Name: Pahuldeep Singh Student ID:

0211477

Quit India Movement

Table context

 Introduction

 Thesis

 Background/Problem

 How the movement became successful

 Review of debate

 My point of view

 Conclusion

 Bibliography

Introduction

The Quit India movement was started during World War 2 in 1942 by Mahatma Gandhi,

Jawaharlal Nehru, and many other leaders of the Indian National Congress in which they

demanded the end of British rule in India. This movement was also known as the Kranti

Movement or the Do or Die Movement. This movement was a mass protest that involved strikes,

boycotts, sabotage, and parallel governments in some areas. During this movement, people met

harsh repression by the British government in which they arrested thousands of leaders, and
several were killed and wounded. This movement lasted till 1945 when the British realized that

they couldn't rule India anymore.

Thesis

The Quit India Movement which was initiated by Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and many

other Indian National Congress leaders in 1942 was a critical juncture in India's independence. It

was a mass protest that demanded an immediate end to British colonial rule. The movement

galvanized Indians from all walks of life who came together with a common goal of achieving

'Swaraj' or self-rule. Despite the British government's severe crackdown which included the

arrest of major leaders and suppression of protests. It underscored the Indian people's

determination to self-rule and set the stage for India's independence in 1947 exemplifying the

strength of united, non-violent action and the universal yearning for liberty and autonomy.

Background/Problems

The background of the Quit India Movement was shaped by several factors that made Indian

people dissatisfied with the British government and eager for freedom.

 Failure of Cripps's mission

One of the main factors in the failure of the Cripps mission was that mission aimed to give India

independence after the end of World War 2, the Cripps movement was not of full freedom but of

dominus status as per the Cripps offer India would be an autonomous region under the British

Commonwealth but the Indian Nation Congress outrightly rejected it and they clearly stated their

goal that they want complete freedom. After a few months on 14th July 1942 in the Wardha
Committee, a resolution was passed to start a Civil Disobedience Movement or Quit India

movement Resolution. Many prominent leaders of the time like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Valla

Bhai Patel, Rajendra Prasad Jayaprakash Narayan and many more showed great interest in this

initiative. After 9 days of meeting on 23rd July the Secretary of State for India, Lord Amery

wrote a letter to the Secretary of State for the Colonies Viscount Cranborne in which he stated

that the resolution passed at the Wardha meeting that they were going to start a mass movement

which could be a direct challenge to The British Empire also he stated that they should take strict

measures to prevent it. On the next day 24th July, the British Raj's home department shared a

three-stage plan with Amery to stop this movement.

 Historical speech of Mahatma Gandhi and other main leaders.

The British censored the press, banned public meetings, and spread rumours, and misinformation

to discredit the movement but the influence of nationalist leaders like Gandhi, Nehru, Patel,

Bose, and many others leaders inspired them to join the movement with their speeches, writings,

and actions. They also gave them a slogan of "Do or Die" which means to Fight for freedom or

die for freedom. The deep-seated frustration and resentment of the Indian people with the British

rule which had exploited and oppressed them for almost two centuries. The Indians wanted to

end foreign domination and establish their government based on democracy and self-respect.

 Wartime

Another factor was the hardships and suffering caused by the war, such as inflation, famine,

taxation, and force requirements of Indian soldiers. The war also exposed the weakness of the

British empire, as Japan one of the Axis powers, advanced on the northern and eastern borders of
India. The Indian people doubted the British ability and willingness to protect them from the

Japanese attack.

The problems of the movement were manifold and complex.

 The lack of support from some sections of Indian society.

The Muslim League, the Hindu Mahasabha, the princely states, the Indian army, and the Indian

civil services these groups were either opposed the movement or remained neutral because they

the fear of defying the British authority or hopping a better deal for them as well as the

Businessmen who were earning huge profit from the import and export.

 The harsh repression by the British

The harsh repression by the British government was used to make the movement unsuccessful.

The British government developed troops, police, and spies to arrest and torture the participants

of the movement. They also exploited the communal and regional differences among Indians and

tried to portray the movement as a Hindu conspiracy against Muslims and other minorities. The

British response was a server that Gandhi himself called off the movement in 1943.

How the movement became successful

It demonstrated the widespread and popular support as millions of people from different castes,

religions, groups participated in various forms of protests such as strikes, boycotts, sabotage, and

guerilla welfare which challenged the legitimacy and authority of the British government as well

as its weakened the morale and resources of the British administration and diverts its attention

and forces from the world war 2 because the British government has to deal with the internal

unrest in India and also he world started talking about India's freedom. The American President
Roosevelt also pressure the UK government to fulfil the demand of India. Even in Britain, the

British people were demanding to give freedom to Indians. In June 1945 the British Labour Party

released its new manifesto which was Let Us Face the Future. They made a promise to the

Britain public that if their party came into power then they would give complete freedom to

colonies like India and next month July 1945 the Labour Party came into power and the new

prime minister Clement Attlee openly declared that it was time to give India self-governance and

after few days the government was changed in Britain all the arrested people like activists,

leaders, general public released from the jail and after that the struggle that Indian freedom

fighters started few years ago became successful in 1947.

Review of debate

However, not everyone was in support of the Quit India Movement some of the opponents of the

movement were:

The Muslim League was led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah who wanted a separate state of Muslims

in India. They feared that a united India would be dominated by the Hindus. So, they wanted to

cooperate with the British because they promised them more autonomy and representation.

The Hindu Mahasabha which was led by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar who wanted a Hindu

nation. They opposed Gandhi's non-violence and secularism and got the support of the British

government because they were hoping to gain their favour and recognition.
The princely states ruled over a quarter of India's population. They enjoyed a degree of

autonomy and privilege under the British. They also want to maintain their ties with the British

who protect them from external and internal threats.

The Indian Army fought for the British on various fronts of the war. They were loyal to the

British who trained and paid them. They also believed that the war was a noble cause and a duty,

so they did not want to betray their comrades and allies.

The Indian Civil Service administered the British rule in India. They were mostly educated, and

elite Indian and they didn't want to lose their jobs and positions. They also doubted the ability

and readiness of the Indians to govern themselves.

Some groups and individuals that were in the support of Quit India movement were:

The Indian National Congress was led by Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, and others who wanted to end

British rule and establish a democratic and secular India.

The Indian National Army was led by Subhash Chandra Bose who wanted to liberate India by

force and establish a free India government. He also wanted to ally with Axis powers against the

British.

The parallel governments which were formed by local leaders and activists in some areas such as

Ballia, Tamluk, Satara, etc. They wanted to express their discontent and anger with British rule.

The students, workers, peasants, women, and other sections of society participated in the

movement with enthusiasm and courage. They wanted to improve their economic and social

conditions.

My point of view
Back in 1942, India was still under British rule. The Indian people wanted freedom, and they

were ready to fight for it but not with violence Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and many other great

leaders told everyone to follow a different path, one without fighting. They started the Quit India

Movement which was like telling the British, "It's time for you to go, we want to run our own

country". The British didn't like this and tried to stop the movement by arresting leaders and

using force, but the Indian people were strong and they didn't give up. They kept asking for

freedom, showing that they could stand together and be brave without hurting anyone. There was

also another big problem for the British government at that time they were also dealing with a

war in other parts of the world and the Indian army and Indian people took a backstep from the

British government to support themselves in World War 2. The Quit India Movement protest

made it clear to the British that they couldn't control India forever. It showed that when a lot of

people come together for the same good reason, they can make big changes. This movement was

a big reason why India finally became free in 1947. This movement was important because it

shows that you don't need to fight to get what you want. You can stand up for yourself in a

peaceful way. It's a story about not giving up, even when things are tough, and believing in

what's right. The Quit India Movement teaches us that when people work together, they have the

power to change things for the better. It's a lesson that we can all remember when we want to

make the world a better place.

Conclusion
The Quit India Movement was a mass movement that demanded the British to leave India this

movement was started in 1942. The Quit India Movement was a big step that helped India fight

for and get its freedom. It showed that when people work together peacefully, they can make

great things happen, even against strong rulers. This movement is a reminder that standing up for

what's right, without using violence, can change history as well as it shows the determination and

sacrifice of the Indian people for their freedom. It weakened British rule and hastened the

independence of India in 1947.

Reference

Bipan Chandra, Mridula Mukherjee, and Aditya Mukherjee, India's Struggle for Independence,

1857-1947 (New Delhi: Penguin Books, 1989). This book provides a comprehensive and

detailed account of the Indian freedom struggle, including the Quit India Movement.

Sumit Sarkar, Modern India, 1885-1947 (New Delhi: Macmillan, 1983). This book covers the

social, economic, and political aspects of modern Indian history, with a focus on the nationalist

movement and its various phases, such as the Quit India Movement.

Judith M. Brown, Gandhi: Prisoner of Hope (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1989). This

book is a biography of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of the Quit India Movement, and explores

his life, philosophy, and politics.

Leonard A. Gordon, Brothers Against the Raj: A Biography of Indian Nationalists Sarat and

Subhas Chandra Bose (New York: Columbia University Press, 1990). This book is a biography

of the Bose brothers, who were prominent figures in the Quit India Movement and examines

their role and contribution to the Indian independence movement.

Sucheta Mahajan, Independence and Partition: The Erosion of Colonial Power in India (New

Delhi: Sage Publications, 2000). This book analyzes the factors and forces that led to the end of

British rule in India and the partition of the subcontinent, with a special emphasis on the Quit

India Movement and its aftermath.