How ‘Jai Hind’ Became A Proud Salutation In The Indian Army

Last Updated:May 08, 2025, 18:43 IST

Post-independence, attempts to integrate INA personnel into the Indian Army faced resistance from the military and administrative establishment, despite support from Nehru

“Jai Hind” has become a rallying cry on Indian social media, expressing national pride and support for the armed forces. Its historical roots trace back to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who was the first to formalise “Jai Hind” as a greeting within the Indian National Army (INA), also known as the Azad Hind Fauj, which he founded.

The Indian National Army (INA) comprised around 20,000 to 25,000 soldiers, including notable officers like Major General Shahnawaz Khan, Colonel Prem Sehgal, and Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, who left the British Army to join Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s movement.

Historical accounts also suggest that Captain Mohan Singh initially formed the INA in 1942 with Indian soldiers captured by the Japanese. However, several factors led to its disbandment later that year. Netaji revived the INA after arriving in Japan in 1943 and formally established the Azad Hind Government on October 21, 1943, which was recognised by countries such as Germany and Japan.

Under Netaji’s leadership, the INA grew to over 50,000 soldiers, strengthened by fresh recruits and defectors from the British Army. After World War II, the British government put Major General Shahnawaz Khan, Colonel Prem Sehgal, and Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon on trial at the Red Fort.

The Indian National Congress, with prominent lawyers like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Kailash Nath Katju, defended them, asserting that the officers were freedom fighters, not deserters. Although they were initially sentenced, widespread public outrage forced the British to release them in 1946.

After independence, there were attempts to integrate INA personnel into the Indian Army. While leaders like Prime Minister Nehru supported the move, the military and administrative establishment, still shaped by British training and ethos, resisted it. They argued that such a step might set an undesirable precedent and instead recommended focusing on the rehabilitation of INA soldiers.

As a result, “Jai Hind” was embraced by the Indian armed forces as a standard salutation, replacing various religious salutations with a unified patriotic slogan. Today, it stands as a proud declaration of India’s strength, unity, and enduring legacy.

First Published:

May 08, 2025, 18:43 IST