QUES . When and where was the Quit India Resolution passed? Analyze the causes and nature of this movement. UPSC IES/ISS EXAM 2021 General Studies. 200 Words. 5 Marks
HINTS:
After Cripps’ departure, Gandhi framed a resolution calling for British withdrawal and to start a non-violent mass movement.
When and where was the Quit India Resolution passed?
In July 1942, the Congress Working Committee met at Wardha and resolved that it would authorise Gandhi to take charge of the non-violent mass movement. The resolution is generally referred to as the ‘Quit India’ resolution.
Proposed by Jawaharlal Nehru and seconded by Sardar Patel, it was to be approved by the All India Congress Committee meeting in Bombay in August. The Quit India Resolution was ratified at the Congress meeting at Gowalia Tank, Bombay, on August 8, 1942.
What were the causes of the Quit India Movement?
There were many causes that that led to Quit India Movement:
The failure of the Cripps Mission
The Cripps Mission was a failed attempt by the British government to win Indian support for the war effort. The mission offered India dominion status after the war, but this was not enough for the Indian National Congress, which demanded full independence.
The failure of the Cripps Mission to solve the constitutional deadlock exposed Britain’s unchanged attitude on constitutional advance and made it clear that any more silence would be tantamount to accepting the British right to decide the fate of Indians without consulting them.
The Indian involvement in World War II
Many Indians were forced to fight for a British war that had no relation with them.
They also saw this war as an opportunity to weaken the British Empire and move forward with the fight for Indian independence.
India’s participation in World War II placed significant economic burdens and restrictions on the country.
The war effort led to rising prices, shortages of essential goods, and increased taxation, causing immense hardships for the Indian population.
Defeat of the British in World War II
News of reverses suffered by the British in South East Asia and an imminent British collapse enhanced popular willingness to give expression to discontent. Discontent was also because of rising prices and shortage of rice, salt, etc., and because of factors such as commandeering of boats in Bengal and Orissa.
The Japanese troops were approaching the borders of India. Popular faith in the stability of British rule was so low that people were withdrawing deposits from banks and post offices.
There were fears of Britain following a scorched earth policy in Assam, Bengal, and Orissa against possible Japanese advance.
Moreover, the rout of a European power by an Asian power shattered the white prestige.
Indians thought they were on their own. Thus there was the utmost need of a nationalist government to defend its borders. And in this situation, the failure of the Cripps Mission led Gandhi and Congress to launch the final strike against the British.
The policies and attitude of the British government
The British government was very repressive in handling the Indian independence movement. This was the reason for the growing sense of anger and frustration among the Indian people.
The Indian people had grown increasingly disillusioned with the British government’s failure to fulfil its promises regarding India’s self-rule.
The British, although they gained Indian support in World War II, did not want to transfer the power easily.
The August offer and Cripps mission failed to satisfy the demands of the nationalists.
The British support to the demand of Pakistan by the Muslim League was making the Indian nationalists (particularly Gandhi) very angry.
The British attitude towards Indian subjects also exposed the racial discrimination policy of the British.
Growing Nationalism
By 1942, India’s struggle for independence had been ongoing for several decades. The nationalistic sentiments were at its peak, and people grew increasingly impatient with British rule.
Growing nationalist sentiments inspired by leaders like Gandhi and Nehru fueled the demand for independence.
The success of anti-colonial movements around the world also inspired Indian nationalism. Moreover, the leadership wanted to condition the masses for a possible Japanese invasion.
Thus, Quit India Movement was the culmination of years of Indian disillusionment with British rule, with the immediate causes being the failure of Cripps mission, hardships caused during World War II and the Japanese knocking at the doors of Indian borders.
What was the nature of the Quit India Movement?
The movement differed radically from other movements launched by Mahatma Gandhi
The Non-Cooperation Movement of 1920-22 and the Civil Disobedience Movement of 1930-34 were conceived as campaigns of peaceful resistance to British rule in India.
However, the 1942 movement from the very beginning was a massive uprising to compel the British to withdraw entirely from India. The emphasis in the struggle was not on traditional Satyagraha but on ‘fight to the finish’. It therefore represented a challenge to the state machinery.
Moreover, Gandhi was now also prepared for riots and violence. His preparedness was based on his reading of the mood of the public. Gandhi had tested the mood in the limited yet symbolic campaign of Individual Satyagraha in 1941 when about 23,000 satyagrahis had gone to jail. He now conceded that the masses could take up arms in self-defence.
Armed resistance against a stronger and well-equipped aggressor was to be considered a non-violent act as he observed Quit India Movement in his articles in the Harijan in March 1942.
The 1942 movement was less ambiguous in its declared objectives
It was launched to ensure the complete withdrawal of British power from India. The projected struggle had four main features:
1) It was accommodative of violence directed against the state;
2) It aimed at destroying British rule in India. Unlike earlier movements when Gandhi had asked trained satyagrahis to join the movements, anybody who believed in the complete independence of the country could join it now;
3) Students were urged to play a prominent part and to lead the movement should senior Congress leaders be arrested; and
4) The movement was to be marked by total defiance of government authority.
Element of spontaneity was higher than before
The element of spontaneity was higher than before, although a certain degree of popular initiative had been sanctioned by the leadership itself, subject to limitations of the instructions.
Also, the Congress had been ideologically, politically, and organisationally preparing for the struggle for a long time.
Brutal repression
In this struggle, the common people displayed unparalleled heroism and militancy. The repression they faced was the most brutal, and the circumstances under which resistance was offered were most adverse.
Students, workers, and peasants participated on a large scale
Students, workers, and peasants were the backbone of the movement, while the upper classes and the bureaucracy remained largely loyal.
A Leaderless Movement
In the early hours of August 9, 1942, in a single sweep, all the top leaders of the Congress were arrested and taken to unknown destinations. Left without leaders, there was no restraint and violence became common.
Underground Activity
Many nationalists went underground and took to subversive activities. The main personalities taking up underground activity were Rammanohar Lohia, Jayaprakash Narayan, Aruna Asaf Ali, Usha Mehta, Biju
Patnaik, Chhotubhai Puranik, Achyut Patwardhan, Sucheta Kripalani, and R.P. Goenka.
Usha Mehta started an underground radio in Bombay. This phase of underground activity was meant to keep up popular morale by continuing to provide a line of command and guidance to distribute arms and
ammunition.
Parallel Governments
Parallel governments were established at many places:
● Ballia (in August 1942 for a week)—under Chittu Pandey.
● Tamluk (Midnapore, from December 1942 to September 1944) . Jatiya Sarkar undertook cyclone relief
work, sanctioned grants to schools, supplied paddy from the rich to the poor, organised Vidyut Vahinis, etc
● Satara (mid-1943 to 1945)—named “Prati Sarkar”, was organised under leaders like Y.B. Chavan, Nana Patil, etc.
The Quit India movement was the most powerful onslaught against the colonial state hitherto. The movement witnessed unprecedented unity of the people and sent a message that the colonial rulers could not ignore. The great significance was that the movement placed the demand for independence on the immediate agenda of the national movement. After Quit India, there could be no retreat.
Must read: Quit India Movement: Was it a spontaneous movement?
External link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quit_India_Movement#:~:text=The%20Quit%20India%20Movement%20was,to%20British%20rule%20in%20India.
