The Rani Jhansi Regiment, the Women’s Regiment of the Azad Hind Fauj, was under whose command?

1. The First INA and Indian Independence League (basic)

To understand the Indian National Army (INA), we must first look at the unique circumstances of World War II in Southeast Asia. As the British army retreated from Malaya and Singapore in 1942, they left behind thousands of Indian soldiers. These soldiers became Prisoners of War (POWs) under the Japanese. The spark for the INA came from Captain Mohan Singh, an Indian officer in the British Indian Army who decided not to retreat but to seek Japanese help to fight for India's independence instead Spectrum, Quit India Movement, Demand for Pakistan, and the INA, p.457.

While Mohan Singh provided the military vision, the political framework came from Rashbehari Bose, a veteran revolutionary who had been living in Japan as a fugitive since 1915. In March 1942, he formed the Indian Independence League (IIL) in Tokyo to mobilize Indians living abroad against British rule Spectrum, After Nehru..., p.814. This organization acted as the civilian wing that supported the military wing—the INA. At the Bangkok Conference in June 1942, it was formally decided that the INA would serve under the IIL, with Rashbehari Bose as the chairman.

The First INA ultimately faced a crisis because Mohan Singh wanted a large, truly autonomous Indian army, whereas the Japanese military officials were hesitant and wanted a smaller, more controlled force. This led to Mohan Singh’s arrest and the temporary disbanding of the unit. However, the organizational spadework done by Rashbehari Bose ensured that the structure remained intact for Subhas Chandra Bose to later take over and revive the movement in 1943 Spectrum, Quit India Movement, Demand for Pakistan, and the INA, p.459.

Sources: Spectrum, Quit India Movement, Demand for Pakistan, and the INA, p.457; Spectrum, After Nehru..., p.814; Spectrum, Quit India Movement, Demand for Pakistan, and the INA, p.459

2. Subhas Chandra Bose and the Leadership Shift (basic)

In the late 1930s, the Indian National Congress faced a deep internal crisis regarding the method and timing of the struggle against British rule. Subhas Chandra Bose, representing a more radical and left-wing ideology, believed that India should take advantage of Britain's involvement in World War II to launch a mass movement. This created a friction with Mahatma Gandhi and the 'Right Wing' of the Congress, who preferred a more cautious approach. At the Tripuri Session (1939), Bose was re-elected as President against Gandhi’s preferred candidate, Pattabhi Sitaramayya. However, because the Congress Working Committee was not cooperating with his radical agenda, Bose resigned in April 1939 Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, Nationalist Response in the Wake of World War II, p.418. Following his resignation, Rajendra Prasad was elected as the Congress President, and Bose formed the Forward Bloc to consolidate left-wing forces within the party History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board), Last Phase of Indian National Movement, p.85. Bose’s leadership eventually shifted from domestic political agitation to an international military struggle. After traveling to Germany and then to Singapore via submarine, he took command of the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) from Rashbehari Bose Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, Quit India Movement, Demand for Pakistan, and the INA, p.457. A defining feature of his leadership was his belief in total mobilization, which included the revolutionary step of creating an all-women infantry combat unit called the Rani of Jhansi Regiment. This unit was commanded by Dr. Lakshmi Swaminathan (popularly known as Captain Lakshmi), a medical doctor who led Indian volunteers from Southeast Asia in the fight for independence History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board), Last Phase of Indian National Movement, p.89.

Aspect	Gandhian Leadership	Bose's Leadership (INA Phase)
Method	Non-violence and Satyagraha	Armed struggle and military diplomacy
Strategy	Moral pressure on Britain	Utilizing Britain’s enemies (Axis Powers)
Inclusivity	Mass civil participation	Combat roles for women (Rani of Jhansi Regiment)

Sources: Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, Nationalist Response in the Wake of World War II, p.418; History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board), Last Phase of Indian National Movement, p.85; Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, Quit India Movement, Demand for Pakistan, and the INA, p.457; History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board), Last Phase of Indian National Movement, p.89

3. Women Leaders in the Underground Movement (intermediate)

During the Quit India Movement (1942), the sudden arrest of the top Congress leadership created a tactical vacuum. This led to the rise of an underground movement, where women played a transformative role, shifting from being participants in marches to being the primary architects of resistance. These leaders focused on subversive activities, maintaining a secret line of command, and distributing literature to keep the public morale high while open protests were suppressed by the British Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. Chapter 22, p.450.

Two distinct styles of leadership emerged during this phase. First, there was the clandestine domestic resistance. Aruna Asaf Ali became an iconic figure of the 'underground' after she hoisted the national flag at Gowalia Tank Maidan following the arrests of senior leaders. Alongside her, Usha Mehta spearheaded one of the most daring initiatives—the Congress Radio. This clandestine radio station operated from various hidden locations in Bombay to broadcast news that the British-censored press would not cover History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.). Chapter 7, p.97. Other leaders like Sucheta Kripalani were instrumental in coordinating the vast network of underground workers across different provinces Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. After Nehru..., p.814.

Second, the struggle took a radical military turn outside Indian borders with the Indian National Army (INA). Subhas Chandra Bose established the Rani of Jhansi Regiment in 1943, an all-women combat unit named after the legendary 1857 rebel queen. This regiment was led by Captain Lakshmi Swaminathan (later Lakshmi Sehgal). Unlike previous movements where women served in supportive roles, these volunteers—largely from the Indian diaspora in Malaya and Burma—were trained in infantry combat, symbolizing a major shift toward gender equality in the revolutionary struggle for independence.

Sources: Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM., Chapter 22: Nationalist Response in the Wake of World War II, p.450; History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 7: Last Phase of Indian National Movement, p.97; Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM., After Nehru..., p.814

4. Post-War Impact: The INA Trials (intermediate)

After the conclusion of World War II in 1945, the British Indian government made a strategic blunder that would inadvertently ignite the final flame of the independence movement: the decision to court-martial members of the Indian National Army (INA) for treason. These proceedings, known as the INA Trials or the Red Fort Trials, shifted the national mood from post-war exhaustion to revolutionary fervor. Bipin Chandra, Modern India (Old NCERT), Struggle for Swaraj, p.301.

The British chose the iconic Red Fort in Delhi as the venue for the first trial in November 1945. In a move that backfired spectacularly, they placed three officers on the dock together: Prem Kumar Sehgal (a Hindu), Shah Nawaz Khan (a Muslim), and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon (a Sikh). Rajiv Ahir, Spectrum, Post-War National Scenario, p.464. Rather than appearing as 'traitors' to the Crown, this 'trinity' became symbols of India's communal unity and secular struggle against colonial rule. The trials galvanized the public, leading to massive fund-raising drives and an INA Relief and Enquiry Committee to support the families of the soldiers. Rajiv Ahir, Spectrum, Post-War National Scenario, p.465.

The legal defense was a masterclass in nationalist solidarity. The Indian National Congress fielded its most prominent legal minds, including Bhulabhai Desai (who led the defense), Tej Bahadur Sapru, and Kailash Nath Katju. Notably, Jawaharlal Nehru, who had discarded his legal practice twenty-five years earlier to join the Non-Cooperation Movement, donned his barrister's gown once again to defend the officers. History, Tamil Nadu State Board (2024), Last Phase of Indian National Movement, p.90. Although the court initially found the officers guilty, the overwhelming public pressure and the fear of a massive revolt forced the Commander-in-Chief to remit their sentences.


The impact of the trials extended deep into the British Indian Army itself. Seeing their former colleagues treated as heroes by the Indian public—and witnessing the British use Indian troops to restore colonial order in Indonesia and Vietnam—cracked the loyalty of the armed forces, which had long been the 'steel frame' of British rule in India. Rajiv Ahir, Spectrum, Post-War National Scenario, p.464.

Sources: Modern India (Old NCERT), Struggle for Swaraj, p.301; Spectrum: A Brief History of Modern India, Post-War National Scenario, p.464-466; History, Tamil Nadu State Board (2024), Last Phase of Indian National Movement, p.90

5. The Rani of Jhansi Regiment: A Military Experiment (exam-level)

In 1943, Subhas Chandra Bose introduced a radical and revolutionary dimension to the Indian National Army (INA) by establishing the Rani of Jhansi Regiment. This was not merely a symbolic gesture; it was a military experiment in total mobilization. Named after the legendary 1857 martyr Rani Lakshmibai, the unit was designed to prove that Indian women were as capable as men in achieving Purna Swaraj through armed struggle Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, Nationalist Response in the Wake of World War II, p.432. At a time when women's roles in most global militaries were confined to nursing or logistics, Bose insisted that this regiment be an all-women infantry combat unit.

The regiment was placed under the command of Dr. Lakshmi Swaminathan (famously known as Captain Lakshmi), a medical doctor from Madras who had been practicing in Singapore. The recruits were unique: they were not primarily from mainland India, but were volunteers from the Indian diaspora in Malaya, Burma, and Singapore History, TN State Board 2024 ed., Last Phase of Indian National Movement, p.89. Many were the daughters of Tamil migrants and indentured laborers who had moved to South East Asia to escape economic hardship NCERT Class X, The Making of a Global World, p.64. These women underwent rigorous military training, including rifle drills, bayonet charges, and tactical maneuvers, receiving the same treatment and rations as their male counterparts.

While some women with medical backgrounds served in nursing roles, the majority were trained as frontline soldiers. This radical approach served a dual purpose: it bolstered the manpower of the INA and sent a powerful psychological message to the British—and the people of India—that the fight for freedom had become a "people's war" where every citizen, regardless of gender, was ready to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Sources: Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM., Nationalist Response in the Wake of World War II, p.432; History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Last Phase of Indian National Movement, p.89; Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM., Quit India Movement, Demand for Pakistan, and the INA, p.459; India and the Contemporary World – II. History-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025), The Making of a Global World, p.64

6. Captain Lakshmi Sehgal: From Medicine to the Frontline (exam-level)

In the history of India’s armed struggle for independence, few figures embody the transition from healing to heroism as vividly as Dr. Lakshmi Swaminathan, popularly known as Captain Lakshmi. Born into a family of high political consciousness—her mother, Ammu Swaminathan, was a prominent freedom fighter and a member of the Constituent Assembly Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Making of the Constitution, p.18—Lakshmi was a practicing medical doctor in Singapore before her life took a revolutionary turn in 1943.

When Subhas Chandra Bose arrived in Singapore to lead the Indian National Army (INA) or Azad Hind Fauj, he proposed a radical idea: the creation of an all-women combat unit. While women had previously played roles in protests and nursing, Bose envisioned them as front-line soldiers. In 1943, he established the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, named after the legendary heroine of the 1857 Revolt to symbolize bravery against colonial rule Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, Nationalist Response in the Wake of World War II, p.432. Lakshmi Swaminathan was appointed its commander, earning the title ‘Captain’.

The regiment was not merely symbolic; it was a rigorous military experiment. The volunteers, primarily from the Indian diaspora in Malaya, Burma, and Singapore, underwent the same intensive combat training as men. They were trained in the use of rifles, bayonets, and grenades. As noted in historical accounts, those less suited for direct combat served in support roles, but the majority were prepared for the battlefield, receiving no special privileges History, Class XII (TN State Board), Last Phase of Indian National Movement, p.89. This challenged the prevailing social norms of the time and elevated the position of women in both the military and Indian society.

Sources: Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity, Making of the Constitution, p.18; Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India (Spectrum), Nationalist Response in the Wake of World War II, p.432; History, Class XII (TN State Board 2024 ed.), Last Phase of Indian National Movement, p.89

7. Solving the Original PYQ (exam-level)

Having just explored the final phase of the Indian freedom struggle, you have seen how Subhas Chandra Bose conceptualized a "total mobilization" strategy for the Azad Hind Fauj (INA). The Rani Jhansi Regiment, established in 1943, represents the practical application of these concepts—integrating women into active combat roles rather than just supportive duties. As noted in A Brief History of Modern India (Spectrum), this unit was a radical military experiment intended to symbolize the bravery of the 1857 revolt while recruiting Indian-origin volunteers from Malaya, Burma, and Singapore.

To arrive at the correct answer, you must distinguish between civil disobedience leaders and those in the military hierarchy of the INA. While Bose was the Supreme Commander, he appointed Dr. Lakshmi Swaminathan (later known as Captain Lakshmi Sehgal) to lead this infantry unit. The reasoning follows that as a medical doctor who gave up her practice in Singapore to join the cause, she possessed the organizational and leadership skills Bose required for such a high-stakes experiment. Therefore, (D) Lakshmi Sehgal is the correct answer, as detailed in History, Class XII (Tamilnadu State Board).

UPSC often uses "distractor" names from the same 1940s timeframe to create confusion. The trap here is that Usha Mehta and Aruna Asaf Ali were indeed revolutionary women, but their contributions were centered on the Quit India Movement—Mehta with the Secret Congress Radio and Ali with the flag hoisting at Gowalia Tank. Anne Mascarene was a vital political figure in the Travancore state and later a member of the Constituent Assembly, but she had no command role in the INA. By isolating the military context of the Azad Hind Fauj, you can effectively eliminate these other prominent figures.