Quit India Movement

Quit India Movement

News: The Vice-President and Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar paid homage to our freedom fighters on the 81st Anniversary of the historic 'Quit India Movement' on 9th August in the parliament.

What is the Quit India Movement?
• The Quit India Resolution was ratified at the Bombay Session of AICC meeting at Gowalia Tank. The movement demanded an immediate end to British rule in India.

What reasons led to the Quit India Movement?
• The failure of Cripps mission to solve Constitutional deadlock made it clear that little was to be expected from them and there was little left to offer as well in the aftermath of WWII.
• There was popular discontent among the masses due to rising prices and shortage of essential commodities.
• News of reverses suffered by the British in Southeast Asia and an imminent British collapse. People started to withdraw deposits from banks/post offices.
• Rout by Asian power (Japan) of British empire shattered the White prestige.

Why is the Quit India movement known as most massive anti-imperialist struggle?

Social Radicalism of Gandhi
• Gandhi’s clarion call of Do or Die reflects the militant mood of Gandhi. Gandhi not only didn’t condemn the violence of people but held British government solely responsible for it.

Aggressive nature of movement
• The general public attacked symbols of authority and hoisted national flags forcibly on public buildings.
• Satyagrahis offered themselves up to arrest, bridges were blown up, railway tracks were removed, and telegraph lines were cut.

Parallel Governments
• Parallel governments were established in several areas such as Prati Sarkar in Satara led by YB Chavan and Nana Patil.
• Jatiya Sarkar in Tamluk (West Bengal) where they undertook cyclone relief work and organized Vidyut Vahinis.

Underground Activities
• Many nationalists went underground and undertook subversive activities. Leaders involved were Biju Patnaik, Ram Manohar Lohia, JP Narayana, Aruna Asaf Ali.
• Usha Mehta started underground radio office to continue fight against British.

Extended mass participation was visible
• Youth especially students were at the forefront of the movement.
• Women, especially school and college girls, actively participated and included Aruna Asaf Ali, Sucheta Kripalani, Matangini Hazra.
• Workers, peasants, Zamindars and local villagers all participated.
• On QIM’s 50th Anniversary, Ram Manohar Lohia was quoted as saying “QIM will forever remain as the people’s event. 15th August was state event but 9th August 1942 expressed the will of the people.”

Conclusion
• It was in the QIM that freedom struggle was owned by “We the people” who fought for India’s freedom.