When the Second World War broke out in
1939, the leaders of our country were in a dilemma. When the people of India were slaves
how could they support the cause of Britain?
In the end they decided to launch a 'Satyagraha' against the British Government for the
freedom of thecountry (1940). Satyagraha means opposition based on Truth. Lal Bahadur was
one of those who offered individual Satyagraha. He was sent to prison for one year for
this.
The freedom struggle became more widespread and intense. The prisons were bursting with
political prisoners.
On 8th August 1942, the Indian National Congress which led the fight for
freedom decided at its historic meeting in Bombay to sound the trumpet for the final
struggle against the British in India. It called on the British to 'Quit India'. The
people were determined to 'do or die'.
The government reacted sharply to these calls and arrested many leaders. Prisons became
over-crowded. The government used all cruel methods of suppression to nip the movement in
the bud.
Lal Bahadur, who had just then come out after a year in prison, traveled from Bombay to
Allahabad by train. He got off at a station, unknown to the police. For a whole week he
used to send instructions to the freedom fighters from Anand Bhavan, Jawaharlal Nehru's
home in Allahabad.
Vijayalakshmi Pandit, the sister of Nehru, lived in Anand Bhavan at the time. The
police came there to arrest her and to take possession of the house. Lal Bahadur destroyed
all-important documents. Luckily, the police arrested only Vijayalakshmi Pandit and went
away.
A few days later Lal Bahadur who was underground came out and shouted slogans against
the government. The police arrested him then.
