ABSTRACT
During the Second World War the Axis powers formed alliances with certain armies of national liberation. In the Asian theatre, Japan formed an alliance with the Indian National Army (INA). Given the fundamentally political nature of its aim, it is understandable that the overwhelming proportion of the scholarly writing about the INA has been concerned with its political and strategic significance. The name 'Indian National Army' was proposed by Mohan Singh. This, in turn, led to increasing disagreements between Mohan Singh and Rash Behari Bose, the IIL's President, as to the proper role of the INA. Bose also completely reorganised and expanded the INA. But Bose persisted in his demand that the INA be allotted an operational role in the forefront of the Japanese offensive. This unit was established in September 1943. Although this unit was officially designated first Guerilla Regiment, it came to be known as 'the Bose Brigade'.
