Yusuf Meherally: A Mumbaikar Who Coined The Slogan “Quit India”

 

Subject : Yusuf Meherally: A Mumbaikar Who Coined The Slogan “Quit India”

Written by Yogesh Gogwekar

Address : Mahim, Mumbai

While reading the history of the Indian Independence movement, we came across many leaders who became mentors for us. There are several phases of this movement which starts from 1857 and ends on 15th August 1947. The main phases of this movement were the Non-Cooperation movement of 1922-23, The Civil Disobedience movement of 1930-32 and Quit India Movement of 1942. The most strong and confident voice was raised on 8th August 1942 by the Indian National Congress asking the British to leave India permanently by using the iconic slogan Quit India.  At the meeting held with the All India Congress Committee on 8th August 1942 at Gowalia Tank in Mumbai, Mahatma Gandhi infused the phrase “Do or Die", but still he wanted an iconic slogan. Before finalizing the slogan, Mahatma conferred with his colleagues in Mumbai on the best slogan of the Independence movement. Shantikumar Morarji suggested “Get out” but Mahatma rejected the same. C Rajagopalachari said ‘Retreat’ or ‘Withdraw’ but Mahatma rejected again. Suddenly one slogan came from one of the socialist leaders who had already coined the slogan like “Go back Simon “. He was no one else but real Mumbaikar Yusuf Meherally who coined the iconic slogan “Quit India” and Mahatma approved without any hesitation. This slogan was a rallying cry of a freedom movement and became a great slogan during the last years of the Independence movement.

Yusuf Meherally was born on 3rd September 1903 in a well-to-do businessman family in Mumbai. His great-grandfather had established the textile Mills in Mumbai nearly fifty years before the birth of Yusuf Meherally.  He did his schooling from Bharda High School. During his schooling days, he was curious about the independent movement and started spending much time on reading the revolutionary movements of different nations. He completed his graduation in History and Economics from Elphinstone College and later on joined the Government law college to study the law. Even though he was born to do well in the Business family, he was deeply affected by the struggles of the working class people. When he was studying law in 1928, Simon Commission came to India to do the constitutional reforms without having any single Indian members in it.  This led to much anger and disappointment among the Indians.  Yusuf Meherally who was a staunch supporter of freedom struggle; he formed Bombay Youth league and organised the protest against the Simon Commission. Yusuf Meherally with his young team dressed up as collies and went to Bombay Port where they showed black flags to the members of commission with the slogan, “Simon Go Back” and this slogan was coined by him.

The slogan “Simon Go Back” was on everyone’s lips and Yusuf Meherally became a mentor to many freedom fighters. Even Mahatma Gandhi acknowledged his courage. The British government also noticed his popularity and started worrying about the same because in the Civil Disobedience movement, Yusuf Meherally worked without taking any break and kept the morale of the public at a high level. During the salt Satyagraha movement of 1930, main nationalist leaders of congress had been arrested but Yusuf Meherally kept the movement alive till he got arrested and sent for four month’s imprisonment.  Again in 1934, he was arrested and set to jail in Nashik for two years where he met and interacted with radical socialist leaders of freedom movement like Jayaprakash Narayan, Ashok Mehta, Narendra Dev, Achyut Patwardhan, Minoo Masani, Rammanohar Lohia and others. After release in 1934, he joined with these leaders in the Congress Socialist Party and brought economic empowerment by decentralizing socialism. He took keen interest in farmer’s problems and Trade Unions of workers.

In 1938, he decided to attend The World Cultural Conference in Mexico. Before that he led the youth world congress in New York. During the summit, he found that there was no proper literature regarding the contemporary issues of India. For that purpose, he wrote the series of books known as Leaders of India. At the time of writing forward to this book he said that, “The rise of the pamphlet and the booklet as a powerful weapon for the spread of ideas has been truly remarkable. During my visits to these continents (US and Europe) I was greatly impressed by the part that such brochures play in moulding public opinion. In Europe and America there exists a wealth of topical literature that is in striking contrast to its scantiness in India. The Current Topics Series of Padma Publications is an attempt to meet this need. The idea is to publish every few months a booklet on a subject of topical or special interest having regard to present-day controversies and their bearing on the future. The series will not be restricted to political questions only. Every title will be published in a pleasing format, at a price within the reach of all.”

He participated in each and every Satyagraha and was arrested many times. In 1942, he was arrested again for his participation in the quit India movement.  He was the kind of leader who was always ready to sacrifice his personal things for the purpose of his countrymen. Therefore, when he was in Lahore Jail in 1942, Sardar Vallabhai Patel backed his nomination for the election to Bombay Mayoralty. After being released from jail, he contested the election and won comfortably. He was the youngest Mayor in the history of Mumbai's Municipal Corporation.  Due to his total dedication towards civic work, he became very much popular among the citizens of Mumbai. During his tenure as a Mayor, he introduced a quick dispatch system for files and personally started attending civic issues of citizens of Mumbai. He stopped unwanted expenses of Bombay Municipal Corporation like payment of British Government’s Air Raid Precautions (ARP) scheme. Even though he was a Mayor of Mumbai City; he continued to participate in India’s freedom Movement. He took keen interest in mobilising his colleagues and took charge of the Quit India movement till he got arrested.

During his imprisonment in 1942, he suffered a heart attack. The prison authorities decided to shift him to hospital but he refused by saying that other ailing freedom fighters should also get the same treatment. The same had been rejected by jail authorities and Yusuf Meherally chose to remain in prison. Since his health started deteriorating, he was released in 1943. At last, he received the fruits for his sacrifice as India became a free country on 15th August 1947. He struggled through his life for his motherland ignoring his health which became weak and he became bed-ridden. Still he worked from his bed to highlight the diversity and rich heritage of India. In 1949, he organised the exhibition of painting which displayed the evolution of the freedom struggle from 1857. He also started several cultural and literature programmes in Mumbai at Kala Ghoda and invited many big Indian Personalities to give their guidance. .

Such a great person died on 2nd July 1950 at the age of 47. This was shocking to every citizen of Mumbai. When news of his death came to know, every citizen of Mumbai was in collective mourning. The next day at twelve O’clock in the afternoon, every bus, tram, train and every vehicle of Mumbai City had been stopped for a few minutes to pray tribute to their beloved leader. Even all schools, colleges, factories, offices and even stock exchanges remain closed on that day.

In today’s world, not only Mumbai but the whole Indian nation has forgotten him.  He was a voracious reader and a connoisseur of arts. He had also written books and founded a journal. In the end, I am closing my writing on him by quoting his words,” I hate ugliness & cruelty and that is why I am a socialist. My socialism is based on aesthetic & ethical premises & not on economics".

Thank you
Yogesh Gogwekar

References
Gandhi & Bombay written by K Gopalswamy
India Struggle for Freedom Written by Yusuf Meherally
The Price of Liberty by Yusuf Meherally
Underground Movements by Yusuf Meherally
Articles written by Madhu Dandavate