Indian Independence League

Indian Independence League, the political and propaganda wing of the Indian National Army which, with Major Fujiwara Iwaichi's F. Kikan organization (see Japan, 6), it helped found. A branch of the League was in existence in Tokyo in 1937 and one was formed by a Sikh missionary, Giani Pritam Singh, in Bangkok before the start of the Malayan campaign in December 1941. Pritam Singh, who had previously organized the anti-British Independent League of India in Bangkok, worked with Fujiwara to undermine the morale of Indian troops during the Malayan campaign and the fall of Singapore, and to recruit them into the League. After June 1942 the League was the only political organization allowed by the Japanese in Malaya, where it helped alleviate the problems of the Indian community. Other branches quickly sprang up throughout South-East Asia and Subhas Chandra Bose became its president in July 1943. When Bose founded the Provisional government of Free India in October 1943 it remained in being.