October 1: Special on the Day of Birth – Major General Mohammad Zaman Kiyani, a valiant soldier of the Azad Hind Forces.

If I had been accompanied by ten more warriors like Kiyani, India would have gained independence long ago—this is the reflection of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on the capabilities of Mohammad Zaman Kiyani, who was born on 1 October 1910 in the Punjab province, now part of Pakistan. From childhood he was an intelligent student. In 1931 he joined the first batch of the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun as a cadet. He stood out as the best cadet and was awarded the Sword of Honour, a gold medal, for his achievements. He joined the British Indian Army, taking on responsibilities in the 14th Punjab Regiment of the First Battalion. In 1941 he was posted as Staff Officer-in-Charge. When Japan defeated the British army during World War II, he joined the Indian National Army under the leadership of Captain Mohan Singh in September 1942. He took command as Chief of the General Staff and strengthened the Azad Hind Forces. When Mohan Singh disbanded the Azad Hind Forces in December 1942, he continued his duties at the request of Indian Independence League President Ras Bihari Bose until Subhas Chandra Bose reached Singapore in July 1943. He stood with them during the establishment of the Indian National Government and the reorganization of the Azad Hind Forces. He was appointed commander of the first division of the Azad Hind Forces, which included the Subhas Brigade, Gandhi Brigade, and Azad Brigade. To realize Netaji’s “Come, Delhi” appeal, he went to the battlefield in Burma in 1944. He led the Azad Hind Forces soldiers during the early victories. In September 1944 he went to Tokyo with Netaji as Secretary of the War Council to participate in discussions with Japanese leaders. During that time he was promoted to Major General. The Azad Hind Forces withdrew after Japan’s defeat in World War II. He took command of the Azad Hind Forces in August 1945. At Netaji’s instruction, the British government arrested him in place of Nataji and kept him in several prisons under the pretext of trial. After his release in December 1945, Kiyani reached Delhi and worked for the welfare of Azad Hind Forces soldiers and established peace committees to restore peace and harmony among people during the partition of the country. In 1979 he wrote a book titled “India’s Freedom Struggle and the Great INA.” Major General Mohammad Zaman Kiyani worked in several positions in Pakistan after the partition and breathed his last in 1986.

Reference: Immortals‑2, by Syed Nasir Ahmed, compiled by Haseer Ali, Sherpur District, Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. Phone number: 8580533689