Aruna Asaf Ali and Quit India Movement

Aruna Asaf Ali (1909–1996), born Aruna Ganguly, was an Indian educator, political activist, and publisher who emerged as an iconic figure of the radical anti-colonial resistance. Widely remembered as the “Grand Old Lady of the Independence Movement,” her leadership during the Quit India Movement of 1942 transformed her into a national symbol of underground defiance. Her actions at August Kranti Maidan filled the leadership vacuum created by the sudden arrest of the senior Indian National Congress (INC) leadership, keeping the anti-British momentum alive across the country.

Early Life and Political Awakening

Aruna Ganguly was born on July 16, 1909, into a Bengali Brahmo family in Kalka, Punjab. She completed her schooling in Nainital and worked as a teacher at the Gokhale Memorial Girls’ School in Calcutta.

Marriage and Political Entry

In 1928, she married Asaf Ali, a prominent Congress leader and lawyer based in Delhi, defying severe opposition due to religious and age differences. This marriage introduced her to active national politics. She joined the Indian National Congress and participated in public meetings alongside leaders like Sarojini Naidu and Kasturba Gandhi.

Early Imprisonments

• Salt Satyagraha (1930): She addressed public gatherings in Delhi during the Salt Satyagraha, leading to her arrest. While other political prisoners were released under the Gandhi-Irwin Pact of 1931, the British administration refused to release her. Public protests, led by nationalist women, eventually forced her release.
• Individual Satyagraha (1941): She was arrested again in 1941 for participating in the Individual Satyagraha launched by Mahatma Gandhi and was detained at the Tihar Jail in Delhi.

Role in the Quit India Movement (1942)

The Quit India Movement marked the peak of Aruna Asaf Ali’s political career, cementing her reputation as an unyielding revolutionary leader.

The Flag Hoisting at Gowalia Tank Maidan

On August 8, 1942, the All India Congress Committee passed the ‘Quit India’ resolution at Gowalia Tank Maidan (now August Kranti Maidan) in Bombay. Early in the morning of August 9, the colonial authorities launched Operation Zero Hour, arresting Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and the entire Congress Working Committee.

• Hoisting the Tricolor: Amidst severe police presence and tear gas, the 33-year-old Aruna Asaf Ali stepped forward, took charge of the gathering, and hoisted the Indian National Congress flag at Gowalia Tank Maidan.
• Symbol of Resistance: Her act signalled the official launch of the mass struggle to the nation, preventing the movement from collapsing after the arrest of its high command.

Underground Activities and Mobilization

To evade arrest, Aruna Asaf Ali went underground immediately after the August 9 event. The British police declared her an outlaw and announced a reward of ₹5,000 for her capture.

• Underground Central Directorate: She, along with Jayaprakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia, Achyut Patwardhan, and Sucheta Kripalani, set up an underground central directorate to coordinate revolutionary activities.
• Inquilab Publication: She edited and published Inquilab, the monthly official magazine of the Congress underground network, alongside Ram Manohar Lohia, to inform the public about local uprisings and police atrocities.
• Congress Radio: She provided logistical support and content for the secret Underground Congress Radio operated by Usha Mehta in Bombay.
• Seizure of Property: The British government seized her property and auctioned it, but she refused to surrender. Mahatma Gandhi personally wrote to her advising her to give herself up due to her failing health, but she remained underground until the warrants against her were officially withdrawn in 1946.

Comparative Overview: Women Leaders in the 1942 Movement

Post-Independence Politics and Ideological Shift

After India achieved independence, Aruna Asaf Ali aligned herself with radical left-wing ideological politics, stepping away from orthodox Congress policies.

Left-Wing Alignment

• Socialist Party: She joined the Congress Socialist Party (CSP) in 1948, feeling that the mainstream Congress was drifting away from socialist socio-economic restructuring.
• Communist Movement: In 1954, she helped form the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), the women’s wing of the Communist Party of India (CPI). She joined the CPI in 1955.

Civic Leadership and Publishing

• First Mayor of Delhi: In 1958, she was elected as the first Mayor of the Delhi Municipal Corporation, focusing on urban sanitation, public health, and civic infrastructure in capital city areas.
• Link and Patriot: She founded the Link newspaper and the daily newspaper Patriot, which provided a platform for progressive, left-leaning socio-political views.

Facts for Quick Revision

• Birth and Death: Born July 16, 1909, in Kalka (Punjab); died July 29, 1996, in New Delhi.
• Popular Titles: “Grand Old Lady of the Independence Movement” and “Heroine of 1942 Movement.”
• Historic Action: Hoisted the INC flag on August 9, 1942, at Gowalia Tank Maidan, Bombay.
• Underground Journal: Published and edited Inquilab with Ram Manohar Lohia.
• Civic Record: Elected as the first Mayor of Delhi in 1958.
• Highest Civilian Honors: Awarded the International Lenin Peace Prize (1964), Padma Vibhushan (1992), and Bharat Ratna (posthumously in 1997).