He was tasked with finding Mountbatten and bringing him back alive. Malik set out with his best officers to Lahore and set up a base in secret to oversee the operations. He was also acting in secret and had also decided to dress up as a Nihang Sikh warrior. Given that Malik could speak Indian languages, including Punjabi, he was right at home with his disguise. His own team or Jatha comprised 300 officers spread all over Lahore. He had figured that the only escape route for Mountbatten was towards Iran. Moving south was logistically impossible. Tibet was sealed off. They would have to pass through Lahore. Ideally, Shaukat would have sounded a red alert all across North-West India and declared army rule for three months. That would have pushed out the worm. But he had strict instructions from Netaji himself that the investigation had to be carried out in secret right from the beginning to its conclusion. Thus the secret set up.

    While, Mountbatten's train had been delayed due to scheduling errors, Langlands and Malik both roamed the city in similar disguises.

    "Sat Sri Akal, Singh sahab, how are you ?"
    "I am good, sardar ji. How do you do ?"
    "Splendid. What brings you to Lahore ?"
    "My boys and I here to pray to Guru Nanak."
    "That's a truly noble work that you are doing. Might I enquire what you are praying for ?"
    "Only the glory of our huge village, the well-being of our leaders and people and the guru's punishment for those who have wronged us."
    "Well, I hope you find out what you are looking for. But I'd say that you should make peace with those who have wronged you. The lord punishes them on his own accord."
    "I appreciate your perspective, sir. Do you live in Lahore ?"
    "No sir, my boys and I came from Dilli and we are on our way to Peshawar. We are also praying to Guru Nanak."
    "What for ?"
    "A dear one decided to leave us and go to his homeland and we are looking for him. To convince him to come back to us so we can return him to his home safely, for he is in grave danger. And for the good health of Netaji and our country."
    "Of course, brother. Netaji should live long to see the fruits that have been born from his work."
    "Embrace me brother. I pray that we both succeed in our missions."
    "Yes brother. If god wills it we shall meet again."

    Mountbatten and Carson arrived in Lahore in the middle of the night and had been clocked by one of Langland's men. Malik's men were unaware about the disguise but decided that anyone with a fair skin was fair game. Mountbatten was whiter than snow and dressed in bright orange. One of the Indian officers also flagged him.

    Mountbatten was now being tracked by both Langlands and Malik. Both men had unknowingly met each other and were now in an ancient city with one of the world's most famous men on the loose.

    220px-Sheikh_Abdullah_addressing_people.jpg

    Sheikh Abdullah addressing his followers at Lal Chowk Srinagar

    He Led Hitler's Secret Police in Austria. Then He Spied for the West. - The  New York Times

    Nazi officers under Heinrich Himmler's command outside the Prime Minister's mansion in Rangoon before a banquet hosted by Prime Minister Ba Maw in the honour of their commander.

    Pin on Singhs

    Shaukat Malik dressed up as a Nihang in Lahore. This was one of the only photographs ever taken of the spymaster.
     
    All rulers are either butchers or meat
  • Delhi
    Muhammad Ahmad Said Khan Chhatari had been appointed as the provisional administrator of the Hyderabad State. He had been serving as the Prime Minister of Hyderabad under the last Nizam. Maharaja Yadavindra Singh and Sardar Patel had both left for Delhi to see to the affairs in Jaipur and Jammu & Kashmir. Since Netaji had been busy planning his first state visit to the Soviet Union, he had left domestic affairs to his ministers. While Yadavindra and Patel racked their brains regarding the succession crisis, they had decided not to deploy an Indian Army troops in Hyderabad thinking that the state police would be capable enough to enforce the administration's rule.

    A terrible mistake.

    Netaji was set to leave for the USSR in a few days and the whole government machinery was busy preparing his trip. He was taking Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, the minister of industries with him to get him to learn about the rapid Soviet industrialisation and implement the same in India. This, despite Rajagopalachari's well-known disdain for the socialist economic model. He reminded at odds with Netaji because of his commitment to letting the free market take its course in the Indian economy. "A free country, a free economy." These were his favourite words. Along with him, Liaquat Ali Khan, the Minister of Agriculture had also been taken to study the Soviet agricultural miracle.

    Hyderabad
    Azam Jah had just returned from Paris after hearing of his father's murder. He had hated him. He had always been emasculated by him. Azam Jah fancied himself a British-educated aristocrat, unlike his disappointment of a son who had become radical muslim. The fool kept talking of the caliphate. At his age Azam Jah wanted to enjoy the finer things in life. The best alcohol, the fastest cars and the most rapacious of women. He still did. Damn the Nizami he thought. This is forced upon me he thought. He was going to have his fun. His father was gone. Maybe he could still teach his son a thing or two.

    Azam Jah had summoned all the 'working women' to his royal palace and was hosting an orgy. The throne room was filled with naked men and women, including the Prime Minister and the the Nizam-to-be. Servants served alcohol and a Rolls-Royce stood overturned in the middle. It was a wild party. He had also summoned his son, commanding him to come and partake with his father. Mukarram was angered at such a summoning. He loved his father but what he was doing was completely against his Islamic principles. Mukarram had read about the great Mughal emperor Shahenshah Aurangzeb, who presided over a great empire and never engaged in such atrocious lewdness. No, this will not fly. The infidels, the Maharaja of Patiala and Patel would not tell him what to do. His grandfather had named him his heir and he intended to take his throne and stake his claim. Mukarram went into the Jama Masjid to do his daily prayer.
    He gathered 2000 men with the support of Bahadur Yar Jung, the Chief of the Razakars and the Grand Mufti of Hyderabad and began to march towards the palace whilst they chanted Islamic slogans, much to the chagrin of the Hindu residents.

    Mukarram barged into the throne room, the ancestral sword in hand, gifted by a Mughal emperor to his forefather.

    "Who the fuck is it ?"
    "It is me, father. Mukarram."
    "Ah, my son. I am Glad to have you here. Here have some wine and take one of these lovely ladies. European, American, Brazilian. Indian if you fancy. All creeds, my boy. Loosen up and have some fun."
    "No."

    Mukarram seethed with anger as he saw his father procreate with a white woman with a bottle of wine in his hand. At the same time the throne room was being swarmed in by the Razakars, who had started to slaughter all the inhabitants in the room.

    "WHO THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOU AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING ?! STOP IT! I AM YOUR KING! GUARDS!"
    The guards' heads were thrown in front of the King.

    "YOU ARE NO KING. YOU ARE A DISGRACE. YOU SIN LIKE THE WHITE MAN AND YOU LICK THE BOOTS OF THE
    INFIDELS. YOU HAVE DISGRACED THE NIZAMI FOR FAR TOO LONG. I WILL NOT ALLOW IT ANY LONGER!"

    "You will not allow it ? Who do you think you are, boy ? I will have you whipped."

    "I have consulted my advisors. Your sins are far greater than the one that I am about to commit."

    Mukarram walked towards his father, slaying the two man who came to stop him. He seized him by his hair and punched him in the face.

    "Mukarram please I am your father don't do this."
    "MEN!"

    Mukarram signalled two of his men to bend his father over the open door of the car in the room. Azam Jah began to weep like a child.

    "Mukarram, please Mukarram stop. Please don't do this. You can be Nizam, let me go please, please forgive me.

    "God has willed this father. You shall atone for your sins, father. ALLAH HU AKBAR!

    "ALLAH HU AKBAR! ALLAH HU AKBAR! ALLAH HU AKBAR!"

    Mukarram Jah swung the sword and lopped off his own father's head with a single stroke. The throne room ran loud with chants of Allah Hu Akbar.

    The Grand Mufti of Hyderabad coronated Mukarram Jah as the 8th Nizam of Hyderabad, Nizam-ul-Mulk Khan Bahadur Mukarram Jah I. He had ordered a Great army of Jihad to be raised to fight the Indian Army. The state police forces thought of resisting Mukarram but on his coronation they expressed their fealty to him. They were in no position to resist the massive Razakar armies.

    He mounted his father's head on the walls of the palace as a warning for his detractors and a site to behold for his supporters.
    Astute for a teenager, Mukarram disallowed the wholesale killings of Hindus within the state. He summoned all the traders and businessmen and asked for their support in exchange for their lives. He wanted to secure more funds than he had. The Hindu business community agreed for the time being.

    He meant to cut off Bose's head and restore the Mughal Empire and shift his court to the Red Fort. The new Nizam also sent a letter to Muhammad Ali Jinnah summoning him to Hyderabad. The purpose was to resurrect the Muslim League and encourage revolt all over India.

    The Nizam, being the world's richest man could also afford to hire the best mercenaries for his armies. He sent telegrams to famous mercenaries like Jan Zumbach, Frank Glasgow Tinker and Ivor-Thord Gray to come and help him build up his army and airforce in exchange for huge sums of gold.

    Maharaja Hari Singh's envoy was also making his was to Hyderabad unaware of the events that had just transpired. In Jammu and Kashmir large untrained and unruly militias massed in Srinagar asking for a return to the Islamic caliphate.

    Maharaja Yadavindra Singh and Sardar Vallabhai Patel were still blissfully unaware of the coup d'état and debated on whether they should go to Jammu to appoint the Maharaja or do it from the comfort of Delhi.

    Moscow

    Netaji had arrived in Moscow and had been given a grand welcome. The Soviet Army band played in his honour and he was received the by Vyacheslav Molotov and Lavrentiy Beria. From there, Bose was ushered to a 30-car motorcade with his car being an open top from where he waved towards the adoring crowds of Russian citizens. Apparently Bose had become quite popular in Russia given his successful revolt against Imperial rule, something the Soviet citizens and veterans could relate to. The motorcade took him from the airport to the Kremlin to meet the supreme leader of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin.

    "Ah, you're finally here, Comrade Bose. It is a pleasure to meet you, Comrade Bose. I Congratulate you for overthrowing those imperialists."

    "Thank you, Comrade Stalin. The pleasure is all mine and congratulations to you as well,"

    "What for ?"

    "Why overthrowing the Czar, of course. And defeating Germany."

    "Ha! I like you already comrade. Here have a seat."

    "So how are you ? How's independence treating you ?"

    "Most affectionately I might say. A few headaches here and there, something I am sure you would relate to."

    "Oh, don't worry about that Prime Minister. Headaches have a way of resolving themselves. Here I want to show you something. Did you hear this speech that tub of lard Churchill gave in Missouri ? The iron curtain he calls my border."

    "I had the displeasure of hearing it. He calls us uncivilised savages waving spears. Churchill is a very hateful man I've come to find out."

    "He is going to be a great obstacle in our path, Mr. Bose. These westerners, they play the election game whenever it strikes their fancy and we pay the price for their policy changes."

    "I agree. I detest Victorian democracy but my aversions won't stop the next election. He just might win the next time."

    "Well, we should be prepared for any and every outcome. How are your negotiations going with the British ?"

    "They are going well. We should have an agreement in the next few months. Churchill is still the one trying to fuck us. He still wants to keep colonies in Asia."

    "Well, he won't be attacking you as long my ships are in Karachi. You have fulfilled the quest of every Russian Emperor since the last three centuries, comrade, by giving us Karachi. You have my full support."

    "I am forever grateful to you for that Comrade Stalin. All of my people are. The presence of your ships was instrumental to stop that madman's raids. We have another order of business, comrade."

    "What's that ?"


    Bose sighed. "It's Churchill again. He's blocking our entry into the United Nations. Atlee has agreed to vote in our favour but Churchill is not going to let him. I was hoping that you'd be able to persuade him."

    "The old bugger is pissed off at me as well. They've been wanting me to do something that I am not going to. I need some your help for that."

    "Anything you ask."

    "I've quite some troops from the war still posted in Iran. The Americans and the British left a month ago. We have the opportunity to bring a friendly regime to power in Iran. It could help build a lucrative trade network through land."

    "How can I help ?"

    "Increase troop presence on the Iranian border with India. While the Shah focuses there, we'll orchestrate a revolution in the north, allowing them to secede and give us access. Once we open up Iran we can do the same in Afghanistan."

    "My resources are at your disposal. The generals can discuss the details of the operation."

    "Splendid. Before we go the orchestra there's one more thing, Prime Minister."

    "Name it, sir."

    "Tibet."

    "HAHAHA! I spoke too soon. What is the matter with Tibet ?"

    "Chairman Mao will want it back when he wins the war."

    "Is he going to win the war ?"

    "Damn right he is. It is only a matter of time."

    "So, Tibet. He will want it."

    "Aye. He will. Are you going to give it to him ?"

    "What would you do if you were in my position ?"

    "I am not in your position, Prime Minister Bose."

    "Well, when the time comes, if it does come, I think Chairman Mao and I could come to an agreement about Tibet. Maybe I can sell it to him."

    "That wouldn't be very communist of you."

    "Wouldn't be very communist of him to buy it."

    "BWAHAHAHA Alright then let's go see the orchestra."

    "Tell me something else, Subhash."

    "What is it, comrade ?"

    "Do you still have the kings in India ?" What do you call them ?"

    "The Maharajas. Yes, there are quite a lot of them."

    "You should have them all killed. They'll give you trouble."

    "I am not a butcher, sir. I cannot kill them all."

    "All rulers are either butchers or meat, Subhash. You'd do well to get rid of them. We wouldn't be here if we'd kept the Czar around."


    The Soviet Union deputed a thousand Soviet advisors in all facets of industry including coal, defence, railways, airways, roadways, steel, dams and another thousand to develop agriculture in India. All of them were to leave with Netaji at the conclusion of his 7-day tour. While Netaji remained in Moscow and met with Soviet generals and inspected Soviet armaments, Rajagopalachari and Liaquat Ali Khan toured pre-selected sites to copy the same in India. They were both due to return to Moscow on the last day.

    Lahore
    Shaukat Malik sat on a bench at the Lahore railway station waiting for the train to come. He had decided to go and check Peshawar with 30 of his men. He sent a 100 of them to Jammu and the rest were ordered to remain in Lahore. Malik's search hadn't yielded him much result. Lahore had been scoured but Mountbatten had not been found. He saw him nowhere. So he had decided to go to Peshawar. Mountbatten had to be in a city. An aristocrat like him could simply never survive in the countryside alone. But he was not alone there was he. No that was simply not possible. One of the men shot those kings. Another one blew up the protestors. Mountbatten definitely would be travelling with a companion. Or companions. They certainly would be in disguise. That's why he had chosen the Nihang for himself. He knew about every Nihang group heading west and everyone coming east. That sikh that he had met, he was suspicious of him. He was on none of the jathas and while he claimed to be, his group was nowhere to be seen. He spoke Punjabi with a thick accent but Malik could see through it. He had learnt of this kind of thing during his training. The man continued to trouble his mind until it hit him.

    That Nihang was Mountbatten.

    He had covered his legs and arms despite it being a hot day. Then his beard was thick as hell, covering his lips and ears and the turban was a big one. Everything was an attempt to hide his skin. His white skin. It all came back to him. Those eyes. Those blue eyes. They could only belong to a British aristocrat not a low-born Indian. Malik's thoughts were interrupted as the same man embarked on the train. Malik immediately got up and signalled his men to get on the train. He decided to stop the train in the countryside and capture Mountbatten. From there they would divert the train back to Lahore and get Mountbatten back to Delhi.

    Just as Malik was about to get on he saw an old priest with a long white beard getting on.

    "You need to get your luggage on the train, old man ?"
    The priest nodded.
    "Can't speak can you ?"
    He shakes his head. Malik picked up his bag and put on the train.
    "There you go."
    The priest tried to give him a coin.
    "Oh no keep it. Happy to help. Are you travelling alone ?"
    "He's with me, Sardarji. I am his nephew."
    "You should stay close to him, lad. He's an old man."
    "Of course. Luckily you were there to help this time."
    "Have a pleasant journey."
    "You too."



    IMG_8217-2.jpg


    Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose with Joseph Stalin in Moscow


    Screenshot 2022-09-15 at 6.38.11 AM-2.jpg


    The Nizam's head mounted outside the ancestral palace in Hyderabad. His beard, moustache and hair were cut to humiliate him further.
     
    Last edited:
    The Indian Civil War
  • New Delhi
    The Indian government had been hit with a series of crises, one after the other. Netaji was still in Moscow and his absence from India had encouraged the detractors to move forward with their plans. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Maharaja Yadvinder Singh were running things while Netaji was gone but the ferocity and quickness with which the bad news was coming had thrown their entire administration into a policy paralysis. When Netaji arrived back in India what he learned could only be described as 'rebellion on all fronts'.

    Hyderabad and Kashmir had seceded from the Indian Union. Both of them had jointly declared war on the Union but Hyderabad had gone a step ahead. The teenage monarch had declared himself the new Mughal Emperor and announced the resurrection of the Mughal Empire. The Nizam had about 20,000 of British-trained non-mechanised state forces. This was bolstered by over 2,00,000 Razakars, the Holy Army of Jihad. These forces were armed with medieval weaponry and were completely ill-trained. The Nizam was acutely aware of this and was trying hard to acquire weapons for them. He succeeded to some extent but it was very difficult to train that unruly bunch.

    Kashmir, on the other hand had a professional fighting force of about 10,000. Similar to Hyderabad, there was an unruly militia of about 1,00,000. However Kashmir was facing problems even before it could get its rebellion underway. The Muslim majority of the kingdom loathed their Hindu king. The Maharaja had as a compromise appointed Sheikh Abdullah as the Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and had made him the commander of the military forces. Maharaja Karan Singh had been made into a puppet ruler.

    Another thing that shocked Netaji was Muhammad Ali Jinnah's resignation from the cabinet. Jinnah had fled to Hyderabad and made a radio address asking all Muslim League supporters to rise up and take 'Direct Action' against "everyone who opposes Pakistan" which was a euphemism to incite communal hatred towards non-muslims. The teenage Nizam had appointed Jinnah as his Prime Minister. Jinnah now styled himself as the Grand Vizier of the Mughal Empire.
    The Muslim League members who had begrudgingly joined the congress were now rioting all across India. Since no orders had been received from the top, the police was not taking any action against what was perceived to be rioting congressmen.

    Netaji, even though he was angered by what was happening, loved a good crisis. Habib was surprised to see the spring in his step. He had grown rather bored and was looking forward to the upcoming fight.

    War suited him.

    General Prem Kumar Sehgal was given the command of the southern theatre and was tasked with attacking Hyderabad before the state forces could move out. He was given 50,000 mechanised infantry for this along with air support.
    General Shahnawaz Khan was given the northern command and 30,000 troops.

    Lastly, Netaji announced a state of emergency declaring martial law all over the country and issued orders to arrest all rioters. Officially, lethal force was not authorised and the police were ordered to stick to water cannons and Lathi charges but tacitly the officers were actually encouraged to shoot at rioters and kill them.
    Jinnah had betrayed Netaji's trust and undermined his government.
    This time, Netaji decided that, the Muslim League and its members needed to be fully exterminated.

    Heinrich Himmler and his cronies were recalled from Burma.

    Lahore
    Shaukat Malik sat across from Langlands while pretending to read a book. Langlands slept in his blissful ignorance. He had no idea who Shaukat was and still considered him a completely random Sikh. Shaukat mistakenly took Langland for Mountbatten and decided to call in the army once he reached Peshawar and from there escort Mountbatten to Delhi. He had no idea about the fall of Peshawar.

    Peshawar was being occupied by about 80 British renegades but had already gotten out, it had just not reached the Indian government.

    Langlands was hoping to get Mountbatten safely to Peshawar and somehow fly him to safety to the departing British garrison in Tehran. None of his men knew how to fly an airplane and he hoped that Mountbatten did.

    While both Langlands and Malik sat idle, the Indian spies were patrolling the train and came across Langlands' men multiple times, both groups being unaware of each other's identities. One of Langland's men got up to go to the washroom and when the train suddenly shook, he bumped into one of Shaukat's men. He proceeded after saying his apologies but what he did not realise is that he dropped his knife. The knife was completely unlike that carried by Sikh men. Instead, it was a British army standard issue knife. The spy was bewildered about a Nihang carrying such a sophisticated piece of weaponry. Perhaps he stole it off a British soldier. Regardless he thought to inform Shaukat.

    Suddenly, two men grabbed him and gagged him. One slashed his neck and the other threw him out of the moving train and simply walked away. The two men proceeded to grab the swords out of their trunks and hand them to their own comrades to slay all the Indian spies they had made. There were about 20 of them, including Shaukat. The train was going through an isolated tunnel and Langland's men took the Indians to task. Seven of them were thrown head first out of the train. Five of them had their necks slashed. They stabbed another six while the remaining two got into a brawl and managed to alert Shaukat before being shot. Shaukat took out his pistol and put it at Langlands' head. Langlands' men converged on the both of them and as Shaukat looked at them coming Langlands kicked the pistol out of his hand and tried to get away. Shaukat caught hold of his arm and smashed the middle part against the fixed metal rod next to the seat, breaking his arm in two. He then began to twist Langlands' hand and aimed his sword at his men. As he broke his hand, one of Langlands' men shot Shaukat in the leg. The hulking brute fell and the Britishers cuffed him.

    Suddenly, Shaukat's remaining men surrounded them with their submachine guns. They pulled the train's chain and stopped it just outside the tunnel. They thought they had the Brits licked. As they moved in to restrain them suddenly they heard jeeps pulling around the train and armed men swarming inside. They were wearing Indian Army uniforms and just when the Indians felt relieved due to their reinforcements, they were shot at and all of Shaukat's remaining men fell. Then they sprayed the passengers full of bullets, killing all of them.

    Shaukat was tied up and Langlands' men threw him into one of the jeeps. Mountbatten took off his disguise and sat in the same jeep. They were still about 20 kilometres out of Peshawar and the jeeps slowly moved towards the city.

    Geoffrey Langlands had succeeded in his mission. He had secured Lord Mountbatten and was now transporting him to Peshawar along with his men. Plus, he had captured an Indian spy, who seemed to be their leader but he was unsure.

    "How's that bullet wound, boy ?"
    "Fine and dandy, soldier. How's that arm ?"
    "You are strong I'll give you that. But strength does not compensate for brains. Your men should not have pulled that chain."
    "What should they have done then ?"
    "Kept it going, of course. You could have redirected back to Lahore and captured us all."
    "I'll do that in, Peshawar."
    "He is right about that, Lieutenant."
    "What he and you don't know, My Lord, is that Peshawar lies in British hands. He cannot do shit to us there."
    "They still control the Afghan border don't they ? How will we get out of India ?"
    "We have a plane in Peshawar, sir. We'll use that."
    "Do you have pilot with you ?"
    "No sir. I was hoping you'd know how to fly it."
    "Well, I am sorry to say Lieutenant that we are shit out of luck on that one. I am afraid I cannot fly."
    "HAHAHAHA--

    Langland's landed a blow to Malik's face
    "Shut up, boy. What the hell do you mean, sir ? None of my boys and I know how to fly. We don't have another way of getting you out."
    Shaukat sensed an opportunity.
    "Listen to me, Saheb.
    "I told you to shut up.''

    Another blow to his face.
    "Come on let him speak. The ride is boring enough as it is."
    "Right. I can help you if you let me live. I know how to fly a plane."
    "Indians flying planes. How amusing. Do you take us for a bunch of fools ?"
    "I am your only option. And I don't see an alternative in the middle of this fucking desert."
    "He is right, Geoffrey. He is our best bet."
    "I am not sure about this, sir but very well he can fly us."
    "I am going to need some help. I need a cloth to wrap my bullet wound and you need to uncuff me."
    "Oh, forget about it."
    "Fine, go ahead and wrap a cloth around it yourself."


    As Langlands began to bandage the wound, Shaukat decided to make his move. He had the strength of a gorilla and had not been much affected by his wound. He managed to break the handcuffs and pulled Langlands' pistol from him and put it at Mountbatten's head. Their car was the last out of the three and other cars could not see what was going on.

    "Be quiet. You shout and I blow off your lord's head."
    "Alright alright I'll shut up don't shoot."
    "Now, move into the driver's seat, Lieutenant. You get back here, driver."

    As they switched seats, Malik slit the driver's neck and changed into his uniform. He threw the body out of the car.
    "Alright, Langlands' keep driving behind them like its business as usual. Now where's this plane ?"
    "We did not have an airstrip so we parked it outside the old fort. It has a clearing which we felt would be long enough for the take off."
    "Keep driving. Get us straight to the plane. No detours. You nod when I command you. Any other reaction and I kill Lord Mountbatten."


    Langlands nodded.

    Operation polo - The Hindu

    The Nizam's army parading in Hyderabad

    History of Pashtuns: Pashtun tribesmen of Kashmir War of 1948

    Jihadist fighters of Kashmir, under the employ of Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir
     
    Trouble Down South
  • Hyderabad
    General Prem Kumar Sehgal had been given the go-ahead by Netaji to subdue Hyderabad as soon as possible without any worry about collateral damage. Sehgal had decided to take this command literally. He had about 20 Hawker Hart bombers at his disposal. These aircraft were from the erstwhile Royal Indian Airforce and were somewhat obsolete but Sehgal knew that Hyderabad did not have any anti-air artillery. Thus, as he approached Hyderabad from the west, he ordered a bombing campaign to commence all over Hyderabad. This terrified the Razakars who had no answer for it.

    Sehgal's army opened ground hostilities in Osmanabad, one of the largest cities in Hyderabad. There the Razakars were holed up in historical Mughal fort of Naldurg. The Razakars were ill-armed and about 10,000 soldiers were manning the fort with swords and pikes and a few hundred odd guns. The guns too were the rusted 12-bore shotguns with ammo being scarce. The Razakars had also occupied the Secunderabad Solapur highway with a 1000 of their ranks and were confident of resisting any Indian attempt to cross. In fact they were waiting for the orders to move out of Hyderabad to attack Indian forces.

    They were in for a rude shock.

    Sehgal had brought excessive firepower with him. The Razakars had never in their lives seen the contraption rolling towards them. A column of 30 T-34 tanks were moving with 15,000 infantry troops. Some of the Razakars shot at the tanks but to no avail. The more foolish ones decided to charge the tanks with their pikes but were shot down. Within a few minutes, hundreds of them had been plowed down by tanks.

    The troops continued to move across the highway whereas five tanks were diverted towards the fort. The T-34s stood with their cannons aimed towards the fort while the Brigadier, Ram Singh asked the Razakars to surrender. When their commander hurled abuses at him and refused, Ram Singh signalled the tanks to fire. Five simultaneous shots brought down the walls of the medieval structure and the Razakar commander with them. Ram Singh had been instructed not to take prisoners so as to not slow down their movement.

    The Indian troops formed a file and began to rain down indiscriminate fire on the Razakars. All 10,000 were killed against as against 10 Indian troops sustaining injuries. One of the injuries was because of a stray Razakar arrow. The extent to which the Razakars were lacking modern weaponry surprised the Indian soldiers. The Hyderabad State Forces were a well-oiled professional fighting force but the Razakars were nothing more than an overcharged militia. They were simply no match for the Indian army.

    The Indian troops next captured the town of Latur from the Razakars, once again without casualties. Another 10,000 Razakars here will killed. The Indian steamroller continued to roll towards Hyderabad.

    Sehgal decided to push onto Aurangabad to fully take Western Hyderabad. Six columns assaulted the city from the south and west. The resistance between Latur and Aurangabad was cleared by the intense bombing campaign. With the news of the fate of the Razakars at Osmanabad reaching Aurangabad, the Razakars began to massacre the civilian Hindu population of the city. The Hindus in turn began to riot against the Razakars when they heard that the Indian Army was coming for the city.

    The rioting was intense. Both sides had anticipated a fight and were well-prepared. As well-prepared civilians could be. Boxes full of kerosene had been stockpiled. Rods, pikes, swords and whatnot. The police too had deserted their posts and joined the groups of their respective religions. The Indians moved at a fast pace and the riots lasted for three hours before the army arrived in the evening.

    About 500 people were killed before Sehgal arrived on the city's outskirts. The city was in full chaos to take notice of the entry of the Indian troops. The entry was too narrow for the tanks or for the armoured cars to enter. While the rioters continued to fight amongst themselves the Indian troops began to fire indiscriminately at everyone who stood before them- man, woman and child. By the time they reached the city centre, over 5000 people had been shot down. The Razakars were fleeing as were the Hindus. The army decided to arrest all of them and prisons began to overflow. The army cordoned off a block and stuffed the remaining prisoners into the houses(which also overflowed).

    At the end of 20th September, 1946 the first day of what was termed Operation Cricket over 25,000 people had been killed and half of Hyderabad had fallen. Indian casualties were none. However the Indian army had not yet come into contact with the Hyderabadi state forces.

    In the west, the local populations had rebelled against the Nizami administration. Both Warangal and Adilabad had rebelled and invited Indian troops for occupation. By 21st September both these cities were occupied by the forces of Major-General Jayanto Nath Chaudhary. The resistance had been minimal here. Muslims made for a small share of the population in both these cities and could not oppose the Hindu population who had decided to kill the Nizami rulers and awaited the Indian army. Chaudhary was welcomed as a liberator and when these two fell, western Hyderabad too had fallen, all within the space of two days. The Nizam had been fed false lies about the martial prowess of the Razakars. These myths were shattered within 48 hours as the army ran roughshod over them all over Hyderabad.

    The Palace
    The Nizam was understandably perplexed. Half of his so-called 'Mughal Empire's second coming' had been destroyed within two days and now they were coming for him. The Razakars had made him believe hogwash about their mystic powers and that they would be protected from Indian bullets by Allah's grace. Instead, thousands had been killed and many more arrested. Mukarram Jah now decided to summon General El-Edroos, the commander of the Hyderabad State Forces and asked him for council.

    "What am I to do, General ?! The Indians are destroying us. They've already captured half of our domains."
    "I am well aware, Your Highness. My original council to you was to not fight them. We cannot match them."
    "Do you want me to surrender, General ? I don't think Sehgal would spare me."

    El-Edroos had judged that the Nizam's Jihad enthusiasm had worn off and the boy was scared out of his wits. He decided to take control of the situation.
    "I beg to differ, Your Highness. You are still 14. A child. Let me go and surrender to Sehgal on your behalf. I can convince him that the Razakars had control over the administration and did what they did without your consent. We can absolve you of all blame but I believe that you will have to surrender your kingship. If you don't Sehgal will do to you what you did to your father."
    The little Nizam was on the verge of crying but was doing his best to hold back tears. He could not speak and proceeded to just nod.
    The General nodded back and left the durbar.

    The General had 20,000 well-armed men at his command and had two armoured brigades. He had them all posted in Hyderabad to defend the city. He knew he could give the Indians a hard time for day or two but it was simply impossible to win. He had served the Nizam's grandfather loyally and he detested the Razakars. El-Edroos knew the air raids would start tomorrow or the Indians would be outside the city. So he decided to move quick. He ordered a few hundred of his best men to go and arrest Bahadur War Jung, the head of the Razakars.

    "What is the meaning of this, General ?! I will tell the Nizam!"
    "Have you no self-respect, you dirty fool ? Threatening to tell on me to a bloody child."
    "Boys, tie him up and gag him. Throw him in my jeep."
    "Where are you going, sir ?"
    "I am going to save your live, soldier. I want three cars with 5 men in each vehicle. I want a big white flag on each car."


    The General and his men proceeded to the palace. There the Razakars tried to stop them but all of them were shot down by the state forces. They occupied the palace in the dead of the night. The General entered the Nizam's sleeping quarters and woke him up.

    "Wake up, Your Highness."
    "General ? What is the meaning of this wh--

    THWACK!
    The Nizam fell unconscious with the punch to his face. The General picked him up and carried him to the jeep, shooting at the two of his Razakar guards who tried stopping him.
    The General, the Nizam and the head of the Razakars now left for Warangal, the city nearest that was occupied by the Indians.

    Warangal was being held by Major General Jayanto Nath Chaudhary. The Indian troops posted outside the city flagged the General's convoy and were perplexed to see the military vehicles with white flags. The General got out of his vehicle and went to the commanding officer. His gait and refusal to raise his hands up made the soldiers nervous. He talked to the commanding officer and asked to be taken to General Chaudhary. After Chaudhary was informed of this, he contacted Sehgal for further instructions. Sehgal asked him to let El Edroos in and if he surrenders to provide him with appropriate facilities and if he is not then to shoot him. This was very unusual since even British officers and generals were spared during the war of independence. This could be credited to Sehagl having tasted blood. He even asked Netaji to not spare the Nizam himself and have him hanged publicly. However, Chaudhary refused the order to shoot him, much to Sehgal's annoyance.

    "General El-Edroos, what are you doing here ?"
    "Good evening to you too, Major-General Chaudhary. You are unpleasant but the news I bring you should make you happy."
    "What is it ?"
    "The Hyderabadi State Forces are ready to surrender on two conditions."
    "What might they be ?"
    "The soldiers who surrender should be allowed to leave with their lives and dignity intact."
    "The second ?"
    "You must spare the Nizam's life."
    "Where is he ?"
    "Will you spare his life ?"
    "Did he send you ?"
    "Will you spare his life ?"
    "Did the Razakars influence him or did he act of his own accord ?"
    "Will you spare his life, General ?"
    "I am not an animal, General. I am not going to kill a 14-year old boy. I will spare his life."
    "Very well then. We can sign the official surrender tomorrow morning in the presence of the Nizam."
    "Where the hell is he ?"
    "He's outside sleeping in my car. I've brought you another gift."
    "I am scared to ask. What is it ?"
    "Bahadur Yar Jung, the head of the Razakars, tied and gagged."
    "How'd you manage that ?"
    "Consider it a gesture of good faith on the Nizam's part. The Razakars no longer control him. Good night, Major general."


    In the morning of 25th September, The last and 8th Nizam of Hyderabad, Nizam-ul-Mulk Khan Bahadur Mukarram Jah I, along with his Commander-in-Chief General El-Edroos signed the instrument of accession, in the presence of Major-General Jayanto Nath Chaudhary, thus dissolving the Princely State of Hyderabad and annexing it into the Indian Union.

    200px-Op_Polo_Surrender.jpg

    Major General Syed Ahmed El Edroos(right) offers his surrender of the Hyderabad State Forces to Major General Jayanto Nath Chaudhary(left) at Warangal. The young Nizam had been sent off to Delhi for his fate to be decided. He would be under house-arrest for the duration of the war.

    220px-Operation_Polo_1948.jpg

    The movements of the Indian Army during Operation Cricket.

    Indian army tank Black and White Stock Photos & Images - Alamy

    Soldiers of the 3rd Cavalry Regiment pose atop a tank in the Nizam's royal palace at the successful completion of Operation Cricket.

    Public execution Black and White Stock Photos & Images - Alamy

    Razakar leaders publicly hung in Hyderabad

    The rebellion in the south was crushed with utmost and ruthless ferocity within a week.

    Now it was the North's turn.
     
    Victory in the North
  • Jammu and Kashmir
    General Shahnawaz Khan had begun to move his forces from Pathankot to Srinagar on September 18th, 1946. Just like the rogue militias of Hyderabad, the Kashmiri militias also thought themselves superior to the Indian forces and had occupied the main road leading to the state capital. Shahnawaz Khan had 20 tanks with him and 4 mechanised brigades with him allowing him to run over his opponents. It also helped that they were armed only with swords, pikes and homemade guns. By the time the Indian force reached Srinagar, they had slaughtered 2000 men.

    Maharaja Hari Singh had been confined to his room in his palace whereas Sheikh Abdullah had taken over the administration and now held his own Durbar in the palace, much to the king's chagrin. Being completely inexperienced in fighting a war, Abdullah had made a complete mess of preparing for the Indian offensive. He had posted the entirety of the state forces, which amounted to 20,000 men, in Srinagar. Khan was aware of this and decided to surround the city and attack. He also ordered the Air Force to bomb Srinagar and the surrounding countryside. Given that the state forces did possess anti-air artillery or any artillery for that matter, they could not do anything against it. Within a week, the bombing campaign had caused at least 5000 casualties.

    On the morning September 25th, Khan's forces attacked Srinagar. The city, with the exception of the palace, had been reduced to rubble. The state forces gave a tough fight for the first few hours, since Indian soldiers had to take the city house by house. By the time the afternoon approached, the Kashmiri forces had suffered 7000 dead against a 1000 dead for the Indian forces.

    By nightfall the state forces had all fled to the palace as the city had fallen to the Indians. Sheikh Abdullah was incensed at this and despite his officers' advice, he refused to surrender. The following morning, Shahnawaz Khan aimed his tanks towards the palace and used a megaphone to ask them to surrender. Khan, who was standing 20 feet away from a tank, almost died when an artillery shell struck the tank and destroyed it. The state forces had used a 120 year old cannon from when Kashmir was under the Sikh Empire and had managed to make it functioning again. The shot surprised the Indian forces who had thought that the state forces lacked artillery. Khan was a shocked and angered. He ordered all his tanks to fire at the palace, despite Bose's orders to not harm the historical building.

    All the tanks fired twice and within 20 minutes, the palace was half-destroyed. Before the state forces could fire back, around 40 Indian jeeps with the Vickers machine guns began to fire. 20,000 rounds were fired within two minutes. Immediately after, Khan ordered his men inside the palace.

    Other than the King, his family and Sheikh Abdullah, no other prisoners were to be taken. After what could only be described as a merciless slaughter, the soldier set out to find the fugitives. Hari Singh was found hiding in a drum in his wine cellar, and was dragged into the courtyard, as General Shahnawaz Khan sat atop a tank smoking a cigarette and looking at the helpless king. His family was brought out soon after, however the women and children were brought out with dignity. Sheikh Abdullah sat on the throne as the soldiers entered the courtroom. He had a pistol in his hand, and the soldiers aimed their guns at Abdullah as an officer asked him to surrender.
    Dejected, he threw the pistol away and said, "Let's get this over with".

    As both the Sheikh and Maharaja were on their knees, General Khan spoke,
    "Well, isn't this a fine sight ? The puppet and his master. Tell me then, Maharaja Hari Singh, how come the Sheikh was found on your throne ?"
    "He..I...Well I ca-
    "Shut up old man. You know you could've saved yourself a lot of anguish if you had not rebelled. Look at the Maharaja of Patiala. Loyalty to Netaji has its benefits."
    "He does not have a backbone nor does he have any hon-

    Khan fired his pistol into the air,
    "Be careful with your words, Hari Singh. You will talk respectfully when you speak of a friend of the regime. Now let me tell you what is going to happen next. But before I do that, whose idea was it to use that cannon and destroy the tank ?'
    "It was mine, you infidel. You're no muslim. Supporting a Hindu against the caliphate. You will rot in he-

    Another shot was fired by Khan
    "A good idea, Abdullah. A few feet to the left, and your shot could've helped you win that rebellion. Ah well, what could have been. However, a warning for you Sheikh Sahab. You speak to me in that tone again, or to any of my officers and soldiers, I will shoot you in the head. Is that understood ?'
    A third shot was fired
    "Is that understood ?"
    "Yes, General Khan."
    "And you, Hari Singh. Your folly got a lot of good men killed for no reason. Your monarchy is going to be dissolved, all your wealth is going to be confiscated and you and your family shall be prosecuted for treason against the Government of India."


    On September 26th, 1946 the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir and its monarchy were dissolved, and a Treaty of Accession was signed. The Maharaja and Sheikh were both sent to Lahore and imprisoned there, as they awaited their transfer to New Delhi.

    There were still some rebels in the countryside who raised the cry of Jihad and independence but with the fall of Srinagar, the arrest of Sheikh Abdullah and the massacre of the state army had led to most of them surrendering or going back to their villages. They thought that the Indian army would not find them and they would get back to their lives as if no rebellion had occurred. Bose had other plans. A new plan had been formulated by Himmler to decimate the rebellion completely. As done in Burma, the Indian Bureau of Intelligence(IBI) was following the work of MIG-3 with their variations.

    In both Hyderabad and Jammu & Kashmir, IBI was creating secret concentration camps deep inside the countryside to house the prisoners and their families. So far these were makeshift refugee camps with an acute lack of any sort of facilities but the prisoners were being shifted there forcefully. Close to 3,00,000 people had been imprisoned, most of them being the Razakars of Hyderabad and the tribal fighters of Jammu and Kashmir.
    The mountainous areas of Jammu and Kashmir were being transformed into a huge prison to house the Muslim League workers who were rioting across India.

    In big cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Lahore, the rioting was intense and the suppression was intenser. The police had been authorised to use water cannons, baton charges and even use guns on rioters. 50,000 people had died in the rioting and from police brutality. Yet the riots were nowhere near in control. It was simply beyond the police's ability to handle it.

    Therefore, it was the Indian army who was going to handle the situation. Netaji had now decided to institute martial law across all Indian territories.

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