Quit India Movement, Bharat Chhodo Andolan, Quit India Day, History, Significance, Most Important Facts

Quit India Movement: The Quit India Movement, also known as the Bharat Chhodo Andolan, was a movement launched at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee by Mahatma Gandhi on 8th August 1942, during World War II, demanding an end to British rule in India. On 9th Aug 2023, India completed 80 years of Quit India Movement also known as August Kranti.

Quit India Movement

• On 8^th August 1942, Mahatma Gandhi called to end British rule and launched the Quit India Movement at the session of the All-India Congress Committee in Mumbai.
• Gandhiji gave the call “Do or Die” in his speech delivered at the Gowalia Tank Maidan, now popularly known as August Kranti Maidan.
• Aruna Asaf Ali popularly known as the ‘Grand Old Lady’ of the Independence Movement is known for hoisting the Indian flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Mumbai during the Quit India Movement.
• The slogan ‘Quit India’ was coined by Yusuf Meherally, a socialist and trade unionist who also served as Mayor of Mumbai.
• Meherally had also coined the slogan “Simon Go Back”.

What caused the Quit India Movement?

• Failure of Cripps Mission: The immediate cause for the movement was the collapse of Cripps Mission.
  • Under Stafford Cripps, the mission was sent to resolve the Indian question of a new constitution and self-government.
  • It failed because it offered India not complete freedom but the Dominion Status to India, along with the partition.
• Indian Involvement in World War II without prior consultation:
  • The British assumption of unconditional support from India to the British in World War II was not taken well by the Indian National Congress.
• Prevalence of anti-British Sentiment:
  • The anti-British sentiments and demand for full-independence had gained popularity among indian masses.
• Centralization of Many Small Movements:
  • The two decades of mass movement which were being conducted on a much more radical tone under the leadership of the various associated and affiliated bodies of the Congress, like All India Kisan Sabha, Forward Bloc etc. had already prepared the ground for the movement.
• Shortage of Essential Commodities:
  • The economy was also in shatters as a result of World War II.

What were the Demands of the Quit India Movement?

• The demand was to end the British rule in India with immediate effect to get the cooperation of Indians in World War-II against fascism.

• There was a demand to form a provisional government after the withdrawal of the Britishers.

What were the Phases of Movement?

• First Phase:
  • First Phase, urban revolt, marked by strikes, boy cott and picketing (protesting), which were quickly suppressed.
  • There were strikes and demonstrations all over the country and workers provided the support by not working in the factories.
  • Gandhiji was soon imprisoned at Aga Khan Palace in Pune and almost all leaders were arrested.
• Second Phase:
  • The focus shifted to the countryside, which witnessed a major peasant rebellion, marked by destruction of communication sys­tems, such as railway tracks and stations, telegraph wires and poles, attacks on government buildings or any other visible symbol of colo­nial authority.
• Third Phase:
  • The last phase witnessed the formation of national governments or parallel governments in isolated pockets (Ballia, Tamluk, Satara etc.)

What were the Successes and Failures of the Movement?

• Successes:
  • Rise of Future Leaders:
    • Underground activities were taken by leaders that included Ram Manohar Lohia, J.P. Narayan, Aruna Asaf Ali, Biju Patnaik, Sucheta Kriplani, etc which later emerged as prominent leaders.
  • Women Participation:
    • Women took active participation in the movement. Female leaders like Usha Mehta helped set up an underground radio station which led to the awakening about the movement.
  • Rise of Nationalism:
    • A greater sense of unity and brotherhood emerged due to the Quit India Movement. Many students dropped out of schools and colleges, people gave up their jobs and withdrew money from the banks.
  • Paved the way for Independence:
    • While the Quit India campaign was crushed in 1944, with the British refusing to grant immediate independence, saying it could happen only after the war had ended, they came to the important realization that India was ungovernable in the long run due to the cost of World War II.
    • It changed the nature of political negotiations with the British, ultimately paving the way for India’s independence.
• Failures:
  • Brutal Repression:
    • The movement saw violence in some places which was not premeditated.
    • The movement was violently suppressed by the British – people were shot, lathi-charged, villages burnt and enormous fines imposed.
    • Over 1,00,000 people were arrested and the government resorted to violence in order to crush the agitation.
  • Lack of Support:
    • Muslim League, the Communist Party of India and the Hindu Mahasabha did not support the movement. The Indian bureaucracy also did not support the movement.
      • The League was not in favour of the British leaving India without partitioning the country first.
      • The Communist party supported the British since they were allied with the Soviet Union.
      • The Hindu Mahasabha openly opposed the call for the Quit India Movement and boycotted it officially under the apprehension that the movement would create internal disorder and would endanger internal security during the war.
    • Meanwhile, Subhas Chandra Bose, organised the Indian National Army and the Azad Hind government from outside the country.
    • Many Congress members like C Rajagopalachari resigned from the provincial legislature as they did not favour Mahatma Gandhi’s idea.

The movement significantly impacted military preparations of British Empire during the World War 2 as 57 infantry battalions were used to quell protests for months when they had to be used in the war. The airfield construction was also delayed for 4 to 6 weeks.

According to John F. Riddick, from 9 August 1942 to 21 September 1942, the Quit India Movement: attacked 550 post offices, 250 railway stations, damaged many rail lines, destroyed 70 police stations, and burned or damaged 85 other government buildings. There were about 2,500 instances of telegraph wires being cut. The greatest level of violence occurred in Bihar. The Government of India deployed 57 battalions of British troops to restore order.

One of the important achievements of the movement was keeping the Congress party united through all the trials and tribulations that followed. The British, already alarmed by the advance of the Japanese army to the India-Burma border, responded by imprisoning Gandhi. All the members of the Party’s Working Committee (national leadership) were imprisoned as well.

Due to the arrest of major leaders, a young and until then relatively unknown Aruna Asaf Ali presided over the AICC session on 9 August and hoisted the flag; later the Congress party was banned. These actions only created sympathy for the cause among the population. Despite lack of direct leadership, large protests and demonstrations were held all over the country. Workers remained absent in large groups and strikes were called.

The demonstrations sometimes turned violent. At some places bombs exploded, government buildings were set on fire, electricity was cut and transport and communication lines were severed.

The British swiftly responded with mass detentions. Over 100,000 arrests were made, mass fines were levied and demonstrators were subjected to public flogging. Hundreds of civilians were killed in violence many shot by the police army. Many national leaders went underground and continued their struggle by broadcasting messages over clandestine radio stations, distributing pamphlets and establishing parallel governments.

The British sense of crisis was strong enough that a battleship was specifically set aside to take Gandhi and the Congress leaders out of India, possibly to South Africa or Yemen but ultimately did not take that step out of fear of intensifying the revolt.

The Congress leadership was cut off from the rest of the world for over three years. Gandhi’s wife Kasturba Gandhi and his personal secretary Mahadev Desai died in months and Gandhi’s health was failing, despite this Gandhi went on a 21-day fast and maintained his resolve to continuous resistance. Although the British released Gandhi on account of his health in 1944, he kept up the resistance, demanding the release of the Congress leadership.

In 1945, when World War 2 almost came to an end, the Labour Party of the United Kingdom won elections with a promise to provide independence to India. The jailed political prisoners were released in 1945.

On August 8, 1942, Mahatma Gandhi launched the Quit India Movement at the Maharashtra meeting of All India Congress Committee (AICC). The Bharat Chhodo Andolan, as it was often known, was a countrywide act of civil disobedience in India.During this situation, Mahatma Gandhi delivered a powerful address at the start of the campaign and used the slogan “Do or Die” in his speech. He urged the British to leave India promptly or face serious consequences. As part of this effort, a call for mass agitation was issued, which triggered violent clashes and the arrest of Indian National Congress leaders.“Quit India” was coined by Yusuf Maharelly, the then mayor of Mumbai. He also coined the slogan “Simon Go Back.”

Hence 9th August is remembered as Quit India Movement Day or Quit India Day in World/Indian history. For more interesting articles from sections including general awareness, health, famous personalities, entertainment, please visit “read4knowledge.com“