Quit India Movement under Gandhi

The Quit India Movement, launched in August 1942, was the third major all-India mass struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi following the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22) and the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–34). Popularly known as the August Movement or August Kranti, it demanded an immediate and unconditional withdrawal of British rule from India. Fueled by the failure of the Cripps Mission, wartime inflation, and the threat of Japanese aggression, the movement altered the trajectory of the freedom struggle. Viceroy Lord Linlithgow characterized the uprising as the most serious rebellion since the Revolt of 1857.

Causes and Preceding Events

The outbreak of World War II in September 1939 and the subsequent political developments set the stage for the August Movement.

Primary Triggers

• Failure of the Cripps Mission: Sir Stafford Cripps brought proposals in March 1942 offering post-war Dominion Status and a non-accession clause that threatened national unity. Gandhi described the offer as a post-dated cheque on a failing bank.
• Threat of Japanese Invasion: Japanese forces had advanced through Southeast Asia, capturing Malaya, Singapore, and Burma by early 1942. Gandhi argued that the presence of British rulers in India was an invitation to Japan to invade.
• Scorched Earth Policy: The colonial administration confiscated boats and destroyed agricultural stocks in Bengal and Assam to prevent Japanese forces from using them. This policy devastated the rural economy and created widespread panic among peasants.
• Wartime Economic Distress: Rising inflation, food shortages, hoarding, and high taxation caused severe economic suffering among the masses.

Wardha Resolution and Gowalia Tank Declaration

The formal decision to launch a non-violent mass struggle took shape across two key Congress meetings in mid-1942.

The Wardha Resolution (July 1942)

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) met at Wardha in July 1942 and passed the Quit India Resolution. The resolution demanded an immediate end to British rule and authorized Gandhi to take leadership of a non-violent mass movement if the demand was rejected.

Gowalia Tank Session (August 8, 1942)

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) ratified the Quit India Resolution on August 8, 1942, at Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay. The venue was later renamed August Kranti Maidan. The resolution contained four primary points:

• Demand an immediate end to British rule in India.
• Declare free India’s commitment to defend itself against fascism and imperialism.
• Form a provisional government after British withdrawal.
• Sanction a mass civil disobedience movement under Gandhi’s leadership.

Gandhi’s “Do or Die” Call and Specific Directives

Gandhi delivered a speech lasting over an hour at Gowalia Tank, giving the nation the slogan “Do or Die” (Karo ya Maro). He issued explicit instructions to different social groups:

• Government Servants: Do not resign, but declare allegiance to the Indian National Congress.
• Soldiers: Do not leave the army, but refuse to fire on fellow citizens.
• Peasants: Pay agreed rent to anti-government landlords; refuse rent payment to pro-government landlords.
• Princes: Accept the sovereignty of the people rather than colonial authority.
• Students: Give up studies if you possess sufficient confidence to remain steadfast until independence.

British Crackdown and Operation Zero Hour

The colonial government responded swiftly to prevent the movement from taking organized shape.

Operation Zero Hour (August 9, 1942)

In the early hours of August 9, 1942, British authorities launched Operation Zero Hour. They arrested all top leaders of the Indian National Congress before the movement could formally start.

Imprisonment Locations

• Mahatma Gandhi, Kasturba Gandhi, and Sarojini Naidu: Imprisoned at the Aga Khan Palace in Pune. Mahadev Desai and Kasturba Gandhi passed away during their imprisonment at this location.
• Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, and Pant: Detained at the Ahmednagar Fort in Maharashtra.
• Rajendra Prasad: Arrested in Patna and detained at Bankipore Jail.
• Congress Banned: The British government declared the INC an unlawful association under the Criminal Law Amendment Act, seizing party offices and freezing funds.

Nature and Phases of Mass Resistance

The sudden arrest of national leaders left the movement leaderless, leading to a spontaneous mass uprising across urban and rural centers.

Phase 1: Urban Mass Uprising (August 1942)

The movement began in cities with widespread strikes, hartals, and public demonstrations. Workers walked out of textile mills in Ahmedabad, Bombay, Jamshedpur, and Kanpur. When police used force, public anger erupted into attacks on physical symbols of colonial authority, including post offices, railway stations, police stations, and telegraph lines.

Phase 2: Rural Guerrilla Operations and Underground Networks (Late 1942 Onwards)

As urban protests faced heavy repression, activity shifted to the countryside. Peasant bands destroyed railway tracks and cut communication wires in eastern UP, Bihar, Bengal, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. Left-wing leaders escaped prison or evaded arrest to set up underground networks.

Key Underground Leaders

• Aruna Asaf Ali: Hoisted the Congress flag at Gowalia Tank Maidan on August 9, 1942, and directed underground activities throughout the movement.
• Jayaprakash Narayan: Escaped from Hazaribagh Central Jail with Ramanand Mishra and founded the Azad Dasta in Nepal to train activists in guerrilla tactics.
• Usha Mehta: Established and operated an underground Secret Congress Radio station from Bombay alongside Babubhai Khakhar.
• Ram Manohar Lohia, Sucheta Kripalani, and Achyut Patwardhan: Managed propaganda, fundraising, and coordination of underground cells.

Emergence of Parallel Governments (Prati Sarkar)

In several regions, local insurgents completely ousted British authorities and established independent parallel governments.

Stance of Other Political Parties and Groups

The Quit India Movement did not receive universal support from all political organizations in India.

• Muslim League: M. A. Jinnah opposed the movement, fearing that British withdrawal before settling the Pakistan demand would lead to Hindu domination. The League advised Muslims to stay away from the struggle.
• Communist Party of India (CPI): Following Germany’s invasion of the USSR in December 1941, the CPI viewed the war as a “People’s War” against fascism. It unbanned itself by promising support to the British war effort and opposed the Quit India Movement.
• Hindu Mahasabha: V. D. Savarkar and the Mahasabha boycotted the movement, encouraging members to retain government positions and join the armed forces.
• Princely States and Bureaucracy: Princely rulers, the civil services, police, and Indian Army personnel remained loyal to the British Crown, assisting in the suppression of the revolt.

Key High-Yield Facts

• Yusuf Meherally coined the slogan “Quit India” and the phrase “Simon Go Back.”
• The Quit India Resolution was drafted by Jawaharlal Nehru and presented at the Gowalia Tank session.
• Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay is recognized as August Kranti Maidan.
• Aruna Asaf Ali is remembered as the “Grand Old Lady of the Independence Movement” for hoisting the national flag on August 9, 1942.
• Usha Mehta’s secret radio station broadcasted messages from Ram Manohar Lohia from August to November 1942 before police seized the transmitter.
• Matangini Hazra, a 73-year-old peasant woman, was shot dead by police in Tamluk while carrying the national flag.
• The parallel government in Satara, known as Prati Sarkar, lasted the longest, remaining functional until 1946.
• Viceroy Lord Linlithgow authorized air strikes and machine-gun fire from aircraft to disperse crowds in Patna, Bhagalpur, and Talcher.
• Over 100,000 people were detained by British forces during the suppression of the movement between 1942 and 1944.