ARUNA
ASAF ALI - MODERN HISTORY
News:
A
women at the heart of Quit India Movement
What's
in the news?
● Aruna
Asaf Ali is known as the heroine of the
1942 Quit India movement for the bravery she showed in the face of danger.
Key
takeaways:
● She
also came to be known as the ‘Grand Old
Lady’ of the Independence movement in her later years.
Hoisting
the Flag:
● She
is widely remembered for hoisting the
Indian National flag at the Gowalia Tank maidan, Bombay during a Quit India
Movement in 1942, giving the movement one of its most long-lasting images.
● This
event of hoisting the flag was followed by an uproar among the people and the
emergence of several young leaders such as Ram Manohar Lohia, Jai Prakash
Narayan, SM Joshi.
Contributions:
● She
became a member of Indian National
Congress and participated in public processions during the Salt Satyagraha.
● She
was arrested, and not released in 1931 under the Gandhi-Irwin Pact which
stipulated release of all political prisoners.
● Other
women co-prisoners refused to leave the premises unless she was also released
and gave in only after Mahatma Gandhi intervened.
● She
was politically not very active after her release, until 1942. Known for her
independent streak, she even disobeyed Gandhi’s request to surrender herself in
1946.
Post-independence:
● She
remained active in politics, becoming Delhi's
first Mayor.
● She
was also awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1992 and the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1997.
Works:
● She
started a weekly journal 'Weekly' and
newspaper 'Patriot' in order to encourage women's education and status.