Note4Students: 

Subject: GS I (Modern India)

Mains:  Significance of Red Fort Trial 

Mentor comments: The Red Fort trials, held in 1945-46, were a significant event in India’s struggle for independence. The British colonial government prosecuted key members of the Indian National Army (INA), including Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Sahgal, and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, charging them with waging war against the King. Despite the government’s expectation of public disdain, the trials ignited widespread support for the INA, leading to national demonstrations. The defendants were ultimately found guilty but received lenient sentences, which further fueled the independence movement and contributed to the eventual end of British rule in India.

Why in the news? 

Decades after the Red Fort trial, it is hoped that India’s leaders will once again find the wisdom to commit themselves to what unites us as a people.

About the Red Fort Trial: 

• The Red Fort Trial, also known as the Indian National Army (INA) trials, was a series of court-martials held by the British colonial government in India between November 1945 and May 1946. The trials were held at the Red Fort in Delhi, and they are among the most significant events in the final years leading up to India’s independence.

Background:

• Indian National Army (INA): The INA was formed by Indian nationalists during World War II under the leadership of Subhas Chandra Bose. It was composed primarily of Indian prisoners of war who had been captured by the Japanese in Southeast Asia and was aligned with the Axis powers to fight against British rule in India.
• The objective of the INA: The INA aimed to overthrow British rule in India through military means, and it played a key role in the campaigns in Burma and the Indian Northeast during the war.
• British Reaction: After World War II ended, the British captured several INA soldiers and officers. The British decided to make an example of the INA by trying its officers for treason, murder, and other charges.

Protests that spread across India

• Widespread National Support: Protests erupted in multiple cities, including Delhi, Calcutta, Madras, Lahore, Bombay, Patna, and Lucknow, with people from all religious and social backgrounds uniting to demand justice for the INA officers.
• Role of Congress and Muslim League: Both the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League supported the INA officers, with leaders from both parties actively participating in and encouraging the protests, showcasing rare political unity against British colonial rule.
• Slogans and Symbols of Unity: Protesters chanted slogans like “Laal Quila se aayi aawaaz, Sahgal, Dhillon, Shahnawaaz!” and “Hindu-Muslim Unity Zindabad!”, while the flags of both Congress and the Muslim League were prominently displayed, emphasizing the nationalistic fervour and unity.
• Violent Clashes and Sacrifices: The protests were met with brutal police repression in several cities, particularly in Madras and Calcutta, where police firing led to significant casualties—five in Madras and 97 in Calcutta—highlighting the intense opposition to British rule and the high cost of the struggle for independence.

Why is it so significant? 

• National Unity Across Religious Lines: The trial involved three officers of the Indian National Army (INA)—a Hindu (Prem Kumar Sahgal), a Muslim (Shah Nawaz Khan), and a Sikh (Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon). This symbolized the inclusive and secular nature of India’s struggle for independence.
• Mobilization of Public Sentiment: The INA officers were seen as heroes who had fought for India’s freedom, despite the controversial alliance with the Axis powers. Their prosecution by the British was widely perceived as unjust, leading to mass protests, strikes, and demonstrations.
• Challenge to British Moral Authority: The trial highlighted the declining legitimacy of British rule in India. The British attempted to portray the INA officers as traitors, but the Indian public saw them as patriots fighting for their country’s freedom.
• Catalyst for Independence Movement: The trial also demonstrated the effectiveness of public mobilization and protest in challenging colonial authority, inspiring further actions that ultimately led to India’s independence in 1947.

Conclusion: The Red Fort Trials, featuring INA officers, ignited widespread protests and highlighted national unity, challenging British legitimacy. They symbolized India’s resolve for independence, accelerating the end of colonial rule.