Quit India speech, Gowalia Tank Maidan, Bombay, 8 August 1942

Do or Die

On the night of 8 August 1942, the All India Congress Committee met at Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay. The Second World War was raging, and the British government refused to grant India independence. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad presided over the session, and Jawaharlal Nehru moved the Quit India resolution. Mahatma Gandhi took the platform late that evening and spoke to the crowd in Hindustani and then in English. He knew the British would arrest the leaders by morning. He gave the people three words to carry when everyone in charge was gone.

Gandhiji told the crowd: "Here is a mantra, a short one, that I give you. You may imprint it on your hearts and let every breath of yours give expression to it. The mantra is: \"Do or Die.\"" A mantra is a phrase repeated to steady the mind. Many people took this as permission to use force, but Gandhiji meant the opposite. He wanted people to act without waiting for orders. You either do the work to free yourself, or you die in the attempt. You do not wait for instructions from leaders who are locked in jail.

Therefore

When no one is around to tell you what to do, act on the standard you chose at the start. Do the work yourself instead of waiting for someone to give you permission.

A small reminder, on the notebook or the phone case, that you do not wait for orders when the work is already yours.

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