the tasks of this new political establishment, Subhas declared: "It will be the task of the Provisional Government to launch and conduct the struggle that will bring about the expulsion of the British and their allies from the soil of India." Bose, taking formal command of the demoralised and undermanned Indian National Army from Rash Bose, turned it into a professional army with the help of the Japanese. He recruited Indian civilians living in Japanese-occupied territories of South-east Asia and incorporated vast numbers of Indian POWs from British forces in Singapore, Malaya and Hong Kong to man the brigades of the INA. Ministers The Provisional Government of Free India consisted of a Cabinet headed by Subhas Chandra Bose as the Head of the State, The Prime Minister and the Minister for War and Foreign Affairs. Captain Dr. Lakshmi Swaminadhan (later married as Lakshmi Sahgal) was the Minister in Charge of Women's Organization. She held this position over and above her command of the Rani Jhansi Regiment, a brigade of women soldiers fighting for the Indian National Army. For a regular Asian army, this women's regiment was quite visionary; it was the first of its kind established on the continent. Lakshmi was one of the most popular and prosperous gynaecologists in Singapore before she gave up her practice to lead the troops of the Rani of Jhansi Regiment. Other public administration ministers of the Provisional Government of Free India included: Lakshmi Swaminadhan – The Minister in Charge of Women's Organization S. A. Ayer – The Minister of Broadcasting and Publicity Lt. Col. A. C. Chatterji – The Minister of Finance The Indian National Army was represented by Armed Forces ministers, including: Lt. Col. Aziz Ahmed Lt. Col. N. S. Bhagat Lt. Col. J. K. Bhonsle Lt. Col. Guizara Singh Lt. Col. M.Z. Kiani Lt. Col. A. D. Loganathan Lt. Col. Ehsan Qadir Lt. Col. Shahnawaz Khan The Provisional Government was also constituted and administered by a number of Secretaries and Advisors to Subhas Chandra Bose, including: Capt. Dilip Singh Siwach A. M. Sahay – Secretary Karim Ghani Debnath Das D. M. Khan A. Yellapa J. Thivy Sardar Ishar Singh Narula A. N. Sarkar – the government's official Legal Advisor All of these Secretaries and Advisory officials held Ministerial rank in the Provisional Government. The extent of the Provisional Government's day-to-day management of affairs for Azad Hind is not entirely well-documented, so