Quit India Movement
The failure of the Cripps Mission and the fear of an impending Japanese invasion of India led Mahatma Gandhi to begin his campaign for the British to quit India. Mahatma Gandhi believed that an interim government could be formed only after the British left India and the Hindu-Muslim problem sorted out. Mahatma Gandhi decided to initiate a new phase of movement against the British in the middle of the Second World War.
The All India Congress Committee met at Bombay on 8 August, 1942 and passed Quit India Resolution. On the same day, Gandhi gave his call of "do or die". Gandhiji and other leaders were jailed at once but the movement spread. Mahatma Gandhi was kept in prison at Poona. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Abul Kalam Azad, and other leaders were imprisoned in the Ahmednagar Fort.
This action of the government left the Indian people without leadership. At this time, leadership was provided by Ram Manohar Lohia, Achyuta and S.M. Joshi.
Large number of students also left their schools and colleges to join the movement. The youth of the nation also participated in this movement with patriotism. Strikes, demonstrations and public meetings were organised in various towns and cities. Slowly the movement reached the rural areas.
In 1943, as the movement gained further momentum, there were armed attacks on government buildings in Madras and Bengal. In 1944, Mahatma Gandhi was released from jail. Quit India Movement was the final attempt for country’s freedom.
The first response of the British was severe repression. By the end of 1943 over 90,000 people were arrested, and around 1,000 killed in police firing. In many areas orders were given to machine-gun crowds from airplanes.
This movement paved the way for India’s freedom. It aroused among Indians the feelings of bravery, enthusiasm and total sacrifice.