8.4 - Quit India and Later

The Quit India Movement, also known as the August Revolution, was launched by the Indian National Congress in 1942 as a mass protest against British rule in India. It was a turning point in the Indian freedom struggle and marked the final phase of the Indian struggle for independence. The movement was primarily initiated by Mahatma Gandhi, who called for immediate British withdrawal from India.

Following the failure of the Cripps Mission in 1942, which aimed to secure Indian support for Britain’s war effort during World War II, the Congress leaders were frustrated with British intransigence. The failure of this mission made it clear that the British were not willing to grant India any meaningful self-rule during the war. As a result, the Congress leaders decided to launch the Quit India Movement to demand an end to British colonial rule.

The Quit India Movement was characterized by non-violent mass protests, strikes, and demonstrations. Gandhi’s slogan, “Do or Die,” inspired millions of Indians to join the movement, with the objective of achieving complete independence for India. The British government responded quickly, arresting key leaders of the Congress, including Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, and many others. This led to widespread protests and civil disobedience across the country.

However, the movement was suppressed by the British through brutal repression. Despite the lack of central leadership due to the arrests, local leaders continued to organize protests, and the movement spread across the country. The British used force to control the situation, but the mass support for the movement showed the resolve of the Indian population in demanding independence.

After the Quit India Movement was crushed, the leaders of the Congress were imprisoned, and many were kept in jail for several years. However, the movement significantly weakened British control over India. The British realized that it would no longer be possible to maintain their empire in India due to the widespread discontent and growing demand for independence. The events of the Quit India Movement, combined with other factors like the pressures of World War II and the strengthening of the nationalist cause, led to the eventual departure of the British from India in 1947.

In the years following the Quit India Movement, the Congress and the Muslim League, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, became the central political forces in the struggle for independence. The division between these two parties ultimately led to the partition of India and the creation of Pakistan in 1947.

The Quit India Movement was a significant event in the Indian freedom struggle, as it demonstrated the mass support for independence and the resolve of the Indian people to overthrow British rule. Although the immediate results were not successful, it paved the way for the final stage of the struggle for independence, leading to India’s freedom in 1947.