Page 54 - NIS English 16-31 July,2023

ARUNA ASAF ALI ABDUL HAMID KAISER

HOISTED FLAG A FREEDOM FIGHTER
WHO WAS THE
AT MUMBAI'S MESSIAH OF THE POOR

GOWALIA MAIDAN Born: May 5, 1929, Died: July 18, 1998

Born: 16 July 1909, Died: 29 July 1996 reedom fighter Abdul Hamid Kaiser was one of
Fthe well-known patriots of India. He was born
reedom fighter Aruna Asaf Ali was an on May 5, 1929, in Jhalawar district of Rajasthan.
Finspirational freedom fighter who is best The feeling of patriotism had awakened in his mind
remembered for unfurling the Indian national flag since childhood. Abdul Hamid Kaiser, popularly
in Mumbai during the Quit India Movement in known as 'Lakhpati', was considered an intense
1942. Aruna was of Bengali origin and was born on speaker. It is said that in 1954 a lottery of one
July 16, 1909, in Kalka, Haryana. She was married lakh rupees was opened in his name, after which
to freedom fighter Asaf Ali. She came in close he became famous as 'Lakhpati'. Kaiser remained
contact with leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and active during the 'Quit India Movement'. In August
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and started attending 1942, 'Tilak Jayanti' was celebrated in Kota. In this, a
their meetings. Aruna Asaf Ali participated in many resolution was passed to participate in the session
movements during the Indian freedom struggle, to be held in Mumbai on August 9, 1942, and to
including the Salt Satyagraha, due to which she support the 'Quit India Movement'. The event was
had to go to jail several times. attended by the dignitaries of the city along with
It was Aruna Asaf Ali who unfurled the Indian the students under the leadership of Abdul Hamid
national flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Mumbai Kaiser. He also suffered a head injury during this
during the Quit India Movement in 1942, when the movement. Despite this, his morale did not abate
top leaders of the freedom struggle were jailed by and he continued to agitate.
the British on 8 August 1942. Mumbai's Gowalia After getting admission to Aligarh University,
Tank Maidan is now known as August Kranti Kaiser actively participated in the freedom
Maidan. After this incident, instead of surrendering movement. Even after the independence of the
or getting arrested, she continued the freedom country, he continued to be active and worked in the
struggle by going underground. Mahatma Gandhi interest of the nation. Apart from his contribution
wrote a letter to Aruna requesting her to surrender to freedom and his dedication and duty toward
but she never accepted that request. Mumbai society, he is also remembered as the messiah
remained the center of the movement but later it of the poor. Kaiser wanted to see India united but
started spreading to other parts of the country as his wish could not be fulfilled. Eventually, after the
well. Aruna Asaf Ali also encouraged women to country got independence, he stayed away from
participate in the freedom struggle. direct electoral politics. However, many of his
After independence, she became active in politics. comrades rose to high positions in politics. After
Aruna was appointed the first mayor of Delhi in completing his education in Aligarh, he started
1958. She was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in practicing in Bundi. In 1961, he had promised Lal
1992 and the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian Bahadur Shastri that he would fight the case of the
award, posthumously in 1997. Aruna Asaf Ali died poor free of cost. He followed it all his life. He died
on 29 July 1996. on 18 July 1998.

52 New India Samachar July 16-31, 2023