IT News
Mumbai, Aug 9:
President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday, remembered millions of freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for India’s independence on the 78th anniversary of “Quit India Movement”.
“On the anniversary of Quit India Movement, we gratefully remember millions of our freedom fighters who sacrificed their all for our Independence. Their courage and patriotism continue to inspire us to work for a prosperous and ever stronger India. #Saluting Freedom Fighters,” the President tweeted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while observing the occasion, gave a call for the revival of the spirit of the “Quit India Movement” by coining a new slogan “karenge aur karake rahenge” in place of Gandhi’s slogan of “karo ya maro” ( Do or Die). The PM’s slogan was given to achieve the goal of building a “New India” by 2022.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also remembered the “brave fighters of this revolution”. Taking to the microblogging site, he said, “The “Quit India Movement”, popularly known as the August Revolution, challenged the British Government from the smallest village in the country to the big cities. Today, on the 78th anniversary of this movement, I remember all the brave fighters of this revolution and salute them.’’
In Mumbai, the Mumbai Congress President Eknath Gaikwad was joined by party leaders and workers in paying tributes to the freedom fighters on the “Quit India Movement Day” at the historic the Gowalia Tank ground( August Kranti Maidan) in South Mumbai. Similarly BJP Mumbai President MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha and others paid floral tributes to the freedom fighters on the ”August Kranti Diwas”.
However Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray did not visit the August Kranti Maidan to pay the tributes. The official sources maintained that the function was not official state government function.
The “Quit India Movement” was launched from Gowalia Tank on the midnight of August 8-9 after a historic session of the Congress that lasted two-and-a-half days. Gowalia Tank was later renamed “August Kranti Maidan”.
After the Quit India resolution was passed, veteran leader late Aruna Asaf Ali hoisted the tricolour at the August Kranti Maidan on August 8 midnight after which the senior leaders of the Congress were arrested. Due to the arrests, an action plan for the movement was made. The relatively young leadership of the Congress Socialist Party (CSP) was active, but it had to go underground. Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) wrote two long letters from unknown places to provide guidance and encouragement to the revolutionaries and to explain the character and method of the movement.
The Quit India Movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi on August 8, 1941, during the Second World War, demanding complete independence of India from British Rule. The Quit India Movement was an important milestone in the Indian freedom struggle. It was launched following the failure of the ”Cripps Mission”, which offered an autonomous dominion but not full Independence to India. It also indicated the partition of India, which was not acceptable to the Congress at that time.
Congress leaders struggled to coin a slogan for the movement. One suggestion was ‘Get Out’. But Gandhi thought it was impolite. C Rajagopalachari, whom Gandhi called as his ‘conscience keeper’, suggested ‘Retreat’ or ‘Withdraw’. Finally, Yusuf Meheraly — the Socialist and trade unionist who was imprisoned 8 times during the freedom struggle – came up with ‘Quit India’.
Under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, people across India united to uproot imperialism. On this day in 1942, Gandhi gave the slogan of “Do or Die” to all Indians to drive away Britishers from the country. The movement which had begun from Gawalia Tank in Mumbai, is observed as “August Kranti Day” every year.
