Freedom Marches Organized across Country
Azadi (Freedom) Marches with the tricolour flying aloft were organized in all states from 9-15 August, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Independence and 80th anniversary of the Quit India movement of 1942.
On 9 August the party organised Pledge meetings on the 80th anniversary of Quit India Movement at thousands of places across different states where following pledge was taken collectively:
“On the 75th anniversary of India's independence, we pay our respectful homage to the great martyrs and freedom-fighters who had sacrificed their all to free India from the clutches of British colonialism. The freedom movement has given us a rich legacy of ideas and struggles to take India forward to the constitutionally proclaimed goal of a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic. Today as we face an unprecedented assault on the constitutional foundation and framework of our republic, on India's composite culture and social fabric, on the lives and livelihood of the common people and liberties of dissenting citizens, we renew our resolve to carry forward the glorious legacy of our freedom movement and intensify the battle for a sovereign socialist secular democratic India.”
The 75th Independence Day was observed everywhere through flag hoisting followed by reading out of the Preamble of the Constitution of India. Various other programmes were also organised throughout this week in states.
In Bihar, the capital Patna witnessed a huge march on 11 August from Buddha Smriti Park and proceeded via Station Golambar and JP Golambar to the Martyrs' Memorial at the Vidhan Sabha where tributes were paid to the 7 young freedom fighters- Umakant Prasad Sinha, Devipad Chaudhury, Ramanand Singh, Satish Prasad Jha, Jagpati Kumar, Rajendra Singh and Ramgovind Singh - who were martyred on this day in 1942 while hoisting the national flag on the Secretariat. Tributes were also paid to Khudiram Bose, the great revolutionary of the freedom movement whose martyrdom day also falls on 11 August.
The Freedom March was attended by MLAs, CPIML leaders and activists and common masses. Addressing the meeting at the Martyrs' Memorial, Dhirendra Jha, Rajaram Singh and other leaders said that 7 students sacrificed their lives in 1942 at this very spot for the country's freedom, but unfortunately those in power today took no part in the freedom movement and are making a mockery of the great martyrs who died for India's freedom and the values for which they gave their lives. We pledge to intensify and expand the struggle to protect the Constitution, democracy and to build the India of the martyrs' dreams.
Freedom marches were organized in all districts of Bihar.
Commemorative events in Tamilnadu
The Quit India call of 1942, was reverberating in the erstwhile Ramnadhapuram district (now Sivagangai and Ramanathapuram) in Tamilnadu on 14-17 August. In 1942, Tiruvegamputhur, Tiruvadanai and adjoining villages, 22 km South of Devakottai, had witnessed massive mass movement against the tyrannical British raj. On 14th August, freedom fighters cutting across cast barriers converged at Tiruvegamputhur to chalk out plan to implement the August call under the leadership of Sardar Balabharathi. In order to cut off the movement of British troops from Madurai one important bridge was demolished and telephone connections were snapped. Fighters marched towards Tiruvadanai jail where around 30 sathyagrahgis had been jailed. Overwhelmed by the surge of people headed by the fighters the said Jail was broken and the sathyagrahgis were set free.
This event had enthused the people far and wide. Terrified, the British troops fired one leader, Sivangnam after tying him with a tamarind tree. This cowardice act had angered the people and thousands and thousands of them marched towards Devakottai where the court buildings were ransacked and burnt. The mindless troops opened indiscriminate fire on the marchers without any warnings as was done in Jallianwalla Bagh. Seventyfive marchers were killed, of which 14 were women. More than 300 were seriously injured.
Such was the greatest sacrifice of people of Tamilnadu during the Quit India Movement which was the final blow to the British Raj and paved way for 15 August, 1947.
After the Independence, in memory of these August martyrs a park was built and a Martyrs’ Column was erected at Devakottai.
Now, the insensitive Municipal administration planned to convert this park into an entertainment park. RYA activists objected to this and brought out a poster followed by submission of a memorandum to the municipal Chairman demanding restoring the park as martyrs' park and displaying the names of the martyrs. It drew support of the people in the town across party lines. Bowing to people’s pressure the local administration erected a board hastily with names of the martyrs. But not without a blunder of putting the wrong martyrdom date as August 14 instead of 17! This also been brought to the notice of the authorities concerned.
On 15 August CPIML organised a pledge taking meeting inside the park. The police in order to block this commemorative meeting denied mike permission in the last minute. The gathered activists garlanded the martyrs' column, observed two minutes silence. The meeting was held inside the park without the mike, presided by Narayanan, leader of CPIML. Simpson, district secretary of the party addressed the meeting. CPIML central committee member Balasunsaram paid tributes to the anti-colonial warriors like Veeran Sundaralingam, Kattapomman, VOC, Marudhu brothers, Velu Nachiyar, Kuily (a woman lieutenant of Nachiyar) and August martyrs and Com Subbu, who fought for and succeeded in the temple entry of dalits and embraced martyrdom and others. He also appealed to safeguard the hard won freedom and Constitution from the subversive attempts of Modi government. AIPWA leader Santhanamary also paid her tributes. The programme was concluded with the recital of National Anthem.
After the program many activists visited Tiruvegambathur which was the epicenter of the August 1942 movement. The martyrs' column there is in a dilapidated condition. Party leaders decided to take up the issue with the government to retrieve the glory of the struggle and sacrifice. The village panchayat president Mala who is the heir of Sardar Balabharathi assured a resolution to this effect. On 17th the day of martyrdom CPIML and RYA decided to have a homage meeting. It has also been decided to have a commemorative meeting remembering AUGUST-SEPTEMBER Martyrs in a comprehensive way.
In several dts of TN 75th Independence Day programs were held. At Vaniyambadi where State Council meeting of AICCTU was held, National Flag was hoisted by AICCTU State Secretary Sugundan in front of meeting hall. CPIML PBM V Shankar, State Secretary of CPIML NK Natarajan and other leaders were present. In Dindigul a Dalit Village woman president hoisted the National Flag.
Citizens' Convention in Patna Decides to Build Batukeshwar Dutt Memorial Gate
A citizens' convention was organized on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Independence on 14 August 2022 at Jakkanpur in Patna. It was decided at the convention to build the Batukeshwar Dutt Memorial Gate near Gauaiya Math in Jakkanpur. The gate will be dedicated to the public on Bhagat Singh's comrade and great revolutionary Batukeshwar Dutt's birth anniversary 18 November. The foundation stone will be laid on Bhagat Singh's birthday 28 September.
The convention was presided over by a freedom fighter's wife Girija Devi and attended by a large number of political-social activists, educationists and intellectuals. Addressing the convention, CPIML leader Kumar Parvez and educationist Vijay Singh said that last year we had demanded that Patna Junction, Gate Public Library and Mithapur-Chitkohra Road be named after Batukeshwar Dutt. On 12 July this year when PM Modi visited Patna we again put forward the demand for Patna Junction to be named after the great revolutionary. Unfortunately, while we are celebrating the 75th anniversary of Independence, all the values of the freedom movement are currently in great danger. In order to carry forward Batukeshwar Dutt's legacy to the coming generations, we should shoulder the responsibility of constructing the Batukeshwar Dutt Memorial Gate.
The citizens' convention unanimously passed the resolution to construct the Batukeshwar Dutt Memorial Gate and a committee was constituted for it.
Uttar Pradesh
The 'Save Freedom, Democracy, Constitution' campaign was conducted in various Districts across Uttar Pradesh. Pamphlet distribution, marches, rallies and meetings were organized under the campaign. Flag hoisting programs were held at offices and amongst the people. The Preamble to the Constitution was read at meetings and the pledge taken to protect the Constitution and build the India of martyrs' dreams.
In Lucknow District a 'We the People of India' program was organized and pledge taken at Rania Mau village on the 75th anniversary of Independence. A freedom march was organized on 14 August from Mohibullapur via Yadav Chowk, Roshanabad, Saraura, Khataiyya, Duggaur, Birampur, Lodhmau, Baurumau, Hirankhuri, Mushikhera, Bannaur, Madaripur, Shivpuri, Bargadi and Khurd, culminating in a meeting at BKT. A freedom march was held on 15 August at Khadri in Madiaon, Babasaheb Ambedkar's statue was garlanded, followed by a meeting addressed by AIPWA and CPIML leaders including Meena and Nemilal. At Scooters India a bike rally was organised which was culminated in a meeting at the Chandrashekhar Azad statue.
Freedom marches, rallies, meetings and flag hoisting programs were organized at various places in Districts including Sonbhadra, Chandauli, Mirzapur, Banaras, Ghazipur, Ballia, Mau, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Gorakhpur, Bhadohi, Allahabad, Ayodhya, Sitapur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Kanpur, Mathura and Rae Bareli.
Delhi
Freedom marches were held at many places including Gandhi Nagar, Kondli, Vasant Kunj, Delhi University, JNU etc.
