Quotes are a very powerful thing that becomes a hallmark of a particular time and moment. Indian Independence movement is one of a kind period where quotes became war cries during and after the movement.

On Independence day, these quotes inspire a whole nation and become social media postings that remember the sacrifice of people because of whom we sit independently today.

But over the years and in the age of social media, they lose their actual meaning. So this 75th Independence Day, we bring you famous quotes from freedom fighters and the context around them.

Subhash Chandra Bose: “Tum Muje Khoon Do, Mai Tumhe Azadi Dunga”(Give me blood and I shall give you freedom): This was said by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose to his INA comrades. The price of freedom is blood and to get freedom the way he wanted, there was bound to be bloodshed.

Bhagat Singh: “Inquilab Zindabad”(Long live the revolution): Any history buff worth his salt knows that Bhagat Singh was an ardent communist. He believed in the proletarian revolution and this phrase repeatedly comes up in his writings and during his trial for the Delhi assembly bombing and the Lahore conspiracy case.

Mahatma Gandhi: Do or die’ (Karo Ya Maro): This quote repeatedly comes up on social media but do you know that it was said by Mahatma Gandhi in the context of the Quit India movement in 1942? He had asked the public to not stop till the British were driven out. It’s time to do it or die while doing it, he had said.

Muhammad Iqbal: “Sare Jahan Se Achha Hindustan Hamara” (Most beautiful of all lands is our India): Muhammad Iqbal was a famous poet, politician, philosopher and a remarkable academic. He was also a barrister in British India. He used poetry and songs to spread political awareness amongst the people. Iqbal wrote: “Sare Jahan se Achha Hindustan Hamara”; the famous song was used as a slogan to rejuvenate the youth with a feeling of patriotism.