Paper short abstract:

This presentation examines the historical understanding of the relationships between The Greater East Asia War and British India with a focus on ideologies, circumstances and developments thereby seeking new discussions into Japan-India relations based on newly declassified archival documents.

Paper long abstract:

Two unsatisfactory inquiry Commissions regarding the mystery around the death of the Indian nationalist hero Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in a plane crash over Taihoku, present-day Taipei. The controversial issue of his disappearance almost 70 years ago, resurfaced once again, with the Government of India declassifying 100 secret files on the 23rd day of January 2016. Japan too reciprocated with initiating discussions of declassifying papers in the same context. This dialogue undoubtedly plays a significant role in shaping Japan-India bilateral ties in the 21st century and also brings to the forefront the association of Netaji and the scope of activities by Indian revolutionaries in Japan and the rest of the world in relation to the Daitoa Senso or the Greater East Asia War.

Discussions on the Greater East Asia War, in post-war Japan, until very recently, tend to be or battling with polarized perspectives such as the leftist-liberal Tokyo Saiban Shikan (Tokyo Trial Historical Perspective) or the opposing conservative Kokoku Shikan (Imperial Nation Historical Perspective). Comments are then offered on aspects relating to the conundrum faced in the naming of the War itself. This presentation seeks to reexamine the historical understanding of the relationships between The Greater East Asia War and British India with a particular focus on the ideologies, circumstances and developments influencing both sides. The Greater East Asia War influenced not just South and East Asia but drew similar notions of a Greater Asia from other parts of the world where diasporic Indians had set the ball rolling for Indian aspirations of Self-rule. The nationalist Rash Behari Bose had escaped the British intelligence and landed in Japan in 1915, the initial phase of World War I. By persuading the Japanese nationalists to endorse and support the struggle for Indian freedom Rash Behari Bose paved the path for the arrival of Netaji and the Indian National Army on the scene.

Finally, this presentation will hope to open new research questions, on the past, present and future of Japan-India relations based on newly declassified archival documents.