Quit India Movement,1942

QIM has been described as the most massive anti-imperialist struggle on the eve of partition and independence.
Sharp increase in popular nationalism, large-scale deprivation and death due to widespread famine (Bengal Famine, 1943), heightened Japanese aggression in Burma and Malaya, hopes of a military deliverance under Azad Hind Fauz of Subhash Chandra Bose and widening communal divide leading sharp divides provided context for QIM.
It was launched on 8th August 1942 by Gandhi to end the colonial rule. Despite the arrest of top nationalist leadership, people participated in huge numbers in attacking government institutions. At several places administration was overtaken by nationalists. People interpreted nationalist ideas in their own ways and acted accordingly. QIM was marked by significant militancy also.

Reasons

Failure of Cripps Mission (Immediate Cause): Failure of Cripps Mission to accommodate the demand for full independence for India, and give the right to provinces to secede, resulted in a constitutional deadlock.
Thus, Indian leaders became clear that any more silence on British lack of sincerity would be equivalent to accepting the British right to decide the fate of Indians without consulting Indians.
Popular discontent against inflation: 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. There were fears of Britain following a scorched earth policy in Assam, Bengal and Orissa against possible Japanese advance.
Imminent British collapse: News of reverses suffered by the British in South-East Asia and an imminent British collapse gave confidence to Indians and enhanced popular willingness to give expression to discontent.
Popular faith in the stability of British rule was so low that people were withdrawing deposits from banks and post offices.
British evacuated from South-East Asia, leaving the subjects to their fate and the rout by an Asian power (Japan) shattered Britain’s prestige and exposed the racist tendencies of the rulers.
Refugee influx: The threat of Japanese invasion of India in early 1942, changed the Indian percepting of war. Till then the war was a distant event, far away from the Indian border. But now the war seemed a reality.
The public in India became acutely aware of the progress of the war when 4,50,000 Indian refugees painfully plodded back from Burma, having seen, with their own eyes, the British getting defeated.

Beginning of the Movement

All-India Congress Committee met in Bombay at the historic grounds of Gowalia Tank (later renamed as ‘August Kranti Ground’) on 8th August 1942. Quit India Resolution was ratified, and the meeting resolved to:
Demanded an immediate end to British rule in India.
Declare commitment to free India to allow it to defend itself against all types of fascism and imperialism on its own.
Form a provisional Government of India after British withdrawal.
Sanction a civil disobedience movement against British rule.
M.K. Gandhi was named the leader of the struggle.

Gandhi’s Instructions For Different Sections

These were spelt out at Gowalia Tank meeting but not issued. They were directed at various sections of society:

Government servants: Do not resign but declare your allegiance to Congress.
Soldiers: Do not leave the Army but do not fire on compatriots.
Students: If confident, leave studies.
Peasants: If Zamindars are anti-government, pay mutually agreed rent, and if Zamindars are pro-government, do not pay rent.
Princes: Support the masses and accept the sovereignty of your people.
Princely states’ people: Support the ruler only if he is anti-government and declare yourselves to be a part of the Indian nation.

Three Stages of the Movement

First Stage

Most violent and lasted from 9th August to 15th August. Arrest of almost entire top leadership did not deter people attacking government institutions. It was predominantly urban in nature and saw violent protests at Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmadabad, etc., where the protestors attacked rails, telegraph, and postal services. In places, the police and the army were attacked. This phase is remembered as the ‘Great August Revolt.’
Underground press: Press censorship encouraged inflammatory underground literature for insprising mass participation. Ex. Bombay Congress Bulletin, printed on 10th August in English, Gujarati, Marathi, Hindi and Urdu. Vande Mataram in Gujarati and Ittehad in Urdu in Bombay, Biplabi in Bengali in Medinipur, Free India, War of India Bulletin, Do or Die News-sheet, Free State of India Gazette and Congress Gazette.

Second Stage

Second phase saw the centre of movement shifting to rural centres in the countryside as the young leaders who spearheaded the movement in the absence of the top leadership were forced to move towards the countryside in the face of strong British vigilance at the urban centres.
In Western India:
- Gujarat Vyayam Pracharak Mandal or (Gujarat Society for Propagation of Physical Training) under its leader Chhotubhai Purani founded a network of gymnasiums throughout Gujarat in which boys and young men were taught to train their minds and bodies to fight the British. The boys in these gyms came mostly from upper castes urban middle class and rich rural families. Gandhi approved of these activities as these gyms did not allow right wing Hindu and anti-Muslim sentiments. Thus, there were a large number of physically and mentally prepared young men who were prepared to support a violent struggle against the British.
In Eastern India:
- Cities were the first focus of QIM in the region. However, the focus shifted to rural areas.
- Dacoit gangs: Several terrorists organisations and dacoit gangs were formed in Bihar in 1943. Many of these groups had links with Congress Socialist Party. They allied with socialist groups called ‘Azad Dastas’ and carried out activities in the name of Congress. They roamed the countryside with support of villagers and filled the political vacuum between 1924-44.
- Increase in dacoities committed for food: Most dacoities were mostly on food stores but attempts were also made to loot post offices, post bags, government treasuries and ammunition depots. These acts were often accompanied by cries of ‘Gandhiji ki Jai’.
- Azaad Dasta in Nepal: Jayaprakash Narayan escaped from the prison in Hazaribagh in 1942 and escaped to Nepal were trained revolutionaries under the name of Azaad Dasta with the help of Rammanohar Lohia.

Third Stage

This stage lasted from October to December and was limited to attacks by educated youth on police and army installations and communications and was identified by underground activities carried out by the young leaders of the movement.
The underground activity was carried out by Ram Manohar Lohia, Jayaprakash Narayan, Aruna Asaf Ali, Usha Sharma, Biju Patnaik, Chhotu Bhai Puranik, Achyut Patwardhan, Sucheta Kriplani, and R.P. Goenka. Usha Sharma started an underground radio in Bombay. This phase of underground activity was meant to keep up popular morale by continuing to provide a line of command and guidance to distribute arms and ammunition.

Parallel Governments During Quit India Movement

Ballia (in August, lasted for a week): Formed under the leadership of Congressman, Chittu Pandey. First parallel government was to be formed in the Country during this Quit India Movement.
Tamluk (Midnapore, from December 1942 to September 1944): Named Jatiya Sarkar and ran a weekly newspaper named Biplabi. This government immediately undertook cyclone relief work, sanctioned grants to schools, organized Bidyut Bahinis, etc.
Satara (mid-1943 to 1945): Named Prati Sarkar and was organized under leaders like Y.B. Chavan, Nana Patil, etc. Prati Sarkar demonstrated all qualities of a well-organised and effective government.
- Satyasodhak Samaj founded by Jyotiba Phule provided the base and the main striking force to QIM.
- It carried out its activities on three fronts i.e., (i) against the British as part of Quit India Movement, (ii) against dacoity (iii) Towards settlement of peasant land disputes and indebtedness.
- For this, it established three village-level organisations (i) Nyayadan Mandals: Peoples courts that settled disputes. (ii) Gram Samitis for looking after constructive work and village welfare. (iii) Toofan Senas which were youth militias drawn from village wrestling groups protecting peasants against moneylender harassment.
- Toofan Sena acted with Nyaydan Mandals and often punished offenders. In addition, Village libraries were organized, prohibition campaigns were carried on, and ‘Gandhi marriages’ were organized to which depressed castes were invited.
- It was the longest surviving parallel government formed during the Quit India Movement.
Parallel Government (known as Azad Government) was established at Ahmedabad which duplicated existing administrative machinery with underground leaders in charge of each municipal ward. It organised protests, levied taxes, issued information in patrikas, collected intelligence though spies and punished notorious policemen. Leadership was in the hands of young Congress socialists.

Social base of the movement

The movement saw broad participation from varied sections. The participation was seen at various levels-

Youth, especially the students at schools and colleges, remained at the forefront.
Women, especially school and college girls, actively participated and included Aruna Asaf Ali, Sucheta Kriplani, and Usha Mehta.
Workers went on strikes and faced repression.
Peasants of all strata were at the heart of the movement. Even some Zamindars participated. These peasants concentrated their offensive on symbols of authority, and there was a complete absence of anti-zamindari violence.
Government officials, especially those belonging to lower levels of policy and administration, participated resulting in erosion of government loyalty.
Muslims helped by giving shelter to underground activists. There were no communal clashes during the movement.
Communists, despite their anti-war line, felt the irresistible pull of the movement.
Princely states showed a low-key response.
Hindu Mahasabha and RSS kept themselves aloof from the complete movement. Dr Ambedkar also did not support it. Communists did not support it as Soviet Russia got involved in the War from the side of the Allies, and therefore, the Communist parties were directed to desist from disrupting war efforts. And Muslim League, which was engaged in the separatist movement, also remained away from the movement.

Response of Government

Revolutionary Movements’ Ordinance, 1942 was signed by Viceroy in August, 1942. However, it was withheld from being notified because most provinces argued that they could make do with Defence of India Rules.
Defence of India Rules, 1942 allowed Government to take any arbitrary action against persons and property in the name of war effort. Thus, officials could undertake punitiive actions not covered by law.
Special Criminal Courts Ordinance, 1942: It was originally intended to apply to cases arising directly from enemy (Axis) attach. However, this ordinance was made applicable to cases arising from internal disturbances relating to QIM. This ordinance allowed government to short-circuit process of criminal justice. Special criminal courts could be set up which would have summary jurisdiction over suspected offenders who could be imprisoned for maximum two years and there was limited scope for appeal to higher courts.

Significance of Quit India Movement

Feeling of nationalism: Witnessed nationalistic feelings among the people at their zenith.
Realization to British: Convinced British Government that their days were numbered in India. It hastened the process of India's march towards freedom.
Though the movement was crushed, the amount of energy and resources the British had to employ to contain the movement convinced them of the unfeasibility of ruling India soon.
The anti-British and anti-colonial sentiment exhibited during the movement gave the message that the Indians would not be satisfied with any political or constitutional reforms less than complete Independence.
Global support: Played an important role in convincing the world about the urgency of the Indian Freedom Movement. Many nation-states among the Allies, including the USA supported Indian independence.
Final march to freedom: Although the movement failed to achieve its aim immediately yet it conveyed the general message that it was simply a matter of sometime and procedure to decide upon the process of granting independence to India.