7 AUG 1947: An order came for the Indian army, the British officer rebelled and said…

78th Independence Day: Sitting in his office at the Army Headquarters, Commander-in-Chief Claude John Auchinleck is reading a note sheet very carefully. As the text written in the note sheet passes in front of his eyes, the throbbing of the vein on his forehead increases at the same pace. There comes a moment when Claude John Auchinleck angrily squeezes this note sheet between his palms.

In fact, this note sheet was an order to release all the Indians who were imprisoned by the British government. Claude John Auchinleck did not mind the fact that he was being asked to release the Indians imprisoned in jail, but he was more angry at the fact that because of the words ‘all Indians’ written in this order, he would have to release the fighters of the Azad Hind Fauj from jail as well.

Auchinleck refused to obey the order
Commander-in-Chief Claude John Auchinleck was not ready for this at all. Claude John Auchinleck kept remembering the moment when Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose’s army had dealt a severe blow to the British. Releasing the fighters of the Azad Hind Fauj, who had repeatedly become a challenge, was like slapping himself on the face for Claude John Auchinleck. Finally, Auchinleck took a decision.

It is not acceptable to spare even a single soldier of Bose
And this decision was against the decision of his own government. Claude John Auchinleck called the steno and started dictating the reply to the note sheet. In this reply, he got him to write that I have no objection in releasing the Indian political prisoners imprisoned in Indian jails. But, I am not at all willing to release even a single soldier of the Azad Hind Fauj led by Subhash Chandra Bose.

Netaji’s fighters could be released only after independence
Finally, Claude John Auchinleck wrote that at present there is British rule in India till 15 August and till then he will not release even a single soldier of the Azad Hind Fauj from jail. After this reply of Claude John Auchinleck, it was decided that the brave fighters who fought for independence under the leadership of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose will be released from jail only after 15 August.