Quit India

It was the period when people were fighting for India's Independence. The Indian National Congress launched the 'Quit India Movement' in August 1942, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, at the Bombay session of the Congress Committee.

On August 8, 1942, Mahatma Gandhi gave the famous Quit India speech in which Gandhi made a 'Do or Die' call in his speech delivered in Bombay at the Gowalia Tank Maidan (August Kranti Maidan). Lord Linlithgow adopted the policy of violence to stop the movement.

In his Quit India speech, Gandhi asked all Indians, including teachers, to leave their jobs and take part in the movement.

The anti-British wave swept India. Many people resigned from the Government jobs. All were supposed to be against the Englishman. Occasionally some lone Britisher could be seen being teased and chased away by the local boys in isolated areas.

Paramanand's problem was he could neither hate Mathew Saheb nor could oppose him. Mister Mathew was his British boss. He never abused or harassed anybody. He did not deviate from his courteous manners, even while talking to his juniors and subordinate staff.

Parmanand passed the 12th standard with English as a subject. Parmanad's family was a poor family. His father was a tailor and worked in a tailor's shop for a fixed salary. Mr. Mathew was an engineer and was working for the railways. Parmananda was a clerk in his office.

Mathew addressed him as P. Nanda. Parmanand has officious nature and helped the Mathews whenever they needed it. He became close to Mathew and his family. Though he was aware that India was under British rule, he considered Mathews as guests only because they did not have as good knowledge of native things as he had. Mr. Mathew and his wife were in the fifties. Their family lived in London. They also planned to return to London after finishing his work in India.

When the quit India movement started, he understood that the political ruling class Britishers were required to quit India not the Mathews. But when he saw a group of youth shouting in front of Saheb's house Angrejo Bharat chhodo he became concerned. Parmanand was not interested in politics. But he respected Mahatma Gandhi and followed him closely and was influenced by his thoughts. He knew Mahatma did not hate anyone. Mr. Mathew and his wife decided to leave India as he was not bound by any contract. They also missed their grandchildren living in London

Parmanand felt sad, but he saw to it that The Mathew and family left the town safely.

The next day after their departure he resigned from the service as the Mahatma had asked.