The woman who hoisted the flag when the leaders were arrested

History · Published 19 October 2026 · Updated 21 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: When the British authorities arrested the top leaders of the Indian National Congress in 1942, the independence movement faced a leadership vacuum. Into this void stepped Aruna Asaf Ali. By hoisting the national flag in Bombay, she transformed a moment of systemic suppression into a defiant spark of revolution.

Aruna Asaf Ali’s path to leadership was forged through both personal defiance and systemic barriers. Born in 1909 to a Bengali Brahmin family, she faced significant social opposition when she married Asaf Ali in 1928. The marriage was contested by her family due to religious differences and the fact that her husband was a Muslim over 20 years her senior. Despite this, she became a core member of the Indian National Congress, eventually participating in the 1930 Salt March.

Her reputation for bravery was established early. In 1931, she was arrested at age 21. While the Gandhi-Irwin Pact mandated the release of political prisoners, the British refused to free her, labeling her a 'vagrant.' This sparked a protest where other female prisoners refused to leave until she was released—a situation that required a personal intervention from Mahatma Gandhi to resolve. Later, in 1932, she launched a hunger strike in Tihar Jail to demand better living conditions, leading to her being moved to solitary confinement in Ambala.

The defining moment of her life occurred in August 1942. After the Congress Party passed the 'Quit India' resolution, the British preemptively arrested major figures like Gandhi and Nehru. Aruna, who had been less active in direct politics for nearly a decade, stepped into the breach. On August 9, 1942, she presided over the remaining session in Bombay and hoisted the flag at Gowalia Tank Maidan. This act of defiance earned her the title 'Queen of the 1942 movement' and established her as a pivotal figure in India's transition to sovereignty.

Following independence, Aruna continued her service as an educator and politician, eventually becoming the first mayor of Delhi. Her contributions were later recognized with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor, in 1997.

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