The Quit India Movement (1942)

Gandhi's "Do or Die" call at Bombay on 8 August 1942 launched the Quit India Movement, the last great mass movement against British rule.

Background

The failure of the Cripps Mission, British defeats in Asia, the fear of a Japanese invasion, rising prices, and the lack of a clear British promise of freedom led Gandhi to call for an immediate end to British rule.

Events

• 14 July 1942: The Congress Working Committee at Wardha passed the Quit India resolution.
• 7 to 8 August 1942: The AICC at Gowalia Tank, Bombay passed it. Gandhi's speech: "Do or Die": "We shall either free India or die in the attempt."
• 9 August 1942: Before the movement could start, the government arrested Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, Azad and other leaders (Operation Zero Hour) and banned the Congress. Gandhi was held at the Aga Khan Palace, Poona. Mahadev Desai died there (15 August 1942), and Kasturba died in 1944. Aruna Asaf Ali hoisted the flag at Gowalia Tank on 9 August.
• With leaders in jail, a spontaneous mass movement developed: attacks on railway stations, post offices and police stations, cutting of telegraph wires, strikes and demonstrations.

Underground resistance

• Leaders: Jayaprakash Narayan (escaped from Hazaribagh Jail, November 1942), Aruna Asaf Ali, Ram Manohar Lohia, Achyut Patwardhan, Sucheta Kripalani, Usha Mehta (ran the Secret Congress Radio from Bombay).
• Parallel governments: Ballia (UP) under Chittu Pande; Tamluk (Midnapore, Bengal) (Jatiya Sarkar, December 1942 to September 1944), where Matangini Hazra was killed; Satara (Maharashtra) (Prati Sarkar, 1943 to 1945; Y.B. Chavan, Nana Patil).

Government response

Severe repression: lathi charges, firing, mass arrests (about 60,000), collective fines and aerial firing. Official figures give about 940 killed; actual numbers were higher.

Who stood aside?

The Muslim League, the Communist Party (after Russia joined the Allies, it supported the "People's War"), the Hindu Mahasabha, and most princes did not support it.

Significance

• It was a leaderless mass uprising, with the participation of youth and common people, and made it clear that British rule could not last.
• It put independence as the immediate demand, and the British began to think of the terms of transfer of power.
• Gandhi was released in May 1944 because of his illness.