GANDHIAN ERA- QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT

INTRODUCTION: The Quit India movement, was launched in Bombay on 8th August 1942. At that time, World War II was going on, and India demanded Independence from the British. 

Quit India Movement speeches at Gowalia Tank stadium by Mahatma Gandhi highlighted the power of Swaraj and called it a do or die situation. Along with the British, some Indian groups haven’t supported, like Hindu Mahasabha, princely states, all India Muslim league, businessmen, Indian Imperial Police, and British Indian army. 

Leaders of the Indian National Congress were imprisoned during World War ll; Subhas Chandra Bose has motivated the nation. In 1947, the British realised unity and decided to depart peacefully.

WHAT WAS CRIPPS MISSION?

The British Government sent the Cripps mission to seek efforts and cooperation from Indian soldiers and citizens for the Second World War. When the Japanese started rooting for Indian borders, the British asked for cooperation and offered a proposal in return.

The proposal was Indian leaders would be granted the right to contribute to constitution forming if Indian soldiers participated on behalf of the British in the second world war. The availing period for the proposal was right after the war. Sir Safford Cripps was the head of the mission and displayed the proposal before Mahatma Gandhi . Mahatma Gandhi  called it a post-dated cheque.

The reason behind the failure of the mission is 

• The Indian government asked for a quick transfer of political power from British to Indians.
• India’s leaders were not convinced by promises as history recorded the fake promises by the British.

IMPACT & INVOLVEMENT IN SECOND WORLD WAR 

The British have announced the involvement of India in world war without consulting Indians. Lord Linlithgow, the Governor-General of India, took charge and used India’s human and worldly resources. 

Muslim league came to support the decision, but congress showed diverse thoughts.Mahatma Gandhi hadn’t reinforced the approval for war, as he was a strong believer in non-violence. The war affected the Indian economy, weakening the Army, sourcing raw material, and generating revenue by doubling prices and hiking taxes.

 Constant disrespect of the British allowed reorganising. Along with Japanese assistance, Subhas Chandra Bose built an incompatible Indian National Army and launched Guerrilla War against the British.

FACTORS OF QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT

Here are the factors which contributed to the Quit India Movement:

• The instinct cause of the Quit India Movement was failure Cripps Mission, which was led by Sir Safford Cripps and wanted support for representation in World War ll. The reason behind the miserable failure of the mission was making fake promises and not handing immediate political power to the Indian National Congress.
• The influence and motivation among citizens grew, and hunger for independence took a hike, resulting in mass unity and leading the movement.
• The nation was over-shattered by the economic distortion by the British using raw material and selling into the double price. They had pressured with hiked taxes and channelised their economy.

AIM OF QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT

On 14 July 1942 at Wardha, Indian National Congress took a resolution to fight for the very end to gain absolute independence. The Quit India Movement was a decisive step on behalf of the mass unity of India. The country’s people were exhausted by the suppressive ruling of the British Government. Mahatma Gandhi  organised Political rallies, Hartals, and hunger strikes to increase the contribution of people across the nation.

BLOCKING OF MOVEMENT 

The united Indian National Congress has started becoming an obstacle & challenge before the British Government. The collaboration of the Japanese and Indian Army was visible on the border of Burma and India. 

The provoking statements by Gandhi  and other leaders were eye-opening for the British; they took action by imprisoning Mahatma Gandhi without trials. An unknown leader Aruna Asaf Ali has hosted the Indian Tiranga at Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay as a sign of not backing out.

 While Mahatma Gandhi  and leaders were away, motivation leadership lacked, but the hartals and protest haven’t stopped for a day.

 The British imprisoned 10,000 protesters and 100 people were killed. The situation was out of control, and leadership was lacking. The ideology of non-violence was left behind, and mass destruction was happening.Mahatma Gandhi  withdrew from the Quit India Movement in 1942. Although the British realised they wouldn’t sustain for the long term, they started to wind up peacefully. Around 1944, the environment was peaceful, and the British left India. 

CONCLUSION

 Mahatma Gandhi  started the Quit India Movement after the failure of the Cripps Mission by Sir Safford Cripps. The British wanted support from Indian citizens and resources to fight World War ll. 

As Gandhi  was a strong believer in non-violence, he denied it and called it a post-dated cheque. The economic, political, educational, industrial, and army situation weakened, and the British shook the nation’s foundation. Some Indian groups hadn’t supported the movement for short-term benefit and impure intention towards separating the nation. Even after these obstacles, the leaders stood strong, and the mass unit of the country protested against the British.