The Indian National Army and Red Fort
The indian National army and red Fort
According to amar Farooqui, a historian and the author of Zafar and The Raj, Subhas Chandra Bose, who headed INA, invoked the red fort in his famous call Challo Dilli, according to a report in The Wire.
From 1945 to 1946, red fort was chosen as the location to conduct the court martial of three officers of the INA – Shah Nawaz Khan, prem Sehgal and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon.
According to a report in The Print, the officers were charged for “waging a war against the king” as they had changed their allegiance during the Second World War.
Swapna Liddle wrote in 2021: “With the coming of Independence, it was necessary that the site of the red fort, over which the british colonial government had sought to inscribe its power and might, be symbolically reclaimed for the indian people”.
Nehru and red Fort
In 1947, as India’s first prime minister Nehru replaced the colonial flag with the indian National flag, the red fort cemented its place in modern history.“We have gathered here on a historic occasion at this ancient fort to win back what was ours. This flag does not represent the victory of an individual or Congress, but the victory of the nation as a whole. The free flag of india is a symbol of freedom and democracy not only for india but for the entire world. Nehru said that india, Asia and the world should celebrate this great day. Interestingly, the tricolor was presented by Nehru at Princess Park near india gate on august 15, 1947, said Gaurav Gadgil, professor of history at KJ Somaiya College, Mumbai. He added that art and commerce also increased in the red City the next day, according to a report published
Since then, every prime minister has raised the national flag at the red fort and delivered a speech from the defense. Now it has become a special day tradition.