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The Quit India Movement (1942)

1. Origins, Planning, and Launch

• Initial Catalyst:
  • Failure of the Cripps Mission (March 1942).
  • The threat of a Japanese attack on India during World War II.
• Drafting and Initial Approval:
  • The draft of the resolution was prepared in April 1942 by Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
  • Gandhi first discussed his ‘Quit India Policy’ at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Wardha on 6th July 1942.
  • The CWC, led by President Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, passed the “Quit India Resolution” on 14th July 1942 in Wardha.
  • Key CWC attendees included Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, and Sarojini Naidu.
• Official Launch:
  • The All India Congress Committee (AICC) met at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay on 7th-8th August 1942 to ratify the resolution.
  • The resolution was formally moved by Jawaharlal Nehru and supported by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
  • The Quit India Movement was officially launched on 9th August 1942.
  • Mahatma Gandhi gave the famous slogan “Do or Die” (We shall either free India or die in the attempt).

2. Leadership and Key Figures

• Overall Leader: Mahatma Gandhi.
• Congress President: Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
• Underground Leaders:
  • Jai Prakash Narayan: Escaped from Hazaribag Jail; organized the All India Azad Dasta (Free Squad) in Nepal; gained national recognition.
  • Aruna Asaf Ali: Major woman organizer; famous for hoisting the Congress flag at Gowalia Tank Maidan.
  • Ram Manohar Lohia: Key organizer and broadcaster on the underground Congress Radio.
  • Achyut Patwardhan: Key underground leader.
  • Usha Mehta: Organized the secret Congress Radio station.
• International Figure:
  • Louis Fischer, American journalist and biographer, was with Gandhi and advocated for India’s independence.

3. Nature and Character of the Movement

• Initial Plan: Launched by the Indian National Congress under Gandhi’s leadership with the intent of being non-violent.
• Actual Nature:
  • Became spontaneous and unplanned after the immediate arrest of national leaders.
  • Although intended to be non-violent, it witnessed significant violence from both protesters and the government. Gandhi did not condemn the people’s violent reaction to government repression.
• Congress Status: The Indian National Congress was declared an illegal body by the British government.

4. Government Response, Repression, and Arrests

• British Leadership:
  • Prime Minister of England: Winston Churchill.
  • Viceroy: Lord Linlithgow (who described the movement as the “most serious rebellion since the Sepoy Mutiny”).
  • Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army / Later Viceroy: Lord Wavell.
• Arrests (Operation Zero Hour – 9th August 1942):
  • Mahatma Gandhi & Sarojini Naidu: Arrested in Bombay; detained at the Aga Khan Palace in Pune.
  • CWC (Nehru, Azad, Patel, etc.): Arrested and imprisoned at Ahmednagar Fort.
  • Dr. Rajendra Prasad: Arrested separately and sent to Bankipur Jail.
  • Local Leaders: Figures like Shiv Kumar and Ramanand were arrested in Hazaribag, Bihar.
• Suppression: The government used violent measures to suppress the movement.

5. Public Participation, Protests, and Impact

• Geographical Spread: Most intense in Bombay, Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, United Provinces (UP), and Madras, but saw participation from across India.
• Key Protest Areas:
  • Bihar: Munger district was the most affected (total breakdown of rail services). Protests in Hazaribag and Bankipur.
  • United Provinces: Ballia was a major center of protest.
  • Bengal: Medinipur (Midnapore) was a major center.
• Actions:
  • In the first week, protesters damaged 250 railway stations, 500 post offices, and attacked 150 police stations.
  • Parallel governments were established in:
    • Ballia, UP (Led by Chittu Pandey)
    • Tamluk (Midnapore), Bengal (Jatiya Sarkar, led by Y.B. Chavan and Nana Patil)
    • Satara, Maharashtra (Lasted from 1943-1945)
    • A short-lived government in Orissa.
• Notable Participants:
  • Kanaklata Barua: A 17-year-old activist shot dead by police in Gohpur, Assam while leading a flag-hoisting procession.
  • Rampyari Devi: Addressed a crowd in Bankipur, urging people to leave government jobs.
  • Baldev Sahai: Resigned as Advocate General of Bihar in protest.

6. Stance of Other Political Groups

The movement was not supported by several major political parties:

• Muslim League: Opposed the movement. Jinnah worked as an ally of the British, bringing the British and Muslims closer.
• Hindu Mahasabha: Opposed the movement.
• Communist Party of India (CPI): Opposed the movement.
• Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS): Remained separate and was not involved.
• Unionist Party of Punjab: Opposed the movement.

7. Gandhi’s Instructions for Participants

• Government Servants: Asked to not resign but to declare loyalty to the Congress.
• Soldiers: Asked to not leave their posts but to refuse to fire on their own people.
• Princes: Rulers of Princely States were asked to accept the sovereignty of their people.
• Students: Advised to only quit studies if they could remain firm till the end.

8. Aftermath and Significance

• Impact: Demonstrated the intense popular desire for independence, convincing the British that ruling India was no longer feasible. It is considered the culmination of the Indian National Movement.
• C. Rajagopalachari (C.R.) Formula:
  • Proposed in 1944 in a pamphlet titled “The Way Out.”
  • It was a proposed solution to the constitutional deadlock, suggesting a plebiscite for a separate Muslim Pakistan.
  • The proposal was rejected by both the Congress and the Muslim League.
• Limited Participation: The data suggests the movement did not attract the labor class in general.

Know More About Quit India Movement:

• Quit India Movement – Old Year Questions and Answers
• Quit India Movement One Liner Questions & Answers