Tributes Paid to Quit India Movement Martyrs | 08 Oct 2025

Why in News?

A tribute ceremony was held on 8th October 2025 in Patamda to honour the freedom fighters of the 1942 Quit India Movement. The event was jointly organized by the Rashtra Shaheed Samman Samiti of Patamda and Bodam.

• Local Leaders and Martyrs involved in QIM were Bhajhari Mahato, Laxman Mahato, Madiram Mahato, Bipra Mahato, Ratan Majhi, Judan Mudi, and Durga Charan Singh.

Quit India Movement

• Launch and Purpose: Launched by Mahatma Gandhi on 8th August 1942 during the All-India Congress Committee session in Bombay, the movement demanded the immediate end of British rule following the failure of the Cripps Mission. 
• Gandhi's Call: Gandhi gave the powerful call of “Do or Die” at the Gowalia Tank Maidan (now August Kranti Maidan), urging Indians to demand an immediate end to British rule. 
• Slogan & Symbolism: The slogan “Quit India” was coined by Yusuf Meherally, a socialist and trade unionist from Bombay, who had also created the earlier slogan “Simon Go Back.”  
  • During the movement, Aruna Asaf Ali became a prominent figure, famously hoisting the Indian flag at the Gowalia Tank maidan as a symbol of defiance. 
• Rise of New Leaders: New leaders like Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, Jayaprakash Narayan rose to prominence during this movement.  
  • Women also played a significant role, leading protests and sacrificing their lives, such as Matangini Hazra, who died with the Tricolour in hand, and Sucheta Kripalani, who later became India’s first female Chief Minister (Uttar Pradesh). 
• Nature of the QIM: The QIM was distinct from earlier peaceful protests like Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience, as it was a mass uprising demanding the complete withdrawal of British rule. 
  • Though Gandhi emphasized non-violence, the movement was accommodating of violence in self-defense. It allowed spontaneous actions like sabotage and guerrilla attacks against British properties. 
  • Widespread protests, strikes, and sabotage erupted across India, with students and youth taking the lead, especially in urban centers, after Congress leaders were arrested. 
  • The Muslim community largely stayed absent from the QIM, it was seen as a Hindu nationalist cause, highlighting the growing communal divide and the Muslim League's push for a separate state. 
• Legacy: The movement became a key turning point in India’s freedom struggle, demonstrating unity and determination that ultimately led to the end of British rule. 
  • The Quit India Movement was a watershed moment that shaped India’s future politics. In his speech at Gowalia Tank Maidan, Gandhi said power would belong to the people of India. The movement marked the freedom struggle truly belonging to “We the People.”