Daily Answer Writing Challenge – 1st September

Q1. What were the factors that prompted the launch of the Quit India Movement (QIM) in 1942?   (150 Words, 10 Marks) 

Answer: 

After the departure of Cripps Mission, Mahatma Gandhi framed a resolution calling for British  withdrawal and a non-violent non-cooperation movement against any Japanese invasion. 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. ‘Quit India’ resolution was proposed  by Jawaharlal Nehru and seconded by Sardar Patel. The Quit India Resolution was ratified at the  Congress meeting at Gowalia Tank, Bombay, on August 8, 1942. The following factors prompted the  launch of the Quit India Movement: 

• Collapse of Cripps Mission: The failure of the Cripps Mission to solve the constitutional deadlock  exposed Britain’s unchanged attitude on constitutional advance. 
• Growing discontent among masses: There was popular discontent because of rising prices and  shortage of rice, salt, etc., and because of factors such as commandeering of boats in Bengal  and Orissa.  
• Britain losing grounds in World War II: News of British setbacks in South-East Asia and an  impending British collapse increased the public’s readiness to voice their anger. The Japanese  troops were approaching the borders of India.  
• Loss of Popular faith in the stability of British rule: faith in the stability of British rule was so  low that people were withdrawing deposits from banks and post offices. 
• Racist Attitude: The way the British left South-East Asia, abandoning their subjects to their  fate (two roads were provided, the Black Road for Indian refugees and the White Road only for  European refugees), as well as the defeat of a European power by an Asian power, destroyed  white prestige. The British treatment of their Indian subjects in South-East Asia also revealed  their racist attitude. 
• Possibility of Japanese invasion: The leadership wanted to condition the masses for a possible  Japanese invasion. 

All these reasons prompted the Congress and Mahatma Gandhi to launch QIM. Though QIM was  crushed in 1944 with the British refusing to give complete independence it remained the British  that India cannot be suppressed for long and Independence was due.