Contributed By: Dr. R. Boradkar
Mangala Govind Vartak lives in Pune. She spent her child hood in Wardha very near Mahatma Gandhi’s very famous Seva gram she is running 82. She has fond memories of Wardha and she vividly remembers the 1942 ‘CHALE JAV’ movement and Mahatma Gandhi’s call ‘Karo ya Maro’
Getting swept by the fervour of the freedom movement was by far the most glorious moment of her life. Here is how she remembers it.
In August 1942 Mahatma Gandhi asked the British to QUIT INDIA and called on the Indians to DO OR DIE. I was studying in the 6th standard then and was not mature enough to understand the intricacies of politics. My father, uncles and brothers used to discuss about the political situation in India and I used to be a passive listener. But I could understand that the country was passing through turmoil and there were difficult days ahead. Sevagram of Gandhiji and Pavnar of Vinobaji were very close to Wardha. There was maximum political activity in these two places and news used to reach Wardha in no time. Wardha was therefore experiencing a LULL BEFORE THE STORM.
And, one day we heard that the final call for the fight was given, the British were asked to leave forthwith and the Indians were asked to fight to the end. There was excitement every where and I too was moved by this intense passion. Schools and colleges were closed. All activity was supposed to come to a standstill. Passive resistance was resorted to. .It was a real SATYAGRAHA.
Morning and evening processions called ‘Prabhat Feris’ and ‘Sayam Feris’ were organised though they were banned .Even as children we were fired up by the national spirit and we started participating in the Prabhat feris with the Tricolour in our hands.
On one occasion our Prabhat Feri was to terminate in the Nehru Chowk. The information had reached the police somehow and they were ready for us. We were unaware and reached Nehru Chowk with the Tricolour in hand, singing patriotic songs. The police were ready with their batons ready to pounce on us. Our Prabhat Feri leader was one Yashomati Huddar. She bravely tried to break the police cordon shouting a slogan ’Ladhenge ladhenge Karkehi Dikhayenge’. We also tried to do the same thing but the police resorted to Lathi Charge and started beating everybody. Yashomati was beaten severely. Someone took the flag from her hand and charged forwards and then someone else took it and in a sort of a relay race the flag was taken to the Nehru Chowk. Yashomati congratulated them and then fell down. She was badly injured but remained undaunted .I narrowly escaped being severely beaten. But I was hit on the back and on the legs. We did not mind the beating. We were fighting for our nation and our hearts were filled with pride.
I feel sorry that I don’t see that spirit of sacrifice these days. Only money seems to matter. And I ask myself is this the freedom that we all fought for?
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