Among nationalists in India, the Second World War was an opportunity to press for independence,

but different nationalist leaders had different ideas on how to take advantage of it.

A few Indian nationalists chose to throw in their lot with the axis.

Welcome to the history of the 20th century.

Music The Episode 360. Now you belong to the Japanese army.

We haven't talked about India since episode 294, so it's about time we get caught up,

especially since the Imperial Japanese Army is now on India's eastern border.

Here's a reminder of what was discussed in that episode.

The British Parliament passed the Government of India Act,

which reformed the system of government in India, with provincial level government left mostly in the

hands of elected Indian provincial parliaments, while a federal legislature would represent all of India.

The second part of this reform required the consent of the rulers of the princely states.

The Indian National Congress objected to the plan in that it still gave the British

significant veto power over the elected governments and complained that the plan was devised

so as to advantage regional or religious parties over a national movement like the Congress.

The Muslim League also rejected the plan. By this time, leaders of the Muslim League,

like Muhammad Ali Jinnah, were coming around to the view that an all-Indian democratic state was a bad idea,

as it would inevitably mean that Indian Muslims would be ruled by Hindus forever.

Despite Congress's objections to the plan, Congress candidates stood in provincial

elections across India and won a sweeping endorsement from Indian voters. Congress won outright

majorities in five of the 11 provinces and came in as the largest single party in four others.

When the provincial parliaments were seated, the Congress party either controlled or was the leading

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