‘Karenge ya Marenge’ to celebrate 75 years of Quit India launch

NEW DELHI: Two big events in Indian history — Quit India Movement (Bharat Chhodo Andolan) call by Mahatma Gandhi asking the British to leave India, and the formation of Azad Hind Fauj (also known as the Indian National Army) by Subhas Chandra Bose — are completing 75 years on August 9 and September 1 respectively.

Both developments had taken shape in 1942. The culture ministry has decided to hold an exhibition of the declassified documents related to both these events, including that of Bose and INA, for physical scrutiny of people.

To be held from August 9 to September 1 at the National Archives of India, the exhibition, named Karenge Ya Marenge 75 Chalo Dilli, will have on display thousands of declassified files and documents, including those related to slogans Karenge ya Marenge (Do or Die) by Mahatama Gandhi, Bharat Chhodo by Yusuf Mehar Ali and others, an official at the National Archives of India said.

People will get a chance to get a glimpse of documents such as a letter by the Mahatma written on August 8, 1942, in which he coined ‘Karenge ya Marenge’. Since the general public believes that the slogan Bharat Chhodo was given by the Mahatma, documents prove it was freedom fighter Yusuf Mehar Ali who had coined this slogan, the official said.

The files related to INA would also have as display the enrolment of Capt Mohan Singh in the INA on September 1, 1942. Propaganda material like pamphlets, banners, posters and others used by INA will also be displayed.

On January 23, 2016, the Archives had for the first time physically put on display 100 files related to Bose. Later, all of them were uploaded on the web portal www.netajipaper.gov.in.