Social Memory and Indian Women from Malaya and Singapore in the Rani of Jhansi Regiment

Abstract

The Rani of Jhansi Regiment (RJR) is scarcely visible in the social memory of the Japanese occupation in Southeast Asia and the activities of Subhash Chandra Bose on behalf of the Indian nationalist movement. The few memoirs that do exist were written by elite and well-educated RJR veterans, and they celebrate a sense of unity among Indians from various background who supported Bose’s efforts, including soldiers who came to the RJR from working class backgrounds in Malaya and Singapore. Using recollections from witnesses to and participants in the Indian nationalist movement in Japanese-occupied Malaya and Singapore, this article challenges the elite view by exploring alternative perceptions of Bose’s activities. Illustrating the importance of gender and socio-economic boundaries in Bose’s nationalist movement, this article argues that differences in class and caste estranged subaltern Indian women during the Occupation.

Indian Women During The Japanese Occupation In Malaya, 1941-1945

“…Moreover, the labourers were given low daily wages, which was about 30 to 40% less than the 1941 wages. In April 1943, the Japanese government undertook massive reduction in estate workforce, leaving many coolies jobless (Datta, 2015).…”

“…This left many Indian female labourers unprotected in the estates. The Japanese army took the opportunity to harass and rape them (Datta, 2015). Jain, who did a study on Pal Melayu Estate during the Japanese occupation, provided a startling experience of a female coolie.…”

“…In one case, a kirani named Sivan requested all women in Pal Melayu Estate to consider him as their 'husband' since their real spouses were taken to the death railway (Jain, 1970). British intelligence report from 1943 caught the fear among Indian women and their hesitance to leave home but at the same time, they dreaded the thought of staying at home alone without their spouses or male relatives (Labour Inspector, 1943& Datta, 2015.…”

“…She also pointed out when Indian men who had previously joined the British army saw their womenfolk willing to leave their families and march into battle for the country's future, the men would feel guilty (Gopinath, 2007). Datta (2015) quoted her opinion on the reason behind the involvement of Indian women from the estates in the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, 'Many of them hadn't even heard of India's national independence movement. They were uneducated, they were totally exploited.…”

Indian Women in Malaya, 1900 to 1945: Migration Experiences and Socioeconomic Condition

“…One department and one ministry were set aside for women and appointed Lt. Col. Lakshmi Swaminathan, a 30-year-old female doctor as the leader. (Ramachandra, 1970;Dancz, 1987;Datta, 2015;Lebra, 2008) Bose's action has received support from Indian women, and even this action led to the establishment of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment, a women's army under INA. Women consider the move to establish this regiment as a form of respect.…”