Recalling Freedom Struggles

August 9: A date in Indian History recalling the independence struggle, and the start of the Quit India movement.

The Aashray Abhiyan team was down at the Seven Martyr's statue in Patna in full strength, accompanied by representatives from the communities we serve.

One of the team members wrote this report:

Women, men, and young comrades who arrived from various slums raised slogans of "Long live the seven immortal martyrs!"

Along with Sisiter Dorothy and the team, several well known people joined the event. Dharmendra Kumar Ji paid tribute to the martyrs through songs.

Social activists present on the occasion—including Rajesh Paswan, Krishna Kumar Ambedkar, Uma Dafdar, renowned theater director of Bihar Kumar Manav, Rakesh Kumar (Secretary, Bihar Association for Persons with Disabilities), and Ajay Kumar—shared their thoughts, stating:

"As soon as Mahatma Gandhi sounded the bugle with the 'Quit India' slogan on August 8, 1942, the students of Bihar took bullets to their chests on August 11 and hoisted the flag on the Legislative Assembly—striking directly at the heart of British rule. Instantly, the fire of revolution gained rapid momentum across Bihar."

Tributes and salutes were dedicated to those brave martyrs along with revolutionary slogans.

Sister Dorothy, director of Aashray Abhiyan, drew a parallel of how students were an important factor in the achievement of a free, democratic, multicultural, and secular India, and the role that they now play in standing up for the democracy .

She referred to the recent student movement that aimed to bring reforms to a decaying educational system, where students faced police brutality and violence, standing up against the might of the state.

Independence was hard fought, and those who love the country need to remain vigilant and defend attacks against the Constitution and the idea of a plural and vibrant India, she said.