1. Have an Interesting Snippet to Share : Click Here
    Dismiss Notice

Memories of Childhood ; Quit India Movement, August 9 th , 1942

Discussion in 'Snippets of Life (Non-Fiction)' started by LakshmiKMBhat, Feb 8, 2014.

  1. LakshmiKMBhat

    LakshmiKMBhat Gold IL'ite

    Messages:
    421
    Likes Received:
    904
    Trophy Points:
    180
    Gender:
    Female
    [FONT=&quot]The British ruled India for a long, long time and the effects of their rule, good and bad, were felt all over the country. We got our freedom in 1947 . My father writes about what happened in his hometown in 1942.[/FONT]


    “This was the day which changed the face of
    India. The famous "Quit India" resolution
    was passed by the Congress Party led by
    Mahatma Gandhiji. Within 5 years, the British left India.

    But, to us, residents of Hospet, this day
    was a day of sorrow. The Municipal High School,
    of which my father was the Headmaster had a
    wonderful library It was at its South East corner.
    Books of many languages were there. I was too
    young to have read any book from that library.

    On a night of August, 1942, we woke up in
    the middle of the night and saw a big light
    to our west. The sun had set a long time back.
    My father too woke up. He suddenly started
    walking towards the High School. As he came near,he saw that there some fire coming out of the
    school building. He called a few students and
    men who were nearby. They were amazed to find that their library was burning. Immediately,
    police were informed. And soon, they came to
    the school with a large number of policemen and
    some residents of the town.

    They found that the school library was
    burning and that there was no way of
    stopping it. Water was far away, as the school
    well was on the other side of the school. As
    hundreds of students arrived along with other
    men, they formed a line from the well and
    brought water to the fire. It took some time
    to stop the fire. By that time, the
    library room, its roof supported bu wooden
    beams and almirahs carrying books were all
    burnt.

    When we woke up in the morning, we walked
    towards the school. We found that the large school-ground with its hockey, football and cricket
    fields was littered with papers from the burnt
    books. At many places, we could not see the ground.
    I had never seen my father with such a face. He
    was short of weeping. The picture of my school
    ground covered with half-burnt paper can never
    leave my mind. :-(

    We do not know what the persons who burnt the
    books to be read by their children, gained from
    their action. But, we students lost thousands of
    books which were the main source of our
    knowledge.”


    View attachment 204377


    (photos from the internet)[FONT=&quot][/FONT]

    [FONT=&quot] [/FONT]
     
    Loading...

Share This Page