75 years on, PM Modi calls for Quit India Movement against poverty, corruption; But is that enough?
- PM Narendra Modi sends a clarion call for Poverty-Quit India, Corruption-Quit India, Filth-Quit India.
- The 75th celebration of the movement is much more than 'Do or die' as it was resounded during the freedom struggle. It has to be turned into a resolution for a better future.
- PM Modi has launched the 'Sankalp Yatra' from August 15 to August 30 across the country.
FollowOn the 75th year celebration of the Quit India Movement, PM Modi has pledged for a country, which goes beyond the meaning of 'Do or Die'. He has pledged for an India, which will have a resolution for a better future. The "New India of Our Dreams" by 2022 will have no place for poverty, dirt, corruption, casteism, terrorism and communalism.
His Tweet was loud and clear about his ideas of the India of his dreams. He had said, "In 1942, the need of the hour was to free India from colonialism. Today, 75 years later the issues are different. Let us pledge to free India from poverty, dirt, corruption, terrorism, casteism, communalism and create a 'New India' of our dreams by 2022." However, that kept us wondering whether that was enough.
Apparently, the prime minister answered our doubts in his Mann Ki Baat episode on Sunday where he evoked the power of the youth and a collective decision to make India a better place. The Swachch Bharat Abhiyaan, the demonetisation, the Aadhaar-PAN linking are all evident of the beginning of a movement already. Modi had said, "….We should celebrate 15th August 2017 as the Sankalp Parva or the Day of Resolve….The need for today is not ‘Do or Die’, instead it is to resolve, to come together, persevere, and work relentlessly with our utmost strength towards the making of a new India. Let us live by and strive for this resolve. Come let’s launch a mega campaign, ‘Sankalp se Siddhi,’ Attainment through Resolve, from the 9th of this August.”
On the 75th anniversary of the historic Quit India movement, we salute all the great women & men who took part in the movement.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 9, 2017
Under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, the entire nation came together with the aim of attaining freedom. https://t.co/ixJtixAQn0
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 9, 2017
In 1942, the need of the hour was to free India from colonialism. Today, 75 years later the issues are different.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 9, 2017
Let us pledge to free India from poverty, dirt, corruption, terrorism, casteism, communalism & create a 'New India' of our dreams by 2022. pic.twitter.com/x4zbaxGKkN
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 9, 2017
Let us work shoulder to shoulder to create the India that our freedom fighters would be proud of. #SankalpSeSiddhi https://t.co/TYuxNNJfIf
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 9, 2017
Incidentally, the idea of "change" has come a long way since 1947. It all began in 1991 when after winning elections in 1991, the Congress government decided to celebrate August 9, 1992 as the most significant day to mark the final phase of India's independence. In fact, an official committee was constituted for the purpose. In a letter to the National Committee of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations, the All India Freedom Fighter Association (AIFFA) demanded that the main event be organised at the Red Fort in Delhi, which was a symbol of anti-British sentiments. Besides, the organisation also wanted the India Gate Hexagon to be named as ‘August Kranti Park’. However, there were controversies surrounding it since it was a mix of English and Hindi names. Consequentially, there were multiple suggestions of re-naming it as 'Kranti Chowk'. There was also a proposal of installing a statue of Mahatma Gandhi opposite the India Gate and naming it as 'Swaraj Darshan'. However, neither was India Gate known by a different name nor was the statue of Mahatma Gandhi installed.
India, however, has come a long way from here. It is not just about name changes now, it is much more than that. While the country was already high on collective conscience then, now we function in a different way. Freedom attained, its individual freedom that we are more concerned about rather than national interest. Certainly, building a national consciousness is the call of the day, for which PM Modi launched the 'Sankalp Yatra' from August 15 to August 30. The parade sis likely to mobilise people into sounding a clarion call against poverty, corruption, terrorism, and communalism. Needless to say, PM Modi has to incite the people's imagination of freedom struggle and national dignity.
