The Quit India Movement was a movement launched at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) by Mahatma Gandhi on August 8, 1942. This movement was initiated to demand an end to the British rule in India. Since this movement was initiated in the month August, therefore, it is also known as August Movement. The movement was initiated on August 9, 1942.
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| Quit India Movement August 1942 |
In 1942, the unfavorable war (i.e. World War II) circumstances and international pressures had compelled the British to seek an amicable settlement with India and want to get support of Indians in the War. Sir Strafford Cripps landed in India with a set of proposals and negotiated with leaders of various political parties. All the Cripps proposals was rejected by almost all the Indian parties. Thus, the Cripps Mission failed to pacify the Indians.
The AICC passed the Quit India Resolution. After deliberating at great length on the international and national situation the Congress appealed to the people of India. Gandhi told the British to quit and “leave India in God’s hand”. He exhorted all sections to participate in the movement and stressed “every Indian who desire freedom and strives for it must be his own guide”. His message was ‘do or die’. Thus, initiated Quit India Movement.
Almost the entire leadership of the Indian National Congress including Gandhi were arrested within hours of Gandhi's speech. The news of leaders’ arrest shook the people and they came to streets protesting against it. The news of Gandhi’s arrest along with other Congress leaders led to unprecedented popular outbursts in different parts of the country. There were strikes, demonstrations and processions in cities and towns. The Congress leadership gave the call, but it was the people who launched the movement.
The British had the support of the Viceroy's Council (which had a majority of Indians), of the All India Muslim League, the princely states, the Indian Imperial Police, the British Indian Army and the Indian Civil Service.
In the initial stages, the movement was based on non-violent lines. It was the repressive policy of the government which provoked the people to violence. The Gandhian message of non-violent struggle was pushed into the background and people devised their own methods of struggle. These methods included attacks on government buildings, police stations, post offices, railway stations, sabotaging rail lines ; cutting off the telegraph wires, telephones, electric power lines ; disrupting road traffic by destroying bridges ; workers going on strikes ; etc.
The Government had geared all its forces to suppress the popular upsurge. Arrests, detention s, police firings, burning of Congress offices, etc. were the methods adopted by the Government.
Many Indian businessmen profiting from heavy wartime spending did not support the Quit India Movement.
Many students paid more attention to Subhas Chandra Bose, who was in exile and supporting the Axis Powers.
The Quit India Movement was effectively collapsed. The British refused to grant immediate independence and stated that it could only be granted after the war ended. Finally, India got independence in 1947.