Context:

• Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit said the people of Tamil Nadu had played a significant role in the Quit India movement.

Facts:

• “The Gandhian leader Kamarajar, simple and non-violent in approach, exhorted the freedom-loving people of Tamil Nadu to fight whole-heartedly against the British.
• Several leaders from the State were imprisoned; Kamaraj’s mentor S. Satyamurti died as a result of torture during imprisonment.
• Presidency College, Pachaiyappa’s College, Loyola College and Madras Christian College led the strikes and demonstrations. Annamalai University had to be closed.
• Queen Mary’s College was the first women’s college to organise a protest in the southern region.
• The Governor briefly went off script, moving away from a prepared text to advise students on the seven deadly sins according to Mahatma Gandhi. H
• The Hitavada, a newspaper started by Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
• “Not just the Quit India Movement, the contribution of Tamil Nadu to the freedom movement is significant. In fact, we were among the pioneers.
• Tamil Nadu had produced several individuals who opposed the British much before most well-known resistance movements began.
• Before the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny, we had the 1806 Vellore Mutiny.
• Before the formation of the Indian National Congress, we had the Chennai Swadeshi Sangam.

Source:TH