Friday Forum: Darshana Mini — Indian Independence League, the INA and Migrant Anti-colonial Struggle

Darshana Mini

206 Ingraham Hall
@ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

“INDIAN INDEPENDENCE LEAGUE, THE INA AND MIGRANT ANTI-COLONIAL STRUGGLE”

 

Darshana Mini
Assistant Professor
Department of Communication Arts
University of Wisconsin-Madison

 

This talk examines the trade union newsletters and material produced by Indian migrants in Singapore and Malaysia in the 1940s to advocate for better living conditions, wage rate and other benefits. The Indian government actively negotiated with Malayan government to ensure that Indian-origin workers were treated properly. The formation of the Indian National Army (INA) and the Provisional Government of India in exile led by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Singapore from 1943-45 had a huge participation of Indian migrants who rallied against the British government. Examining the material produced by INA, which includes Azad Hind, a newspaper, as well as propaganda material, song booklets, and plays to support India’s independence, this talk locates the role of estate labor in INA and how this complicates the understanding of Indian laborer in the context of Southeast Asia.

Professional profile: https://commarts.wisc.edu/staff/mini-darshana/