In 1942, Gandhiji had uttered only two words to the freedom fighters of the Indian National Congress, activists, workers and the citizens of the country: ‘Do or Die’ and just only two words to the British, ‘Quit India’. Both these words had a huge impact on millions of freedom fighters and countrymen fighting for freedom under the leadership of the Indian National Congress’ organization. The historic ‘Quit India Movement’s hook the very foundations of the British Raj in India as the government had suffered a severe setback from this movement. This movement left an indelible and decisive mark in the history of the Indian freedom struggle. After World War II, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced that he had not become Prime Minister to complete the formalities of the dissolution of the British Empire. He sent Stafford Cripps to India in March 1942 with an absurd proposal to end the political deadlock. His mission failed and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru called him a ‘Devil’s Advocate’. Gandhiji turned down the offer by saying, “Why should we accept a check with a forward date from a bank in turmoil?”

In the background of the given description, the Congress session was held in Mumbai on August 08, 1942, in which the resolution regarding the ‘Quit India Movement’ was passed. Gandhiji gave a call for “Do or Die”. On this occasion, he also said that my inner voice says that we will have to fight against the whole world. We cannot wait much for India’s independence. If I wait any longer, God will punish me. This is the ultimate fight of my life.

Frightened by the call of this historic ‘Quit India Movement’, the British Government arrested Gandhiji and all the senior leaders of the Congress Party and members of the Congress Working Committee on the morning of August 09. They were all arrested under ‘Defense India’ rules. The autocratic British government went on to claim that the Congress was an illegal organization. Due to this, people took to the streets in anger and started protesting against the British government.

Students, farmers, workers etc. actively participated in this movement. There were strikes and demonstrations in universities and colleges, schools, post offices, other government offices, railway stations and factories. The farmers refused to pay revenue and government dues. Telephone wires were uprooted at many places and the movement of public vehicles was blocked. The movement took a violent form as a result of the British rule’s policy of suppressing the movement. According to government figures, more than 90,000 people were taken prisoner. About 250 railway stations were damaged and 500 post offices and 150 police stations were attacked. The communication between Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh was lost. Many parts of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Odisha witnessed open rebellion against the British Raj.

The essence of this would be that due to the widespread public awareness generated by the ‘Quit India Movement’, the British Empire got a signal that it was time for them to pack their bags and go back. This also gave a new impetus to the freedom movement. Now, nobody doubted that freedom was near and transfer of power was inevitable. In short, the ‘Quit India Movement’ proved to be a movement of historical and decisive importance in the freedom movement led by the Indian National Congress to get Swaraj from the foreign rulers and this movement paved the way on August 15, 1947.

(The author is the Chairman of Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee, Vichaar Vibhaag)