PM Modi said the bravery of those who joined the movement ignited a spirit of patriotism that united millions in the struggle for independence.
In a post on X, he wrote, “We remember with deep gratitude all those brave people who, under the inspiring leadership of Bapu, took part in the Quit India Movement. Their courage lit a spark of patriotism that united countless people in the quest for freedom.”
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also honoured the freedom fighters, noting that the movement infused fresh energy into India’s fight for liberation.
“In 1942, the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, with his invaluable mantra ‘Do or Die,’ launched the Quit India Movement against British rule, infusing new enthusiasm into the struggle for independence. Under the leadership of the Indian National Congress, countless Indians took to the streets, writing an unforgettable chapter in history,” Kharge posted on X.
He added, “On August Revolution Day, we pay heartfelt tributes to all the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the country’s independence.”
Launched on August 9, 1942, during the Second World War, the Quit India Movement—or Bharat Chodo Andolan—demanded an end to British rule. According to the Ministry of Culture, the movement was a turning point, convincing the British that continued governance of India was impossible and prompting them to consider withdrawal.
Gandhi led the movement with a call for a mass, non-violent protest and urged an “orderly British withdrawal from India.” He inspired people by declaring that “every Indian who desires freedom and strives for it must be his own guide.”
On this day in 1942, from Mumbai’s Gawalia Tank, Gandhi issued the iconic “Do or Die” call to the nation. The date is now commemorated every year as August Kranti Day.
