78th anniversary of Quit India Movement observed on 8th August

Mahatma Gandhi gave called to end the British rule & launched Quit India Movement

• On 8th August, India observed 78th anniversary of Quit India movement across
  the nation
• President Ram Nath Kovind remembered millions of freedom fighters who
  sacrificed their lives for India’s independence on the 78th anniversary of Quit
  India Movement
• On August 8, 1942, Mahatma Gandhi launched Quit India Movement at the
  session of All India Congress Committee in Mumbai
• Quit India movement is considered as one of the important milestones in the
  history of freedom struggle of our country

What is Quit India Movement?

• The Quit India Movement was launched after Cripps mission failed. Gandhiji
  made a Do or Die call through the movement
• India too was facing havoc due to World War. The movement was crushed as it
  didn’t get support from outside
• The British refused to grant immediate independence saying it could happen
  only after the war ended
• On 8th August 1942, Mahatma Gandhi gave a clarion call to end the British rule
  and launched the Quit India Movement at the session of the All-India Congress
  Committee in Mumbai
• The movement had begun from Gawalia Tank Maidan in Mumbai and the day is
  observed as August Kranti Day every year
• It demanded for an immediate end to British rule in India
• It declared commitment free India to defend itself against imperialism and
  fascism
• It demanded formation of provisional government of India after withdrawal of
  British

Causes and Consequences

• The precursors of Second World War had begun. In 1939, Japan that was a
  part of the Axis Powers opposed British gaining onto the north-eastern frontiers
  of India
• Many of the Indian leaders believed that if British left India, Japan would have
  enough reasons to invade India
• The Cripps Mission failed to provide constitutional remedy to India’s problems
• The British Government arrested all major Congress leaders such as Nehru,
  Gandhi, Patel
• This left the movement in hands of young leaders such as Ram Manohar Lohia
  and Jayaprakash Narayan
• More than 1 lakh people were arrested. The Indian National Congress was
  banned
• The Britishers declared the INC to be an unlawful association.
• Over 100000 people were arrested and the government resorted to violence in
  order to crush the agitation
• Gandhiji was released in 1944 on health grounds. However, in the absence of
  any central leadership, there were some incidences of violence
• New leaders like Aruna Asaf Ali emerged out of the vacuum of leadership

Active participants and Non supporters

• Muslim League, the Communist Party of India and the Hindu Mahasabha did
  not support the movement
• The Indian bureaucracy also did not support the movement
• The Communist party supported the British since they were allied with the
  Soviet Union
• Meanwhile, Subhas Chandra Bose, organized the Indian National Army and the
  Azad Hind government from outside the country
• As, C Rajagopalachari was not in favor of complete independence he resigned
  from the INC
• There were strikes and demonstrations all over the country and workers
  provided the support by not working in the factories
• Women took active participation in the movement. Female leaders like Usha
  Mehta has helped set up an underground radio station which led to the
  awakening about the movement
• Aruna Asaf Ali popularly known as the ‘Grand Old Lady’ of the Independence
  Movement is known for hoisting the Indian flag at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in
  Mumbai during the Quit India Movement
• The British refusing to grant immediate independence, saying it could happen
  only after the war had ended, they came to the important realization that India
  was ungovernable in the long run due to the cost of World War II

Pic courtesy : zeenews.india.com