5 women freedom fighters who shaped Quit India Movement 1942

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the Quit India Movement. The historic movement was launched on August 8, 1942, at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee by Mahatma Gandhi, during World War II. The movement also known as the August Movement demanded an end to British rule in India.

 

At a time, when the nation was fighting against the British to gain Independence, the Quit India Movement played a significant role in it. In this movement, women also took to the streets, raised slogans, conducted public lectures and demonstrations, and even made and transported explosives.

 

 

 

 

1. Aruna Asaf Ali - The Bharat Ratna recipient is widely remembered for the daring act of hoisting the Tiranga at the Gowalia Tank maidan, Bombay amid the atrocities by police against Indians during the Quit India Movement in 1942.

 

2. Matangini Hazra - In 1942, the 73-year-old woman led a procession of 6,000 people, mostly women, to ransack a local police station. When the police commenced firing, she continued to advance with the Tiranga flag. The police shot her thrice. As she was repeatedly shot, she kept chanting Vande Mataram, however, she died with Tiranga in her hands.

 

3. Kanaklata Barua - During the Quit India Movement, a 17-year-old led an unarmed procession aiming to hoist the national flag at the British-dominated Gohpur Police Station. However, she was shot and sacrificed her life for the country.

 

4. Tara Rani Srivastava - She participated actively with her husband Phulendu Babu in this movement. The just-married couple stood in front of the Siwan police station and raised slogans. Her husband was shot but she did budge and marched with the national flag straight toward the police station. By the time she returned, her husband had died.

 

5. Sucheta Kripalani - She came into the Indian historical scene during the Quit India Movement and was arrested by the British.