Question

“The ‘Quit India Movement’ was Gandhiji’s call for an end to British rule.” Examine the statement.

Answer 1

The Quit India Movement was launched by Gandhiji on 8 August 1942, during World War II, as a final mass protest demanding an immediate end to British colonial rule in India.

• Call for "Do or Die": Gandhiji gave the powerful slogan "Do or Die" during the Bombay session of the Congress, urging Indians to fight for complete independence.
• Massive Uprising: Though leaders were jailed immediately, spontaneous protests, strikes, and sabotage of government offices took place across the country.
• Leaderless Movement: With most leaders imprisoned, the movement became decentralized but continued in local pockets with intensity.
• Widespread Participation: Students, peasants, and workers played a crucial role; even underground networks emerged to keep the movement alive.
• British Response: The British brutally suppressed the uprising through mass arrests, curfews, and violence, yet the movement shook colonial confidence.

The Quit India Movement signaled that the Indian public was no longer willing to tolerate colonial rule, setting the stage for independence.