A national campaign was organized across the country from August 9th to 15th , to mark the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Independence and 80th anniversary of the Quit India movement of 1942, with the slogan 'Save Constitution, Save Democracy! Build India of Martyrs' Dreams!' to fulfil the vision enshrined in the Preamble to the Indian Constitution of making India a sovereign, secular, socialist and democratic country, and against the relentless attacks on the values and vision of the Constitution, democracy and freedom.
On August 9th, the party organised pledge-taking meetings on the 80th anniversary of the Quit India Movement at thousands of places across different states, where th efollowing 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.”
On August 15th, the 75th Independence Day was observed everywhere through flag-hoisting, followed by reading out of the Preamble of the Constitution of India.
Bihar
The state capital Patna witnessed a massive march on August 11th from Buddha Smriti Park to the Martyrs' Memorial at the Vidhan Sabha, where tributes were paid to the seven young freedom fighters – Umakant Prasad Sinha, Devipad Chaudhury, Ramanand Singh, Satish Prasad Jha, Jagpati Kumar, Rajendra Singh and Ramgovind Singh. They 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 inspired many.
The Freedom March was attended by MLAs, CPIML leaders and activists and common masses. Addressing the meeting at the Martyrs' Memorial, Com. Dhirendra Jha 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 for.”
“We pledge to intensify and expand the struggle to protect the Constitution, democracy and to build the India of the martyrs' dreams,” added Com. Rajaram Singh.
On August 14th, a citizens' convention was organized on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Independence on August 14th, 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 great revolutionary Batukeshwar Dutt's birth anniversary November 18th, the foundation stone for which will be laid on Bhagat Singh's birth anniversary September 28th.
On August 15th, national flag-hoisting program and party campaign call were observed across Bihar. During the event, CPIML Bihar State Secretary Com. Kunal noted that “today, amidst the fascist onslaught, it is important to uphold the radical legacy of the freedom movement and intensify the battle for a sovereign, socialist, secular democratic India as envisioned in the preamble to India’s Constitution.”
“The recent political changes in Bihar are a clear message to those who want to destroy India’s democratic values, that those forces spreasing hatred and violence will be thrown into the dustbin of history,” added Com. Kunal.
The Cultural group Jan Sanskriti Manch, launched a Freedom 75 cultural tour from Ara to Patna on August 15 to spread the message and legeacy of Indian glorious freedom movement. With the message that the immediate task for us to carry forward the common heritage of the freedom struggle and protect the democratic values acquired in the freedom, the central cultural team of Jan Sanskriti Manch reached out to the masses with songs, folk songs, dramas, dialogues on the occasion of the 75th year of independence. The tour passing from Patna, Begusarai, Samastipur, Darbhanga reached Madhubani on August 20.
West Bengal
On occasion of the 75th anniversary of India’s independence, the nationwide campaign ‘Save our Freedom, Democracy, Constitution’ was observed from August 9th to 15th in various districts of West Bengal. A public meeting on 'We, the People of India' was organized by Pragatisheel Nagarik Udyog (Bali) at Bali Ashutosh Library on August 9th to commemorate 80 years of the historical Quit India Movement. CPIML Politburo member Partha Ghosh addressed the meeting and discussed the essence of the independence movement and the lessons learnt.
On August 11th, the 115th martyrdom day of revolutionary Khudiram Bose, one of the youngest martyrs of the Indian Independence movement, was observed by the student and youth front of the Party. Meetings, street corner meetings, processions were held in Kolkata, Hooghly, Nadia and other parts of the state.
On August 13th, CPIML also paid homage to the martyrs of the Kashipur Baranagar massacre that took palce in North Kolkata which began from August 13th, 1971, soon after the murder of Comrade Saroj Dutta. Hundreds of youth, who were inspired by the flames of Naxalbari were brutally killed.
On August 15th, the people's pledge 'We, the People of India Have One Mission –Save our Freedom, Democracy, Constitution' along with the preamble of the Constitution were read across the state to take the oath to uphold our freedom and protect the Constitution & democracy. National flag and red flag were hoisted in several blocks and villages and homage paid to the freedom fighters of our country.
Left parties observed the 75th independence day in front of Gandhi Bhawan, Beliaghata, Kolkata by taking vow to protect the socialist, secular and democratic ethos of the country. CPIML Politburo member Kartick Pal addressed the meeting and upheld the need to recall the sacrifice of our martyrs in the freedom struggle and expose those who betrayed it.
In Siliguri, 75 years of independence was observed to renew our resolve to build the India of the dreams of our great martyrs. The national flag was hoisted by the party's state secretary Abhijit Majumder and the red flag was hoisted by Darjeeling district secretary Pabitra Singh.
In Belgharia, a public meeting was organized to highlight the role of women and left in the freedom movement of our country. Teacher and activist Satabdi Das, while speaking about courageous roles of women freedom fighters said Pritilata Waddedar, Kalpana Dutta, Kalyani Das, Veena Das, Suhasini Ganguly, Ela Sen, Sulta Kar, Kamala Dasgupta, Aruna Asaf Ali, Nanibala Devi, Dukri Bala Devi, Matangini Hazra, Sarojani Naidu and only a few others are found in history books and the rest are unnamed and mostly ignored. Women like Begum Hazrat Mahal, Muhammadi Khanam, Kanpur courtesan Ajijun Bai, B Amma; tribal women revolutionaries Quili, Velu Nachia, Lakshmi Bai's associate Jhankari Bai, Mandira, Sundar Bau, Mundari Bai, Moti Bai were integral part of freedom movement, fighting against tyranny, should-to-shoulder with their male counterparts.
Tamilnadu
The Quit India call of 1942, was reverberating in the erstwhile Ramnadhapuram district (now Sivagangai and Ramanathapuram) in Tamilnadu on August 14th to 17th. In 1942, Tiruvegamputhur, Tiruvadanai and adjoining villages, 22 km South of Devakottai, had witnessed massive mass movement against the tyrannical British Raj. On August 14th, freedom fighters cutting across caste 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, an important bridge was demolished and telephone connections were snapped. Fighters marched towards Tiruvadanai jail where around 30 sathyagrahis 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 attracted the people far and wide. Terrified, the British troops shot Sivangnam, one of the leaders of the movement after tying him to a tamarind tree. This act had angered the people and thousands and thousands marched towards Devakottai, where the court buildings were ransacked and burnt. The British troops opened fire indiscriminately on the freedom fighters. Seventy-five people were killed, of which 14 were women. More than 300 were seriously injured.
Such was the greatest sacrifice of people of Tamil Nadu during the Quit India Movement, which was the final blow to the British Raj and paved way for August 15th, 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 14th instead of 17th! This also been brought to the notice of the authorities concerned.
On August 15th, CPIML organised a pledge taking meeting inside the park. The activists who gathered garlanded the martyrs' column, observed two minutes silence. The meeting was held inside the park, with CPIML leaders Balasundaram (CCM), Narayanan, Simpson and AIPWA leader Santhanamary addressing the gathering. Tributes were paid to the anti-colonial warriors like Veeran Sundaralingam, Kattapomman, Valliyappan Olaganathan Chidambaram Pillai, Marudhu brothers, Velu Nachiyar, Kuily (a woman lieutenant of Nachiyar) among many others.
Com. Balasundaram noted that “The need of hour is to safeguard the hard-won freedom and Constitution from the subversive attempts of Modi government.” The programme was concluded with the recital of the National Anthem.
Uttar Pradesh
The 'Save Freedom, Democracy, Constitution' campaign was conducted across 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' programme was organized and pledge taken at Rania Mau village on the 75th anniversary of Independence. A freedom march was organized on August 14th from Mohibullapur and culminating in a meeting at BKT. A freedom march was held on August 15th at Khadri in Madiaon, Babasaheb Ambedkar's statue was garlanded, followed by a meeting addressed by AIPWA and CPIML leaders, including Meena and Nemilal. Freedom marches, rallies, meetings and flag hoisting programs were organized at various districts, including Sonbhadra, Chandauli, Mirzapur, Sitapur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Kanpur, Mathura and Rae Bareli.
Delhi
On August 15th, CPIML observed 'Save Freedom, Democracy, Constitution' campaign in different parts of Delhi. At Bhagat Singh Ambedkar Pathshala in Kusumpur Pahadi, CPIML, AICCTU, AISA and RYA organised a flag-hoisting and reading of the Preamble of Constitution. Akash Bhattacharya, former faculty of Azim Premji University, Bangalore, addressed the gathering with a short history of the significance of our freedom struggle.
Com. Sucheta De, Central Committee member of CPIML noted that “Today not only our institutions are under the threat of fascist assault. People’s livelihood, their housing and their right to life are being bulldozed to pave way for corporate development.”
“At one side, PM Modi gives speech of roof [housing] for all, but on the other hand every day we are witnessing poor people are evicted from their slums and their shanties are being demolished,” she added.
Com. Ravi Rai, Delhi State Secretary, who spoke at the event at Narela Industrial Area said that the glorious legacy of our freedom movement teaches us that forces of hatred and violence has no place in country. We all must stand firm in defence of our democratic and constitutional values, which are the product of the sacrifices of our freedom fighters.
Freedom marches were held at many places, including Gandhi Nagar, Kondli, Vasant Kunj, Delhi University, JNU etc.
Karnataka
In Karnataka, AICCTU and AISA were part of a campaign from August 1st to August 15th along with various other organizations for the celebration of 75 years of Freedom and to remember all those who fought for freedom and to carry forward their ideals. It was launched on 1st August with the BBMP Pourakarmikara Sangha near their homes at K.R. Puram, Bengaluru. The struggle of the working class, including the sanitation workers which were part of the freedom struggle was remembered.
Similar programs were organized with the street vendors union across the city of Bengaluru. The Freedom - 75 campaign was organized at the Shivajinagar Market and at Vijayanagar Market where several street vendors distributed pamphlets and spoke about the freedom struggle, what freedom means, and how they envision the country.
On 15th August a meeting was held in the party office at Bengaluru where a discussion took place in regard to what independence and freedom means, and how we envisage a free India. The sacrifices made by all those who fought for freedom was remembered and their ideals reinforced. The contribution of the working class, adivasis, women, agricultural labourers was highlighted. The pledge was read and it was decided to carry forward the struggle for full and complete freedom.
