Question

Write an essay on 'Quit India Movement'.

Hint:

An essay on the Quit India Movement should emphasize its unique character as a spontaneous, leaderless mass uprising. Highlight three key elements: the "Do or Die" slogan, the immediate arrest of leaders, and the emergence of parallel governments and underground activities.

Answer 1

The Quit India Movement, or the 'Bharat Chhodo Andolan', was the final and most intense mass struggle for freedom launched by the Indian National Congress under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. It began on August 8, 1942, during the height of World War II, with the core demand for an "orderly British withdrawal" from India.
Background and Causes:
The movement was a culmination of growing frustration with British policies. The primary cause was the failure of the Cripps Mission in March-April 1942. The mission's proposal of dominion status after the war was rejected by all major Indian political parties as insufficient. Gandhi famously described it as a "post-dated cheque on a crashing bank." Furthermore, the ongoing World War II was causing immense hardship for the Indian people, including high inflation and shortages of essential goods. The imminent threat of a Japanese invasion of India also created a sense of urgency, with Gandhi and other leaders believing that the presence of the British in India was an invitation to the Japanese.
The Launch of the Movement and Gandhi's "Do or Die" Call:
On August 8, 1942, at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay, the All-India Congress Committee passed the 'Quit India' resolution. In his historic speech on this occasion, Mahatma Gandhi gave the clarion call to the nation: "Do or Die." He urged the people to act as if they were free and not to rest until freedom was achieved. He stated, "We shall either free India or die in the attempt."
Progress and Nature of the Movement:
The British government responded with unprecedented force. In the early hours of August 9, Gandhi and all other prominent Congress leaders were arrested. This sudden removal of leadership did not crush the movement; instead, it led to a spontaneous and widespread popular revolt. The movement was characterized by:

Mass Upsurge: People across the country engaged in hartals (strikes), processions, and demonstrations. There were widespread attacks on symbols of British authority, such as police stations, post offices, and railway lines.
Underground Activities: With the mainstream leaders in jail, a new group of younger leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia, and Aruna Asaf Ali emerged. They organized an underground movement, which included broadcasting on a clandestine radio station and coordinating acts of sabotage.
Parallel Governments (\textit{Jatiya Sarkars}): In several parts of the country, local parallel governments were established after overthrowing British rule. The most prominent examples were in Satara (Maharashtra), which lasted for a long time, and in Tamluk (Bengal) and Ballia (Uttar Pradesh).
Suppression and Significance:
The British suppressed the movement with brute force. Mass arrests, lathi charges, and firings were common, leading to the death of thousands. Despite being crushed by 1944, the Quit India Movement was of immense significance. It demonstrated the depth of nationalist feeling in the country and the people's capacity for struggle and sacrifice. The movement made it unequivocally clear to the British government that their rule in India could not be maintained on the basis of Indian consent, and that they would have to quit India once the war was over. It marked the final, decisive phase of India's struggle for independence, ensuring that freedom was no longer a matter of negotiation but an inevitability.