TARUN CHUGH
Today, we are celebrating the nectar of freedom. We are committed to realizing the vision of a developed India. August 9 is a significant date in Indian history. It marks the day when the ‘Quit India’ movement was launched– one of the most prominent movements led by Gandhi Ji for the country’s independence. This movement aimed to remove the British from India’s governance, but its objective was also to vigorously demand and achieve complete sovereignty. It was the final call for ending British rule in India. Although the country gained independence on August 15, 1947, and British rule ended, the dream of complete sovereignty remained unfulfilled. A large section of the population did not experience freedom. The British left, but British laws and social inequalities remained unchanged. Power, privileges, and concerns were limited to a select few. For decades, power remained in the hands of one family. With the rise of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh as a political alternative in independent India, attention began to be paid to those at the very bottom of society. Post-independence, Congress governments, like the British, continued to practice ‘divide and rule’ politics. The Congress governments pursued extreme appeasement based on communal grounds. By dividing society for vote bank politics, the country’s well-being was neglected. Dynastic politics, casteism, communalism, and corruption became the hallmarks of the government. There was no effort to address poverty, illiteracy, national pride, nationalism, or to preserve national heritage. The laws and names established by the British continued to prevail.
Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, a new era of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ (Collective Effort, Collective Development) began. The government reached out to the last person in society, making people realize that they were living in a free country. Basic facilities were provided. The government led by Prime Minister Modi is dedicated to the poor and has demonstrated this commitment. Today, symbols of colonial oppression are being replaced by Indian heritage and legacies. Due to the vision of Home Minister Amit Shah, changes have been made in British-era laws. It now seems that the dream of the August Revolution is taking shape. The ‘Quit India’ movement, known as the August Revolution, is particularly notable for being a true people’s movement, involving millions of ordinary Indians. This movement attracted a large number of youth, farmers, women, and workers. Unfortunately, these segments of society was neglected after independence.
The Quit India movement, or “August Revolution,” began on August 9, 1942. Prior to that, on July 14, 1942, at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee was held in Wardha. Gandhi Ji was authorized to formally initiate the movement. On August 8, 1942, a meeting of the Congress Working Committee was held in Bombay, where the demand for the British to leave India and the formation of an interim government had been discussed. When some opposition voices emerged during the session regarding this proposal, Gandhi Ji demonstrated his commitment to the movement by challenging them, saying, “If this proposal for struggle is not accepted, I will start a movement bigger than the Congress with a handful of sand.” On August 8, 1942, at the historic Gowalia Tank Maidan, the proposal from Wardha was confirmed. After the proposal was passed, Gandhi Ji gave the slogan “Do or Die.” Thus, the movement began.
World War II had worsened India’s economic condition, inflation was at its peak, and the country was struggling with food shortages. Amid this widespread despair and turmoil, the people chose this movement.
On the night of August 8, 1942, when the Congress Working Committee passed the Quit India movement proposal, numerous arrests occurred across the country on the morning of August 9, including in Bombay, and almost all main Congress leaders were arrested under ‘Operation Zero Hour,’ including Gandhi Ji. Youth activists across the country continued the movement through strikes and acts of vandalism. Within Congress, figures like Jayaprakash Narayan were very active in underground resistance activities. Parallel governments were established in several districts like Satara in the west and Medinipur in the east. The British adopted a very strict approach towards the movement, but it took the government over a year to suppress the revolt. The arrest of main leaders led to the movement becoming leaderless. Consequently, people engaged in violent protests, strikes, and acts of vandalism against the army and police. A significant feature of the Quit India movement was the widespread emergence of underground movements. Due to the government’s severe repression, the popular phase of the struggle soon ended, and underground activities intensified. On November 9, 1942, Jayaprakash Narayan, along with his five companions, escaped from Hazaribagh Central Jail and formed a central struggle committee. Jayaprakash Narayan and Ramanand Mishra also established a parallel government on the Bihar-Nepal border. Underground activists received covert support from all sections of society.
They also operated a secret Congress radio. In protest against government repression, Gandhi Ji announced a 21-day hunger strike starting February 10, 1943, which further fueled public anger. Thus, the foundation for freeing the country and achieving complete sovereignty was laid in the August Revolution. Today, we pay tribute to those great souls who sacrificed their lives to liberate the country. We pledge to build a developed and secure India.
(The author is the National General Secretary of BJP)