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First Post
08-08-2025
- Politics
- First Post
History Today: How Quit India Movement began with Mahatma Gandhi's ‘Do or Die' speech
On August 8, 1942, one of the most important chapters in India's fight for independence began as the Quit India Movement was launched following a resolution passed by the All India Congress Committee. At the same meeting, Mahatma Gandhi delivered his famous 'Do or Die' speech. The movement demanded an immediate end to British rule and encouraged people to join a non-violent civil disobedience campaign read more The movement called for an immediate end to British rule in India. (File Photo) On August 8, 1942, Mahatma Gandhi delivered his famous 'Do or Die' speech as the Quit India movement was launched. This movement was a mass call for civil disobedience, demanding that the British leave India. It was a major turning point in India's fight for independence. People from all parts of the country came together to push for self-governance and an end to British rule. Also on this day in 1974, US President Richard Nixon, under pressure after fresh details emerged in the Watergate scandal, said he would resign the next day. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Further, on this day in 1969, one of the most recognisable photographs in music history was taken when The Beatles were pictured crossing Abbey Road for the cover of their album 'Abbey Road'. As part of Firstpost Explainers' History Today series, here's a look at what happened on August 8: Quit India Movement launched The Quit India Movement began on August 8, 1942, and remains one of the most important chapters in India's struggle for freedom. It was the last major movement led by Mahatma Gandhi against British rule. The All India Congress Committee (AICC) held a meeting in Bombay on August 8 and passed a resolution to start the Quit India Movement. At the same meeting, Gandhi delivered his 'Do or Die' speech. He said, 'The mantra is 'Do or Die.' We shall either free India or die in the attempt; we shall not live to see the perpetuation of our slavery.' This movement was a mass call for civil disobedience. Image: X The movement called for an immediate end to British rule in India. It asked people to take part in a peaceful civil disobedience campaign. People from all backgrounds, including students, farmers, workers, and political figures, came together in large numbers. The British response was quick and harsh. Top leaders like Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel were arrested the next day. This led to massive protests, strikes, and non-violent resistance across the country. Because the movement began in August, it also came to be called the August Kranti or August Movement. The day is remembered every year by honouring the freedom fighters who gave their lives for the nation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Richard Nixon announces his resignation On this day in 1974, US President Richard M. Nixon said he would step down, becoming the first American president in history to resign. Faced with impeachment over his role in the Watergate scandal, Nixon gave in to growing pressure from the public and lawmakers to leave office. 'By taking this action,' he said in a serious address from the Oval Office, 'I hope that I will have hastened the start of the process of healing which is so desperately needed in America.' On August 8, 1974, US President Richard M Nixon announced he would resign the next day. AP/File Photo The Watergate scandal began with a break-in and wiretapping at the Democratic Party's national headquarters at the Watergate building in Washington, DC, carried out by men linked to Nixon and his aides. Over time, the case expanded to include other claims of wrongdoing that happened before and after the break-in. The five men who broke in were hired by the Republican Party's Committee to re-elect the President. They were caught and charged on June 17, 1972. Soon after the arrests, Nixon quietly asked White House counsel John Dean to manage a cover-up to hide the administration's part in the scandal. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Nixon also blocked the FBI's investigation and approved secret payments to the burglars in order to stop them from naming others involved. The Beatles' Abbey Road album cover was shot On this day in 1969, a photo was taken that turned a simple pedestrian crossing into one of the world's most famous locations. Abbey Road in St John's Wood, London, is now a landmark for Beatles fans, where people still copy the well-known walk of the band seen in one of the final pictures of the four members together. It became one of the most recognisable photographs in music history. Image: Spotify At the time, no one guessed that the image, picked from just six shots of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison, would become such a lasting symbol in music history. It remains one of the most copied album covers ever made. Today, the crossing is watched by a webcam and draws crowds of tourists daily. People come to pay tribute, propose, celebrate weddings, and even scatter the ashes of loved ones. This Day, That Year 1963: The 'Great Train Robbery' took place in Britain, where a gang stole 2.6 million pounds in cash from a Royal Mail train. 1994: Israel and Jordan opened their first road link, a key step in improving ties between the two former rivals. 2009: Sonia Sotomayor took the oath as the first Hispanic and third woman to serve as a justice on the US Supreme Court. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 2023: Wildfires swept across parts of Maui island in Hawaii, causing major destruction and killing around 98 people. It became one of the deadliest wildfires ever recorded.
Indian Express
23-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Daily subject-wise quiz: History and Culture MCQs on Indian architecture, terms from Buddhism, and more (Week 115)
Are you preparing for UPSC CSE Prelims? UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of daily subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on History and Culture to check your progress. Bālapañjara in the ancient temple architecture refers to: (a) sanctum (b) horseshoe arch (c) south Indian shrine (d) none of the above The Nāgara superstructure incorporated the āmalaka (fluted bulbous capstone of a Nāgara śikhara), gavākṣa (cow's eye motif or horseshoe arch), and bālapañjara (nāsī-roofed cage aedicule) over pillarlets. The Draviḍian vimāna (south Indian shrine) featured kūṭa (domed aedicule), śālā, (wagon-vault roofed aedicule), and bālapañjara. Therefore, d is the correct answer. (For more, refer: How Indian temple architecture is rooted in art, religion, and politics by Ajeya Vajpayee, The Indian Express) In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Mark your answer as per the codes provided: Assertion (A): The presiding deity of Chalukya king Vijayāditya at Pattadakal Sangamesvara was called Śrī-Vijayēśvara-Bhaṭṭāraka. Reason (R): Rulers named the presiding deities after themselves to assert their divine kingship. (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A (b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A (c) A is true, but R is false (d) A is false, but R is true Temples were often patronised by powerful kings to revere their favourite deity as well as assert, consolidate, and legitimise their overlordship over an existing or new domain. For example, Rajaraja Cola built the Thanjavur Brihadesvara temple to assert his supremacy over the region. Rulers also named the presiding deities after themselves to assert their divine kingship. For example, the presiding deity of Chalukya king Vijayāditya at Pattadakal Sangamesvara was called Śrī-Vijayēśvara-Bhaṭṭāraka. Therefore, a is the correct answer. (For more, refer: How Indian temple architecture is rooted in art, religion, and politics by Ajeya Vajpayee, The Indian Express) Where did Mahatma Gandhi deliver his famous 'Do or Die' speech? (a) Ahmedabad (b) Mumbai (c) Sevagram (d) Johannesburg On August 8, 1942, Mahatma Gandhi addressed the people in the Gowalia Tank Maidan (now known as August Kranti Maidan), Bombay (Mumbai) where he delivered his famous 'Do or Die' speech. Therefore, b is the correct answer. (For more, refer: Quit India Movement –A fight for freedom from British rule, Aakanksha Jha, The Indian Express) Which of the following Viceroys of India was associated with the 'August Offer'? (a) Lord Linlithgow (b) Lord Mountbatten (c) Lord Irwin (d) Lord Dufferin In the exhausting summer of 1942, an even more exhaustive talk was underway in Delhi between Indian freedom fighters and a mission led by Sir Stafford Cripps. The mission was sent by then British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to secure India's support for the Second World War. Before Cripps, Lord Linlithgow, then Viceroy of India, made what is known as the 'August offer' in 1940 and proposed dominion status to India but with veto power to the Muslim League and other minority leaders. Therefore, a is the correct answer. (For more, refer: Quit India Movement –A fight for freedom from British rule, Aakanksha Jha, The Indian Express) She co-edited a newspaper called Inquilab with Lohia. Post-independence, she left the Congress for the Communist Party of India. There, she founded the National Federation of Indian Women – the women's wing of the Communist Party of India. Who is she referred to in the above lines? (a) Begum Nishatunnisa Mohani (b) Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay (c) Aruna Asaf Ali (d) Purnima Banerjee Aruna co-edited a newspaper called 'Inquilab' with Lohia and continued to struggle till 1946. Gandhi, particularly moved by her determination, wanted her to surrender. He wrote, 'I have been filled with admiration for your courage and heroism. You are reduced to a skeleton. Do come out and surrender yourself and win the prize offered for your arrest. Reserve the prize money for the Harijan (untouchables') cause.' Aruna, determined towards her socialist training only surrendered after the prize money over her was removed. Even after resurfacing and courting arrest, Aruna continued to voice her political opinions by supporting the Royal Indian Navy mutiny of HMIS (His Majesty's Indian Ship) Talwar. Post-independence, Aruna left the Congress for the Communist Party of India. There she created the 'National Federation of Indian Women'- women's wing of Communist Party of India. Aruna lost her husband in 1953. Asaf Ali by this time was the first ambassador to the United States from India. Although this role would have taken Aruna close to the Capitalist camp in the Cold War world, she chose to remain close to her ideological moorings. Therefore, c is the correct answer. (For more, refer: Quit India Movement –A fight for freedom from British rule, Aakanksha Jha, The Indian Express) What does the term vevanniyanti, as seen in Buddhism, refer to? (a) working for the benefit of others (b) the process whereby suffering arises and how it can be brought to cessation (c) intentions and actions have consequences (d) one who is devoid of varna The Buddha's dream of four birds of different types and colours flying in from four directions and sitting at his feet is often interpreted as symbolically showing that all varnas were part of Buddhism. Buddha also stated that anyone who joins the Sangha or the Buddhist monastic order becomes a vevanniyanti – one who is devoid of varna. Therefore, d is the correct answer. (For more, refer: How Buddhism shows the path to nirvana, Sreekala M V, The Indian Express) Consider the following statements: 1. Vaibhāsika and Sautrāntika are the philosophical sects of Hinayāna. 2. Yogācāra and Mādhyamika are the philosophical sects of Mahāyāna. Which of the statements given above is/are true? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 1. It is the conservative and orthodox form of Buddhism. Notably, followers of the older tradition described themselves as Theravadins, that is, those who followed the path of old, respected teachers, the theras. 2. It is spread in south and south-east Asia. Vaibhāsika and Sautrāntika are the philosophical sects of Hinayāna. 3. It emphasizes the historical existence of a single Buddha, Gautama Shakyamuni and upholds Buddha's original doctrines and disciplines. It believes in individual salvation through self-discipline and meditation. 4. Scriptures were written in the Pali language. Emperor Ashoka played a significant role in spreading Theravada Buddhism. 1. Mahayana Buddhism emerged around the 1st century CE, and its doctrines were further developed during the Fourth Buddhist Council convened by Kanishka in Kashmir. 2. It emphasises the concept of Bodhisattvas. Bodhisattvas were perceived as deeply compassionate beings who accumulated merit through their efforts but used this not to attain nibbana and thereby abandon the world but to help others. 3. Mahāyāna is prevalent in north and north-east Asia. Yogācāra and Mādhyamika are the philosophical sects of Mahāyāna. Therefore, c is the correct answer. (For more, refer: Knowledge Nugget | Conclave on Buddhism: Must-know teachings, paths, and sects of Buddhism for UPSC Exam, Roshni Yadav, The Indian Express) Who used the term 'Pakistan' for the first time in 1933? (a) Muhammad Ali Jinnah (b) Allama Iqbal (c) Choudhary Rehmat Ali (d) None of the above Muhammad Ali Jinnah is remembered as the founder of Pakistan, its 'Qaid e Azam', or the 'Great Leader.' He led a movement that transformed a weak idea of a sovereign Islamic state in British India's north western provinces into reality, thus shaping the subcontinent's politics for generations to come. But he was not the first to come up with the idea of Pakistan, nor was he its original champion. Instead, the man who did, is today relegated to a footnote in the history of the subcontinent. Choudhary Rehmat Ali can be credited with coining the 'term' Pakistan, styling himself as the 'Founder of the Pakistan National Movement'. On January 28, 1933, he released a pamphlet titled 'Now or Never: Are we to live or perish forever'. In it he made a vehement 'appeal on behalf of the thirty million Muslims of PAKISTAN, who live in the five Northern Units of India… for the recognition of their national status, as distinct from the other inhabitants of India, by the grant to Pakistan of a separate Federal Constitution on religious, social and historical grounds.' According to many historians, this can be seen as the genesis of the very idea of Pakistan; an idea which would become mainstream by the 1940s. Therefore, c is the correct answer. (For more, refer: Do you know who used 'Pakistan' for the first time on this day in 1933? No, it wasn't Jinnah, Arjun Sengupta, The Indian Express.) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. Manas Srivastava is currently working as Senior Copy Editor with The Indian Express (digital) and leads a unique initiative of IE - UPSC Essentials. He majorly writes on UPSC, other competitive exams and education-related projects. In the past, Manas has represented India at the G-20 Youth Summit in Mexico. He is a former member of the Youth Council, GOI. A two-time topper/gold medallist in History (both in graduation and post-graduation) from Delhi University, he has mentored and taught UPSC aspirants for more than four years. His diverse role in The Indian Express consists of writing, editing, anchoring/ hosting, interviewing experts, and curating and simplifying news for the benefit of students. He hosts the YouTube talk show called 'Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik' and a LIVE series on Instagram and YouTube called 'You Ask We Answer'.His talks on 'How to read a newspaper' focus on newspaper reading as an essential habit for students. His articles and videos aim at finding solutions to the general queries of students and hence he believes in being students' editor, preparing them not just for any exam but helping them to become informed citizens. This is where he makes his teaching profession meet journalism. He is also the editor of UPSC Essentials' monthly magazine for the aspirants. He is a recipient of the Dip Chand Memorial Award, the Lala Ram Mohan Prize and Prof. Papiya Ghosh Memorial Prize for academic excellence. He was also awarded the University's Post-Graduate Scholarship for pursuing M.A. in History where he chose to specialise in Ancient India due to his keen interest in Archaeology. He has also successfully completed a Certificate course on Women's Studies by the Women's Studies Development Centre, DU. As a part of N.S.S in the past, Manas has worked with national and international organisations and has shown keen interest and active participation in Social Service. He has led and been a part of projects involving areas such as gender sensitisation, persons with disability, helping slum dwellers, environment, adopting our heritage programme. He has also presented a case study on 'Psychological stress among students' at ICSQCC- Sri Lanka. As a compere for seminars and other events he likes to keep his orating hobby alive. His interests also lie in International Relations, Governance, Social issues, Essays and poetry. ... Read More
Washington Post
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Guitars, masks and defiance: Kenya's rock and metal scene catches fire
NAIROBI — The guitar thrummed, the drumsticks smashed into a quivering cymbal, and the lead vocalist for Rash howled into the mic, electrifying the night air. After years in the wilderness, Kenya's tiny rock and metal scene is exploding — and bands like Irony Destroyed, Last Year's Tragedy and Rash are clawing their way up the charts. Very few Africans have traditionally listened to rock music, said Nick Wathi, one of Kenya's first rock producers. Its reputation for rebelliousness and subversion creates suspicion in a society that values religion and respect for elders, Wathi said. But that's what drew him in. 'It was the devil's music!' he laughed. Samuel Gakungu, Rash's drummer, has his musical roots in a church choir. He came to rock, he said, because it spoke to him more deeply. 'There was no structure, there was no right way or wrong way to do things, I just had to be me, without any judgment,' said the 31-year-old car dealer. He met the other four band members through a friend 11 years ago, creating hits like 'Darkness and Witchcraft' and 'Do or Die' — attracting a fan base of restless young urbanites increasingly furious with authority. In a few hours, they would be taking the stage at Nairobi's premier rock and metal festival: Undertow. Rock in Kenya has had an uneven ride. A decade ago, bands would sometimes show up for gigs that had been canceled without their knowledge. Audiences were tiny. The closure of Kenya's only rock radio station, XFM, in 2019 and the arrival of covid in 2020 nearly smothered the scene altogether. The first Undertow concert in April 2022 rescued bands on the brink of collapse by providing a dependable gig and venue. Now a well-established quarterly event held in Nairobi's upscale Westlands District — its neon-nightclub-lined promenade nicknamed Electric Avenue — the concert has featured most of Kenya's 16 commercial rock bands, said Wathi. The musicians still have day jobs. Irony Destroyed, a metalcore group with pugnacious lyrics and reverberating bass, is composed of a lawyer, a writer and a product manager for a fintech company. The howling, thrashing sounds of Last Year's Tragedy are generated by an advertising strategist, a product designer, a logistics manager and a journalist. Practice time is scarce and precious. In a last-minute rehearsal in the lead-up to Undertow, Last Year's Tragedy's vocalist David 'Madman' Mburu paced across a tiny floor writhing with cables, crowding pianist Rono Kipkulei and nearly knocking over bass guitarist Mahia Mutua. A copy of Leo Tolstoy's 'Anna Karenina' muffled the drum set as they thrashed out 'Of Villains and Heroes' from their first record, released last year. Irony Destroyed, meanwhile, had to scramble to replace drummer Cyrus Kamau after he dislocated his arm in a motorbike accident just a week before the concert. Kamau, only able to use one hand, had to train his replacement, Larry Kim, after they both finished work. 'Start with a little ascent, tone it down and build it up again,' he advised Kim. They practiced until midnight, when police prowled the empty streets and the last vibrations rolled over the lone tea seller still in the alley outside. Some bands have made it onto streaming platforms like Spotify, which hasn't brought in much cash but has broadened their reach. Last Year's Tragedy's song '47' has become an anthem among Kenyan youths, with its lyrics raging against the country's politicians. 'These so-called leaders/ Who sit on their ivory towers/ (These never-ending cycles)/ Stealing and killing,' raged the band. 'We will watch them all/Burn!' Anne Mwaura, 29, is the host of Capital FM's rock show 'The Fuse,' which now gets around 3 million online listeners every month. She has hosted the show since its inception and remembers when it used to be the same handful of bands all the time. Now, she says, the scene is much more diverse, with all-female bands and Christian rock groups breaking onto the airwaves. 'It's really a genre for everyone,' she said. When the radio station once considered axing the show, she said, enough people wrote in to persuade the managers to keep it on air. Undertow's ticket prices mean the audience is mostly middle-class. An advance ticket goes for around 1,000 Kenyan shillings (a little under $8), and it's a bit more at the door. That's more than two days' wages for most people. About 200 men and women, some with thickly mascaraed eyes and studded collars, head-banged in a mosh pit. A tarot reader read palms on the balcony, and a cloud of cigarette smoke enveloped the barman as he sloshed beers to the crowd. Regulars Margaret Nekesa, 29, and husband Dennis Mwangi, 33, met because Mwangi had a home studio, and they had both been in local bands. Now they have a 1-year-old son — home that night with a sitter — but they still compose and play music. They're seven songs into an album, Nekesa yelled over the music. 'I come from a very, very strict family, a military family … you had to dress in a certain way, you had to appear in a certain way,' she said. 'There was no space for exploration or discovery of self, so rock music gave me all that I missed.' She was drowned out as Irony Destroyed stormed onto the stage. Masked musicians belted out their single 'Najiskia Kuua Tena,' which translates to 'I feel like killing again.' A bloodred liquid oozed from the mouth of Preston 'Riot' Mado, Irony Destroyed's guest vocalist, as they broke into the crowd's favorite hit, 'Scholar of First Sin.' Later, Rash belted out a rendition of the Cranberries' song 'Zombie' — a scream against the brutality of Northern Ireland's Troubles, the decades in which British security forces battled Irish paramilitaries and civilians were caught in the crossfire. The lyrics resonate in Nairobi, where young demonstrators have been shot, kidnapped and teargassed as they protest government corruption and police violence. The protests saw parliament set aflame and the bodies of slain college students wrapped up in Kenyan flags, fished from dams or carried through the capital before banks of television cameras. 'But you see, it's not me, it's not my family/ In your head, in your head, they are fightin',' the crowd screamed along with the band. 'With their tanks and their bombs and their bombs and their guns/ In your head, in your head, they are cryin'.'
