A Relentless Struggle…

Independence- the word itself conjures up many images in front of our eyes; The Jalianwala Baugh massacre, 1942- The quit India movement, Prabhat pheris, lathi charge and our proud freedom fighters. It was a phase to remember and the struggle which is strongly etched in the minds of every Indian. Indians right from their young age participated in the fight in which every form they could. Every Indian was involved in the movement which shook the British Empire and they were called the FREEDOM FIGHTERS.

Raghunath Patil and Jagannath Pathak residents of Wadavli village, Chembur were two such enthusiasts who participated in the freedom struggle in spite of resistance from his family members. Mr. Patil reminisces, "We were awestruck by freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlala Nehru and others. So much was their influence on the young minds that we were ready to do anything that they said. I played an active role in prabhat pheris (morning walks where people used to sing patriotic songs) and helping the government to ban alcohol." All of 87 years of age, Mr. Patil is proud of the fact that played his share of role in the freedom struggle. He recalls, "There were nearly 10-15 youngsters from wadavli who were actively involved in the meetings and were instrumental in mobilising people of Chembur and having rallies in the area. There used to be a government office at Akbarallys, where the activities used to take place."

The incident which is strongly etched in their minds is the Quit India movement in the year 1942 followed by the kind of uprising that took place. Mr.Patil says, "every one was agitated over the kind of attitude the British were showing and Gandhiji himself said, fight with whatever you have and that was the end of all, there were fights and morchas everywhere and INDIA was united, everyone had just one cause in mind and that was INDEPENDENCE and we fought for it, many sacrificed their lives to see August 15, 1947."

Mr.Patil was imprisoned for 6 months at Ahmednagar Jail and Mr.Pathak was imprisoned for 3 months at the same Jail. Mr.Pathak who is now 86 years of age adds, "We were in our early 20's when we were imprisoned but we were proud that we were going in for the country. We were imprisoned because we were doing a lot of activities against the Britishers in Chembur and we were proud of them, because that was helping the freedom fighters of the top rung to create a mass movement. We were hit by lathis, manhandled many times, pushed and ill treated but we never budged from our focus. We went in the prison , with a smile on our face."

But the Freedom fighters are now disappointed with the result that their struggle has fetched them. Mr.Patil says, "The youngsters during the freedom struggle were involved with the social cause but now everyone prefers to live their own lives and are least bothered about the nation. Youth can do many things, what is required is the PASSION and that's no more." Movies like Swades, Rang De Basanti, have created a difference and have generated a thought process amongst youngsters, but is the difference temporary or WE the youth of today really think about OUR COUNTRY. Its time we wake up and make this nation, a better place to live in and that's the message, from the PROUD FREEDOM FIGHTERS OF THE NATION.

IT'S TIME TO THINK AND ACT!!!

By Vaibhavi Shitut