Historic Milestone: The Day Subhash Chandra Bose Declared Independence in Andaman in 1943
PORT BLAIR, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India – August 13, 2025:Back on December 30, 1943, Subhash Chandra Bose, or Netaji as everyone called him, rocked up in the Andaman Islands and put up the Indian flag. It was a major up yours to the British. It was the first time the Indian flag flew on Indian land that wasn’t controlled by the British, which was a huge statement about independence. Bose, who was in charge of the Provisional Government of Free India, even changed the names of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to Shaheed and Swaraj (basically, Martyr and Self-Rule). He turned a British prison into free Indian land.
How Azad Hind Started
This declaration was the result of Bose trying to build an army. Before this, in October ’43, he started the Provisional Government of Free India, or Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind, in Singapore.
Some countries that were part of the Axis powers, like Germany, Japan, and Italy, recognized this government. It was a big part of Bose’s plan to get India free with help from other countries. He became the Head of State, Prime Minister, and Minister for War all at once.
The Indian National Army (INA), also called the Azad Hind Fauj, was the army for this government. It was made up of Indian prisoners taken by the Japanese and Indians who lived in Southeast Asia.
With Japan’s support, the INA and the Provisional Government wanted to start a military thing from the east to kick the British out of India. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands were the first step in this plan.
In November, at a meeting in Tokyo, the Japanese Prime Minister, Hideki Tojo, said that Japan would hand over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to Bose’s government. That meant Bose’s government had its first piece of land.
The Trip to Port Blair
Bose’s arrival in Port Blair on December 29, 1943, was a big deal. The Japanese army treated him like a head of state.
On December 30, Bose went to the Gymkhana Ground (now Netaji Stadium). There, in front of INA soldiers and local Indian people, he popped up the Indian flag.
It wasn’t just for show. It was a way of saying, “We’re in charge here.” By flying the flag on Indian land, Bose kept a promise he made to the INA soldiers.
While he was there, Bose also checked out the Cellular Jail, which was a symbol of how the British were tough on Indian freedom fighters. He honored those who died for the country’s freedom.
He picked Lt. Col. A.D. Loganathan to be the governor of the islands. So, the Provisional Government of Free India was officially running things there.
A Government in Another Country with Official Control
Even though the Japanese army still had actual control of the islands for their own reasons, the Provisional Government was given the official power. That was important.
It meant that for the first time, part of India was legally run by an Indian government. That gave the Provisional Government more power than other similar governments.
Bose’s government had its own money, stamps, and laws. It was running like a real country, even though it needed help from the Axis powers.
The declaration in Andaman helped the Provisional Government get the word out. It told Indians that freedom was actually possible.
This move made Bose look like one of the most committed people in India’s fight for freedom. He showed that there was another way to get freedom, not just by being peaceful, but by fighting back.
What Happened After
The British took the islands back after the war, so the Provisional Government stopped running things there. Still, Bose’s declaration was remembered.
The names Shaheed and Swaraj are still used for the islands as a reminder of the sacrifices made for freedom. People still see this as India’s real first declaration of independence.
People still celebrate this event. In 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi put up the national flag in Port Blair on the 75th anniversary to honor Bose’s help. It was a statement about this important moment in India’s history.
The declaration in Andaman shows that India’s fight for freedom had many sides to it. It proves that independence came not just from peaceful protests but also from brave actions by leaders like Subhash Chandra Bose.
