BPSC History Notes-QUIT INDIA (1942) or AUGUST KRANTI
BPSC History Notes-QUIT INDIA (1942) or AUGUST KRANTI
Background – Failure of August offer and Cripps Mission has left Indians with little choice and government has also shown repressive tendencies as witnessed in Individual Satyagraha. Government was also adamant with its lame proposal of Dominion Status. There was a general price rise and hardship for common man in wake of war. News of reversals suffered by British in War and expectations of its imminent collapse as the Imperial Japanese Army advanced closer to India with the conquest of Burma, Indians perceived an inability upon the part of the British to defend Indian soil.
When the British remained unresponsive, Gandhi and the Congress began planning a major public revolt, the Quit India movement – the first truly pan Indian mass movement. This period concurred with the rise of the Indian National Army, led by Subhash Chandra Bose. The British response to the Quit India movement was to throw most of the Congress leadership in jail. Jinnah took a separate line and instead supported British and League even participated in provincial elections.
In the 8th August Bombay session, Congress passed the Quit India resolution at Gowalia Tank and its draft was prepared by Jawahar Lal Nehru and seconded by Patel. Gandhi called for a ‘Do or Die’ and gave slogans of ‘Quit India’ and ‘Bharat Choro’. Very next day of Gowalia Tank meet, major leaders were arrested under ‘Operation Thunderbolt’ launched by the British.
Common people showed unprecedented heroism, but they also faced unprecedented repression. On the name of war, government had armed itself with draconian provisions and laws.
There were other events like – Forcing people in Bengal and Orissa to restrict the use of their boats in fear of Japanese capture and use against British, news from South East were that British only evacuated white natives when Japanese attacked and thus leaving locals on their fate.
This lead to anger and confusion and people came on roads, hartaals ensued and clashes happened. Underground activities started and even parallel governments were formed like the one in Satara. A new underground leadership emerged led by Achyut Patwardhan, R M Lohia, Sucheta Kriplani, Chhotubhai Puranik, R P Goenka and J P Narayan.
A new event happened in 1943, when Gandhi announced a 10 day fast in Jail in response to British government’s exhortation to condemn the violence committed by people. Instead of condemning the violence, Gandhi fasted on. It raised public anger many a fold. He issued specific instructions to various groups –
I. Government Servants – Don’t resign, but declare your allegiance to the Congress.
II. Soldiers – Don’t leave the army, but don’t ire on your compatriots
III. Students – If confident leave the studies
IV. Peasants – If Zamindars are pro-government, don’t pay the rent. If they are anti government, pay.
V. Princes – Support the masses and accept the sovereignty of people.
The movement was short lived, but significant as it marked a new high in mass participation and made it amply clear to British that it will no longer be possible to suppress the masses. Students and the peasantry served as the backbone, middle class and bureaucracy sided government.
Sardar Vallabhai Patel was the most fervent supporter of Gandhi’s proposal for an all-out campaign of civil disobedience during Quit India Movement. He participated in Gandhi’s call for individual disobedience, and was arrested in 1940 and imprisoned for nine months. He also opposed the proposals of the Cripps’ mission in 1942.
Muslim league after the Quit India came with its own ‘Divide and Quit’ demand.
Features of Quit India Movement –
I. It was a spontaneous movement
II. It was not non-violent like earlier movements of Gandhi, it was first violent movement and the last one too launched by Gandhi. There were many incidences of violence
III. It didn’t attract labor class in general
IV. Gandhi didn’t call for the government servants to leave their jobs but declare their support to Congress. Similarly he asked army not to leave, but not fire on compatriots.
Phases of Quit India Movement –
I. Urban Phase – Lasted for only one week
II. Rural Phase – Sabotage of government communication lines and transportation. It lasted for a few months around 3-4 months
III. Under ground movement – it was the most violent and long lasting. All India Congress Radio was operated by Usha Mehta. Asif Ali and Aruna Asif Ali trained everyone to operate multiple centers.
IV. Parallel Governments –
Various parallel governments were formed –
a. Balia, UP – Under Chittu Pandey
b. Tumluk, Bengal – Tamralipta National Government of Tumluk was different as it set up separate police, and revenue system. It also carried out relief work, supplied paddy from rich to poor. They also had an active Women’s Wing ‘Bidyut Vahini’. Its major leaders were – Ajoy Kumar Mukharjee, Matangini Hazara, Satish Chandra Samanta, Sushil Kumar Dhara.
c. Satara, Maharashtra – Under Achyut Patwardhan, YB Chavan, Nana Patil etc. Village libraries were formed and Nyayadan Mandals were organized, prohibition campaigns were organized.
Quit India repression was one of the most violent repressions since repression of 1857. Around 10,000 people lost their lives.
It made in a way final assertion of the will of people who were determined now not be held back by any false promises.