The Quit India Movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi under the Indian National Congress to demand an immediate end to British rule in India. We are sure that you must be wondering about what is the Quit India Movement. When did the Quit India Movement started? What were Quit India Movement and congress radio? What was the political condition of India during the struggle? And what were the causes of the Quit India Movement? This article will take you to the backdrop of the Second World War of 1939 and will take a look at the impact of Quit India Movement in points it had on the hearts of the youth. Read the article below to the end to get answers to all your questions including who was the heroine of 1942 Quit India Movement and who was the hero of 1942 Quit India Movement.
During these tough times of World War II in 1939, the Britishers were involved in the war with the Axis Powers of Japan. During wartime, the Britishers lost control of the war and were reconsidering themselves. During the same time, colonial India was also dragged into the war by its British masters which enraged the Indian people! This resentment against the oppression grew to a certain extent which later burst out in the form of protests against the Britishers.
What Is The Quit India Movement – When Did The Quit India Movement Start?
During World War II, the Britishers realized that they could not stand the Axis forces. So, they decided to drag their colonial regions into the War to defend themselves. This angered their colonial people – the Indians, forcing them to launch protest movements and rallies against the atrocities of the British. But, when did the quit India movement start? Know here.
At The All India Congress Committee session in Bombay on 8th August, 1942, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi launched the ‘Quit India Movement’. He became the voice of many Indians struggling to free their motherland from British rule. It is also known as the August Movement or August Kranti.
The birthplace of the “August Kranti” was Mumbai’s Gowalia Tank Maidan, where Gandhiji and other leaders assembled and launched what is today called the “Quit India Movement” or “Bharat Chhodo Andolan”. India got its slogan, “Do or Die ” which was given by Mahatma Gandhi. The term “Quit India” was coined by Yusuf Mehrally, a socialist and a trade unionist.
Causes Of The Quit India Movement – The Ultimate Struggle For Freedom
We must have known from our school books that the ultimate cause of the Quit India Movement was to end British rule in India and to form an Independent Government, free of foreign powers. But, what are the immediate causes of the Quit India Movement? How Quit India Movement and congress radio are related to each other? Who was the heroine of 1942 Quit India Movement? Who was the Hero of 1942 Quit India Movement? Let us try to solve the puzzle!
1. Failure of the Cripps Mission
One of the main causes of the Quit India Movement was the failure of the Cripps Mission. Under Stafford Cripps, the mission promised Indian citizens to give full independence from foreign oppression and to establish an independent Government. But, it failed to stand its words by not giving the Indian people full freedom, rather it gave dominion status to India with the added burden of partition. This angered the Indians and the Quit India Movement was the outcome of this struggle for Indians to free themselves from the British Raj.
2. World War II
Another reason which tops the list of the causes of the Quit India Movement is that the British forces never bothered to discuss with the Indian people if they should drag Indians into World War II. The British assumed that they would gain full support from its colonial people, which changed the course of the fate of the British status in India. The Indian National Congress was upset with this policy of the British and on 8th August, 1942, Mahatma Gandhi gave a call to his people to stand together and work towards freedom from the colonial masters in the form of “Bharat Chhodo Andolan!”
3. Anti-British sentiments and patriotism of Indians
Again, during the years of oppression under British rule, the Indians realised the atrocities performed by the British towards the Indian soil and its people. Anti-British sentiments and patriotism towards their own motherland grew to their full potential which resulted in the forms of protests and violence to urge the Britishers to leave India.
What Happened In Quit India Movement
The Quit India Movement had three phases of freedom struggle. Let us first have a short glimpse of what happened in the Quit India Movement.
Phase 1
The first phase takes us to the time when mass opposition to British rule was unfolding. Mass strikes, picketing, and revolts were a common sight on Indian soil. Soon, the leaders were arrested and the Movement was now in the hands of the young leaders. Gandhiji was jailed in the Aga Khan Palace in Pune and was only released in 1944 under health issues. About 60,000 people were arrested the very next day on 9th August 1942. The British Government responded brutally to the Indian Disobedience Act.
Phase 2
The first phase was followed by the second phase, where mass rebellion from the Indian peasants shook the British Government. The people destroyed all communication lines such as telegraph wires and railway stations, and British buildings were crushed under India’s struggle for freedom. Police in order to take control of the situation, launched lathi charges which further aggravated clashes with the police.
Phase 3
The last phase saw the rise of Independent governments in a few parts of India such as Tamluk in Orissa, Ballia in West Bengal and Satara in Maharashtra, before the Movement was crushed under British oppression!
Who Was The Hero Of 1942 Quit India Movement
Do you know who was the hero of 1942 Quit India Movement? Yes, you guessed it right! Gandhiji was the main figure behind the “Bharat chhodo Andolan”. It was he who ignited the minds of the young leaders to put their best feet towards achieving freedom from the colonialists!
Who Was The Heroine Of 1942 Quit India Movement
Do you also know that there was another person, a female leader, behind the freedom struggle who was shaped by Gandhian values? So, who was the heroine of 1942 Quit India Movement? Well, the leading figure was Usha Mehta, popularly known as Usha Ben, the face behind the success of Congress Radio. We will come to the Quit India Movement and Congress radio later.
Quit India Movement And Congress Radio
While the majority of the Indians responded to the call of Gandhi, few opposed, or simply ignored. Among them were the Communist Party of India, the Muslim League, and the Hindu Mahaasabha.
Though the INC was banned and all the leaders were arrested and the Movement saw itself in the hands of young leaders such as Ram Manohar Lohia, Usha Mehta, Biju Patnaik, Sucheta Kriplani, and Jai Prakash Narayan, there is no reason to think that the Movement subsided. Underground activities through the utilization of underground radio stations to make the Indian people aware were in place. Such an inspiring story is about the Congress radio or the Ghost radio introduced by Usha Mehta.
During Gandhi’s call for Disobedience Act, Congress decided to keep in touch with the public to keep the fire of patriotism alive in the hearts of Indians. Usha Mehta became the pioneering figure in underground radio communication. The Congress radio had its own transmitter and other requirements for successful communication with the public. Other members of the team included the prominent socialist leader Dr Ram Manohar Lohia, Chandrakant Jhaveri, and Vithaldas K. Jhaveri. But, they struggled to conceal themselves from the eagle eyes of the British government. The Congress radio ignited the youths to work for achieving freedom from British rule and become their own ruler.
Also Read- What Was The Non-Cooperation Movement – Significance, Impact, Causes And Suspension
Impact Of Quit India Movement In Points
Despite brutal repression from the British forces and lack of support from its own people, the Quit India Movement was one of the early struggles by the Indian people against British tyranny! Let us discuss the impact of Quit India Movement in points.
- By that time, the British colonialists realized that it would be tough on their part to control and govern Indians without support from their colonial people. This further paved the way for Indian independence.
- Further, Anti-British sentiments and feelings of nationalism had spread among the people.
- The Indian National Army was formed by Subhash Chandra Bose.
- Women participated in the Movement along with students and peasants which further worried the British.
Quit India Movement Summary – The End Note
The Quit India Movement was the voice of the Indians struggling to gain freedom from British rule. Though the Movement was crushed by the time Gandhiji was released from jail, the feeling of nationalism was imprinted in the hearts of youth who kept opposing the atrocities of the British. Meanwhile, the British status on the world map declined which further made the British leave India and Ultimately India achieved freedom!
Also Read- East India Company British Rule In India – The History, Rise And Fall
FAQs
1. What is the Quit India Movement known as?
Quit India Movement known is also known as August Kranti or the August Movement
2. Who was the Prime Minister of Britain during the Quit India Movement?
Winston Churchill
3. Who had given the slogan of “Do or Die” during the Quit India Movement?
Mahatma Gandhi
4. Who among the following gave the famous slogan, “You give me blood, I will give you freedom.”
Subhash Chandra Bose
5. Who was the viceroy at the time of Quit India Movement?
Lord Linlithgow
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