The Gowalia Tank Maidan, now known as the August Kranti Maidan was the place where Gandhi gave an ultimatum to the British on 8 August 1942. His words, Do or Die, are forever etched in the consciousness of this country. While the history of the movement revolves around him, the voice of a woman thundered as she hoisted the flag and captured the essence of Quit India in the most iconic manner.

Aruna was a part of a Brahmin family that was rather liberal according to their times. Her clan had kin ties with the Tagores and her father was a member of the Brahmo Samaj. She was encouraged to get educated and so she did. In fact, Aruna bloomed out of the limited room of freedom that she was given, challenging all restrictions that women were put through.

Aruna came into contact with Congress leader Asaf Ali while she was teaching in Calcutta. Not only was he twenty-three years older than her, but he was also a Muslim. With the decision to marry him, she took part in the greatest cultural blasphemy possible. Due to this, her family severed all ties with her, but Aruna had no regret for acting on her behalf.

Not just companions in the ups and downs of life but also compatriots in the struggle for freedom, Asaf and Aruna went on to challenge the British regime together.

In 1931, Aruna was arrested for participating in the Salt Satyagraha. While the Gandhi-Irwin pact ensured the release of all political prisoners, she was charged for being a vagrant and hence remained in jail. The masses rose with the demands of her and she was finally let go. During this time, Ali was shifted to many jails and each time, she rose to secure better conditions for prisoners and others echoed her demands.

For a decade after her release, she remained active in the underground resistance movement. In 1942, young Congressmen were being arrested by the alarmed British regime. They knew something big was coming their way and hence, began rounding political leaders as a cautionary measure. Little did they know, the blow to their regime would come from Aruna.

Later an arrest warrant was issued against her and she went underground. Gandhi suggested she surrenders herself to the British, but Aruna refused to compromise even though all her property was sold by the colonial regime. During this time, she turned more and more towards ideas of revolution and began associating with communism.

When the country finally gained independence, Arun did not stop.

On the political front, Ali was initially a part of the socialist caucus of the Congress, then the Socialist Party, and finally the Women’s Wing of the CPI, which she eventually left. It was due to her dedication to her ideals that Aruna never found a perfect party to be in. Yet this does not mean that she stopped doing the things she believed in.

Ali remained an active advocate for women’s rights, the right to education, and inculcating political awareness in people. After living a long life for her country, Aruna died on 29 July 1996.

More than just the grand old lady of independence, Aruna Asaf Ali was a leader in a true sense who feared nothing and taught others to be fearless too.