'I know this place as Gowalia Tank and I don't need to know more' Syed Firdaus Ashraf visits the August Kranti Maidan and finds that few visitors know, or care, about the ground's association with India's freedom struggle. "August Kranti Maidan? In Mumbai? No, I have not heard of that name." This is the response to the location where, just 60 years ago, Mahatma Gandhi first gave the call for the Quit India movement. Earlier known as Gowalia Tank, it has been rechristened August Kranti Maidan in honour of its historical status. Today's generation, however, is not aware of the new name or its significance. Dharmendra Singh, 22, continues: "I cannot recollect what happened yesterday. How do you expect me to remember what happened 60 years ago?" When asked if he had heard of the Quit India movement, which led to India's Independence, he said, "I read about it, but I cannot recollect anything now." Singh is a Mumbaikar. He completed his graduation at Bhavan's College, located barely a kilometre away from August Kranti Maidan. He has walked through this ground innumerable times, but has never felt the need to know its history. Ganesh Sampat, a Pune resident who was relaxing at the Maidan, didn't even know its name. "I thought this was Gowalia Tank. I am glad you told me this is August Kranti Maidan." Sampat's friend Deepak Makar added cynically, "How does it matter whether it is August Kranti Maidan or Gowalia Tank? We are poor labourers. We needed to rest so we stopped here for a while." A huge commemorative pillar in the centre of the garden -- raised on a few steps and guarded by a gate -- identifies the ground as the place that hosted the All India Congress Committee meeting where Gandhi gave the call for freedom and announced the beginning of the Quit India movement. The pillar, which was built in 1970, was inaugurated by V S Page, then chairman, Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, Bombay (now Mumbai); the bhoomi puja was performed by Dr M N Desai, then municipal commissioner, Greater Bombay. However, there is no statue of Gandhi in the garden. Nor are there any board elaborating the Maidan's unique history. In fact, the only board placed at its entrance bans smoking, playing of cards or throwing rubbish within the Maidan's precincts. Gautam Rao of Hyderabad, who lives with his aunt in Mumbai, was to meet a friend at the Maidan. His friend had referred to it as Gowalia Tank. When asked whether he knew where August Kranti Maidan was located, he said he had never heard of the place. Pressed for its history, he said politely, "I have no idea, boss. Will you please excuse me?" He was stunned to discover he was waiting for his friend at a historical location. "Oh! Is it? I didn't know this place has so much relevance to our lives. I am glad you informed me. I can go back to Hyderabad and tell my friends I have visited the historic place where Mahatma Gandhi launched the Quit India movement." Priya Badkar, on the other hand, felt there was no need for her to know the name of the ground. "Anyone who is interested can get the details from the pillar. I know this place as Gowalia Tank and I don't need to know more." When told of its historical significance in India's Independence movement, she shrugged, "So? Will it make a difference to my life? If yes, I am interested. Otherwise I am not." Usha Thakkar, honorary secretary, Mani Bhavan Gandhi Sangrahalaya, says, "The new generation has little sense of history. Therefore they don't know much about the significance of this historic place." Mani Bhavan, where Gandhi stayed whenever he was in Mumbai, is organising various functions -- including debates, quiz programmes and the singing of national songs -- on August 9 to make the younger generation realise the importance of the occasion. Besides, it will screen Richard Attenborough's Gandhi. It was heartening to note that the students of Fellowship School, who were playing in the garden, were not as blasé as most bystanders. Some of them knew the importance of the Maidan; others knew it had something to do with India's freedom struggle. Girish Bokadia, a Class VIII student, Fellowship School, says, "August Kranti Maidan is associated with the freedom struggle and it is from this place that Mahatma Gandhi gave a call for the Quit India movement." His friend Hemang Joshi was not as aware of the details. "But I know this place has got to do something with the Independence movement." Meanwhile, at the narrow entrance to the Maidan, the chaiwalla continues to brew hot cups of tea. The vada-pav and ice-cream sellers do brisk business. People relax in the Maidan's garden, dozing on the grass or sitting on the scattered benches. Others take brisk walks. Two gardeners are busy trimming the lawn and weeding the potted decorative plants. On one side of the ground, a few cricket matches are in full swing, watched by a small audience of elderly men. On the other side, school children play various games. In secluded corners, couples coo sweet nothings in each other's ears. Lost, in all this noise, is the once-passionate cry that roused the whole of India: Karenge ya Marenge! Photographs: A R Vijayan Quit India series 'Do or die. I never understood what it meant' The time to quit India had come 'I do not know what kind of magic Gandhiji had but people listened to him' M V Kamath on August 1942 Timeline Specials