CM Sukhu pays tribute on Azad Hind Fauj Foundation Day
Synopsis
Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu marked the Azad Hind Fauj Foundation Day on October 21 with a heartfelt tribute to INA soldiers, saluting their sacrifice and courage in the fight against British colonial rule.
Key Takeaways
Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu posted a tribute on 21 October 2026 , the Foundation Day of the Azad Hind Fauj .
The Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) was founded when Subhas Chandra Bose proclaimed the Provisional Government of Azad Hind on 21 October 1943 in Singapore .
CM Sukhu offered 'shat-shat naman' — a hundred-fold salute — to all freedom fighters who struggled under the INA banner.
He described their courage and sacrifice as 'immortal in the nation's history.' Tributes to the INA on this date are observed by political leaders across parties as part of India's national remembrance calendar.
On the 83rd Foundation Day of the Azad Hind Fauj, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu bowed in remembrance to every fighter who gave their lives to end British rule — honouring a chapter of India's freedom struggle that chose the battlefield over the petition. The tribute came on 21 October 2026, the anniversary of the day Subhas Chandra Bose proclaimed the Provisional Government of Azad Hind in 1943.
CM Sukhu wrote in Hindi: 'Azad Hind Fauj ke sthapna diwas par desh ki azadi ke liye sangharsh karne wale sabhi veer saputon ko shat-shat naman evam vinamra shraddhanjali' — ('On the Foundation Day of the Azad Hind Fauj, a hundred-fold salute and humble homage to all the brave sons who struggled for the country's freedom'). He added that their 'indomitable courage and sacrifice will remain immortal in the nation's history.'
The day Bose raised a flag and an army
The date carries weight that goes beyond ceremony. On 21 October 1943, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose declared the formation of the Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind — the Provisional Government of Free India — in Singapore, with the Indian National Army (INA) as its armed wing. The INA drew its ranks largely from Indian prisoners of war captured by Japanese forces in Southeast Asia and from the Indian diaspora across the region.
The INA's campaign represented a distinct and armed stream of anti-colonial resistance — one that marched under the battle cry 'Dilli Chalo' ('On to Delhi') and pressed into northeastern India before Allied counter-offensives reversed the advance. The soldiers who fell or were imprisoned in that campaign are the 'veer saputon' — brave sons — CM Sukhu invokes.
A remembrance that crosses party lines
Tributes to the INA on 21 October and to Bose on his birth anniversary on 23 January have become a fixture of India's political calendar, observed by leaders across the ideological spectrum. The gesture underscores how the INA's legacy — once contested in the years immediately after independence — has been absorbed into a shared national memory. For CM Sukhu and the Indian National Congress, honouring the INA also connects to a longer party narrative about the breadth of the independence movement.
Point of View
And CM Sukhu's tribute reflects how mainstream Indian politics has fully embraced Netaji Bose's armed resistance as co-equal to other freedom struggle traditions. For the Congress, invoking the INA serves a dual purpose: it situates the party within a wide arc of anti-colonial history while reinforcing its claim as custodian of plural patriotism. As commemorations of the independence era intensify ahead of India's centenary of independence in 2047, expect such tributes to carry growing political resonance beyond mere ceremony.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 21 October celebrated as Azad Hind Fauj Foundation Day?
On 21 October 1943 , Subhas Chandra Bose proclaimed the Provisional Government of Azad Hind in Singapore, formally establishing the armed Indian National Army. That date is observed annually as the INA's Foundation Day.
What is the Azad Hind Fauj?
The Azad Hind Fauj , also known as the Indian National Army (INA) , was a World War II-era armed force led by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose that fought to end British rule in India, drawing recruits largely from Indian prisoners of war and the Indian diaspora in Southeast Asia.
What did CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu say on Azad Hind Fauj Foundation Day?
Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu offered 'shat-shat naman' — a hundred-fold salute — to all INA soldiers, saying their indomitable courage and sacrifice would remain immortal in the nation's history.
Who founded the Azad Hind Fauj?
While the INA was initially organised in 1942 by Mohan Singh, it was Subhas Chandra Bose who transformed and led it under the Azad Hind Provisional Government from October 1943 , becoming its supreme commander.
Which party does Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhu belong to?
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is a member of the Indian National Congress and has served as Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh .
