Time to re-dedicate oneself to secularism

Mumbai, Aug 8: The 64th anniversary of the Quit India movement where the clarion call ''Do or Die'' given from here ignited the people in the country to launch their final battle against the British rule, is an occasion to re-dedicate oneself to the principles of nation building and secularism.

Citizens of this metropolis, cutting across different sections of society, which suffered yet another terrorist attack last month say maintaining communal harmony was in the interest of Hindus and Muslims and both communities need to understand that bloodshed will take them nowhere.

''We have become so selfish that we cannot think beyond our individual lives. Mahatma Gandhi's teachings that an eye for an eye makes the world blind, has to be remembered by one and all in the world,'' said Narayan Shastri, an 85-year-old resident at Kemps Corner near the historic August Kranti Maidan in South Mumbai.

The city and the country, has seen so much terror and violence with attempts being made to disturb communal peace in recent times that the Quit India anniversary was a moment to introspect and move ahead.

''The year 1942 was an era when youngsters were inspired and drawn into the freedom movement. The ''Do or die'' call was so electrifying that they left their brilliant academic careers and joined the protests against the British. I have seen so many brilliant boys lose out on education and jobs,'' says 80 year old Mrinalini Borkar.

According to her, when they joined the freedom struggle in the heat of the moment, they should have ensured they remain in the socio-political field throughout.

Ms Borkar said in 1942 she was a first year student in Elphistone College and travelled from Vile Parle a distant western suburb by train regularly. ''Even girls of my age from middle class families were inspired and felt electrified by the Quit India movement. Many college going boys dropped out to participate in the freedom struggle in their own little way. But, parents from middle class families advised their girls to first complete their education and then plunge into politics or social work. Young boys at that time did not realise the importance of completing their education and suffered in the process,'' she recalled.

But, the Quit India movement, which began from Bombay had inspired my generation and I still remember the thrill of being in the midst of such a historically defining moment, she said and recalled the youth of her time were excited when Aruna Asaf Ali hoisted the tricolour at Gowalia Tank on August 9 after all Congress leaders were arrested the previous night after the party meeting calling for complete Independence from the British rule.

She said the Quit India movement saw many women coming to the forefront. There are few women like Mrinal Gore, Dr Ahilya Rangnekar from my generation who participated in the freedom struggle and have been associated with people's issues throughout their lives. It was primarily because their husbands came from socio-political fields and they were able to carry on with their work.

Women were in the forefront in the movement working shoulder to shoulder with their husbands in whatever little way they could.

Gowalia Tank Maidan, now known as the August Kranti Maidan is a park in South Bombay where Mahatma Gandhi issued the call for Quit India movement on August8 1942 decreeing the British must leave India immediately or else mass agitations would take place. The call mobilised the citizens to a huge Civil Disobedience movement as the British refused to grant Independence till the War was over.

The Gowalia Tank was initially used to bathe cows ( Go - Walia comes from the marathi word 'Gaie'(cow) wala/ wali owner of the cattle). The cattle owners would bring the cows to be bathed in the waters of the tank. The Maidan that exists over there at present was built over the tank, which still exists underground. Gowalia Tank was also a very prominent tram terminus. Trams would start and end there and one could travel to the Prince Of Wales Museum in one anna (four paise).

The Maidan is now a popular playground. Cricket is the popular game although the monsoon season is primarily for football and volley ball. One corner of the Maidan is a park which houses the Smarak or martyr monument which is a white marble tower that cradles a pink lotus atop it.

A huge commemorative pillar in the centre of the garden, raised on a few steps and guarded by a gate, identifies the ground as the place -- hosted the All India Congress Committee meeting where Gandhi gave the call for freedom and announced the beginning of the Quit India movement. The pillar, which was built in 1970, was inaugurated by V S Page, the then chairman, Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, Bombay (now Mumbai); the bhoomi puja was performed by Dr M N Desai, then Municipal Commissioner, Greater Bombay.

However, there is no statue of Gandhi in the garden. Nor are there any boards elaborating the Maidan's unique history. In fact, the only board placed at its entrance bans smoking, playing of cards or throwing rubbish within the maidan's precincts.

The August Kranti Maidan, which sees politicians, making a beeline for paying respects at the martyrs memorial do not bother to ensure that the maidan is preserved in a proper manner. It is only two days earlier to the Quit India anniversary falling on August 9, that the authorities evict hawkers and clean the memorial premises and the rest of the maidan which is otherwise used as an ill-kept playground, says another resident who has been a witness to the time of glory and pain when ordinary citizens were driven by a higher cause to fight for the freedom of their motherland.

The historic session of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) began on August 7, 1942 and concluded after midnight of August 8, 1942 at this venue. The resolution of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on July 14, 1942 declared, ''the immediate ending of the British rule in India is an urgent necessity both for the sake of India and for the success of the cause of the United Nations.'' The resolution came to be known as the Quit India resolution and was passed unanimously at the AICC convention. Gandhiji, in his stirring speech, told the people, ''there is a mantra, a short one that I give you. You imprint it on your heart and let every breath of yours give an expression to it. The mantra is do or die''.

Gandhiji's speech created an electrifying atmosphere in the country, which is still recalled by old timers in Mumbai.

Even before daybreak on August 9, 1942, all the leaders, numbering more than 148, were arrested. Mahatma Gandhi was taken to the Aga Khan's Palace at Poona and the others to Ahmednagar.

Congress was declared an unlawful organisation. News of the arrest spread like wildfire and when the volunteers gathered in the pandal in the morning, they were severely beaten up by the police.

Aruna Asaf Ali hoisted the Indian flag.

Lathi charge and tear gas was used by the police to disperse the crowd which gathered at the Gowalia Tank Maidan. The national flag was pulled down and volunteers who went to rescue it were beaten.

Such was the impact of this movement that the country achieved Independence five years later.

UNI