Quit India Movement (1942)

The Quit India Movement, also known as the August Revolution, was launched by Gandhi in response to the failure of the Cripps Mission, widespread public discontent, and Britain’s defeat in Southeast Asia.
Slogan was “Do or Die”.

In July 1942, the Congress Working Committee chose Gandhi to lead a nonviolent mass campaign.
The All India Congress Committee approved this decision in August.
On August 8, at Gowalia Tank in Bombay, Congress passed the Quit India Resolution.
The resolution demanded an end to British rule in India.
It declared India’s commitment to resist Fascism and imperialism.
It proposed establishing a temporary government after the British withdrawal.

Government Employees: Do not resign, but instead pledge loyalty to Congress.
Soldiers: Do not leave the Army, but do not fire on fellow Indians.
Students: If you are confident, stop studying.
Peasants: If zamindars are anti-government, pay mutually agreed-upon rent; otherwise, do not pay rent.
Princes: Please support the masses and recognise your people’s sovereignty.
People of Princely States: Support the monarch only if he is anti-government and consider yourselves a member of the Indian nation.

Underground radio by Usha Mehta in Bombay.
Parallel Governments during the movement.
- Ballia under Chittu Pandey.
- Tamluk under Jatiya Sarkar.
- Satara was named Prati Sarkar by leaders like Y.B. Chavan, Nana Patil, etc.

Women Participation: Aruna Asaf Ali, Sucheta Kripalani, and Usha Mehta were among the women who actively engaged.
Youth: Particularly school and college students.
Workers: They went on strikes and were subjected to repressions.
Peasants: The movement was led by peasants of various social classes and they focused on government symbols. Some zamindars also took part.
Government Personnel: They actively took part in the protests, particularly those at lower levels of police and administration.
Muslims: They assisted by providing a haven for underground activists.
The Communists: They did not join the movement initially; but in the aftermath of the USSR (where the communists were in control) being attacked by Nazi Germany, the communists began to support the British fight against Germany.
The Muslim League: It was opposed to the campaign, thinking that if the British left India at that time, the Hindus would abuse the minorities.
Mahasabha and Princely State: The Hindu Mahasabha voted to boycott the movement and The Princely states responded quietly.