Quit India Movement (1942)

§1 — Timeline

Timeline of Key Events

§2 — WWII Context

WWII Context and Indian Response

WWII began on 3 September 1939. Without consulting Indian leaders, Viceroy Lord Linlithgow declared India a belligerent — a constitutional impropriety that contemporaries deeply resented.

Congress Resignations (October–November 1939)

The Congress Working Committee asked the Viceroy to clarify war aims — was Indian independence the post-war goal? Linlithgow's reply was vague. Congress instructed all 8 provincial ministries to resign in protest; resignations completed between 22 October and 15 November 1939. Jinnah's Muslim League celebrated as the "Day of Deliverance" on 22 December 1939.

Lahore Resolution (March 1940)

On 23 March 1940 at Lahore, the Muslim League under Jinnah passed the Pakistan Resolution (Lahore Resolution) — drafted by A.K. Fazlul Huq. It demanded "independent states" in the North-West and East where Muslims were the majority, with autonomy. The resolution did not use the word "Pakistan" but the demand became known as the Pakistan demand. The communal trajectory was set.

Individual Satyagraha (1940–41)

To register protest without obstructing the war effort fully, Gandhi launched Individual Satyagraha on 17 October 1940. Selected satyagrahis would publicly oppose the war effort with anti-war slogans and court arrest. The first satyagrahi was Vinoba Bhave (October 1940); the second was Jawaharlal Nehru (October 1940). Over 25,000 arrests followed in the next year. The movement was symbolic — meant to register protest without obstructing British war efforts against Nazism.

§3 — August Offer (1940)

August Offer (8 August 1940)

The British, under pressure of war, made the August Offer on 8 August 1940 by Viceroy Linlithgow:

• Dominion Status as the long-term goal.
• Expansion of the Viceroy's Executive Council to include more Indians.
• Setting up of a War Advisory Council.
• A constitution-making body after the war.
• Veto for minorities on any constitutional decision (effectively the Muslim League's demand).

Both Congress and the Muslim League rejected the August Offer — Congress for offering too little; the League because Dominion Status would still be one entity.

§4 — Cripps Mission (March–April 1942)

Cripps Mission (March–April 1942)

By early 1942, the Japanese advance threatened India directly:

• Singapore fell to Japan on 15 February 1942 (with 60,000 Indian troops captured — the basis of Subhash Bose's later INA recruitment).
• Rangoon fell on 8 March 1942; Mandalay fell 1 May 1942.
• By April-May 1942, Japanese forces were at India's eastern border (Manipur, Assam).

Under American (FDR) and Chinese (Chiang Kai-shek) pressure, Churchill reluctantly sent a mission to secure Indian cooperation in the war.

The Mission

The mission was led by Sir Stafford Cripps, Lord Privy Seal in Churchill's War Cabinet (a Labour socialist). He arrived in India on 22 March 1942.

Cripps Proposals

• Dominion Status with right to secede after the war.
• Constituent Assembly elected by provincial legislatures (with princely state nominees).
• Right of provinces to opt out of the new dominion (a sop to the Muslim League — partition implicit).
• British retained control of Defence during the war.
• Treaty between India and the UK to handle minorities and protect officials.

Failure

The Cripps Mission failed. Reasons:

• Congress objections: (i) Defence remained with the British; (ii) provincial opt-out was a recipe for partition; (iii) effective concessions were post-war, not immediate.
• Muslim League objections: opt-out was insufficient — wanted explicit recognition of Pakistan.
• Princes: nervous about loss of treaty rights.
• Sikh, Depressed Classes: their special concerns were inadequately addressed.

Gandhi's famous description of the Cripps Offer: "a post-dated cheque on a crashing bank." (Some sources have "post-dated cheque on a failing bank"). Cripps left India on 11 April 1942.

The failure of the Cripps Mission and the Japanese advance combined to produce the most dramatic phase of Indian nationalism — the Quit India Movement.

§5 — Launch of Quit India Movement

Launch of Quit India Movement

Wardha CWC Resolution (14 July 1942)

The Congress Working Committee at Wardha on 14 July 1942 drafted the Quit India Resolution. Drafted essentially by Gandhi (with Nehru), it called for Britain to "Quit India" and threatened a non-violent mass movement otherwise.

Bombay AICC (8 August 1942)

The All-India Congress Committee met at Gowalia Tank Maidan, Bombay (now August Kranti Maidan). On 8 August 1942, the AICC formally passed the Quit India Resolution. The resolution was moved by Jawaharlal Nehru and seconded by Vallabhbhai Patel.

"Do or Die" Speech

Gandhi addressed the AICC the same evening with what became the iconic Indian freedom speech. Key phrases:

• "Karenge ya Marenge" ("Do or Die"): "Here is a mantra, a short one, that I give you. You imprint it on your heart and let every breath of yours give it expression. The mantra is: 'Do or Die.' We shall either free India or die in the attempt; we shall not live to see the perpetuation of our slavery."
• "Every one of you should, from this moment onwards, consider yourself a free man or woman."
• The Indian flag was hoisted at Gowalia Tank by Aruna Asaf Ali — making the moment iconic.

Operation Zero Hour (9 August 1942)

The British were prepared. In pre-dawn raids on 9 August 1942, the entire top Congress leadership was arrested under Operation Zero Hour:

• Mahatma Gandhi (held at Aga Khan Palace, Pune; with Kasturba and Mahadev Desai. Mahadev Desai died there 15 August 1942; Kasturba died 22 February 1944).
• Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel, Maulana Azad, Asaf Ali, Profulla Ghosh — all to Ahmednagar Fort.
• Most provincial Congress leaders simultaneously.

The Congress was outlawed. The AICC was banned. Properties were seized. The leaderless movement nonetheless erupted across the country.

§6 — Course of the Movement (August 1942 – 1944)

Course of the Quit India Movement

Three Phases

Sumit Sarkar identifies three phases of the movement:

Aruna Asaf Ali (1909–1996)

Aruna Asaf Ali ("Grand Old Lady of the Independence Movement") hoisted the tricolour at Gowalia Tank on 9 August 1942 when she came out of hiding briefly. She remained underground for three years, writing in Inquilab newspaper. She was awarded the Bharat Ratna (1997, posthumous).

Usha Mehta and Congress Radio

Usha Mehta (1920–2000), a 22-year-old student, set up a secret Congress Radio from Bombay in August 1942. Broadcasts at 7.45 pm daily on a frequency around 42.34 metres carried news of the movement, speeches, songs. The famous broadcast began with: "This is Congress Radio — Calling on 42.34 metres from somewhere in India." The radio operated for 88 days; British detection led to arrests on 12 November 1942. Mehta was sentenced to 4 years' imprisonment.

Underground Leadership

The major underground leaders:

• Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) — escaped from Hazaribagh Jail November 1942; reached Nepal; organised the Azad Dasta guerrilla force.
• Ram Manohar Lohia.
• Achyut Patwardhan (Maharashtra).
• Aruna Asaf Ali, Sucheta Kripalani, Usha Mehta (Bombay).
• Yusuf Meherally — coined the slogan "Quit India" (originally suggested to Gandhi).

§7 — Parallel Governments

Parallel Governments (Prati Sarkars)

In several pockets, the British administration collapsed; nationalists set up parallel governments:

1. Ballia (UP) — August 1942

Under Chittu Pandey, a parallel administration was set up at Ballia (eastern UP) in mid-August 1942. The British DM was forced to release political prisoners. The parallel government lasted about a week (15–22 August 1942) before British troops re-occupied the town and crushed the rebellion. Pandey is fondly remembered as the "Sher-e-Ballia".

2. Tamluk Jatiya Sarkar (Bengal) — December 1942 to August 1944

In Tamluk subdivision (Midnapore district, West Bengal), the Tamralipta Jatiya Sarkar was established on 17 December 1942. Leaders: Satish Chandra Samanta (President), Ajay Mukherjee, Sushil Kumar Dhara. The parallel government ran for nearly two years. Matangini Hazra, a 73-year-old widow, was shot dead leading a procession at Chakdighi on 29 September 1942 (her famous last words: "Vande Mataram!"). The Vidyut Vahini (women's force) and Bhagini Sena were unique features. The sarkar dissolved in August 1944 after Gandhi's release.

3. Satara Prati Sarkar (Maharashtra) — 1943 to 1945

The largest and longest parallel government was at Satara, Maharashtra. Leaders: Y.B. Chavan (later Maharashtra CM and Defence Minister of India), Nana Patil, Vasantdada Patil, Achyut Patwardhan. The Prati Sarkar ran "village courts" (nyayadan mandals), collected revenue, ran schools, and provided welfare. It survived until August 1945 — over two years.

Other Areas

• Bhagalpur, Purnea (Bihar) — minor parallel governments.
• Talcher (Odisha).
• Karjat, Kolhapur (Maharashtra).
• Manmohan Pal area (Manmad, Maharashtra).

§8 — British Repression

British Repression

The British response was brutal — the most severe repression in Indian colonial history short of 1857:

• Aerial machine-gunning of crowds (used in Patna, Mathura, Ballia).
• Mass arrests: government estimates 60,000+; INC/historian estimates: over 100,000 arrests.
• Killings: officially 1,028 killed in police firing; INC estimate: over 10,000 killed.
• Torture and floggings in jails.
• Collective fines on villages.
• Press censorship — Congress newspapers banned.

The British official report on 9 September 1942 stated: "The country is in a state of revolt." Linlithgow wrote to Churchill that the rebellion was the most serious since 1857.

Bengal Famine (1943)

The Bengal Famine of 1943 killed an estimated 3 million people. Causes: drought, the loss of Burmese rice imports (Japan occupied Burma), Churchill's deliberate denial of grain shipments to Bengal (Amartya Sen's Poverty and Famines 1981 documents British administrative failures). The famine occurred during the Quit India repression — making the British wartime conduct doubly damning. Some Indian historians (Madhusree Mukerjee) argue Churchill's policy amounted to deliberate engineered famine.

§9 — Aftermath: 1944–46

Aftermath: From Quit India to Independence

Gandhi's Release (May 1944)

Gandhi was held at Aga Khan Palace, Pune (his "imperial guest" status — comfortable confinement). Mahadev Desai (his secretary) died there on 15 August 1942. Kasturba Gandhi, his wife, died there on 22 February 1944. After a serious illness, Gandhi was released on 6 May 1944.

Gandhi-Jinnah Talks (September 1944)

Gandhi met Jinnah in 18 sessions over 17 days at Bombay (September 1944). They could not agree — Jinnah wanted explicit acceptance of Pakistan; Gandhi wanted negotiation within an undivided India. The talks collapsed on 27 September 1944.

Wavell Plan / Simla Conference (June–July 1945)

The new Viceroy Lord Wavell (Linlithgow's successor, 1943) proposed in 14 June 1945 an interim government with Indian membership in the Viceroy's Executive Council. The Simla Conference (25 June – 14 July 1945) brought together 21 Indian leaders. The talks foundered on Jinnah's demand that the Muslim League alone nominate Muslim representatives — Wavell refused to concede this exclusive right. The Conference failed.

Labour Victory in UK (July 1945)

The British general election of July 1945 brought Clement Attlee's Labour Party to power, replacing Churchill. Labour was committed to Indian self-government. War in Europe had ended (May 1945); WWII ended in August 1945 with Japan's surrender. The political landscape for India dramatically opened.

INA Trials (November 1945)

The Red Fort INA Trials began on 5 November 1945 in the Mughal Red Fort in Delhi. The first trio:

• Captain Prem Sahgal (Hindu).
• Captain Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon (Sikh).
• Major General Shah Nawaz Khan (Muslim).

The choice was deliberately tri-religious. Defence: Bhulabhai Desai led; included Asaf Ali, Tej Bahadur Sapru, Jawaharlal Nehru (donned barrister's gown), K.N. Katju, Kailash Nath Katju. The trials provoked national outrage — pro-INA processions, slogans, fund-raising. The court martial sentenced all three to transportation for life and dismissal — but the Commander-in-Chief Auchinleck commuted the sentences (released January 1946) under massive public pressure.

Royal Indian Naval Mutiny (18–23 February 1946)

The Royal Indian Navy Mutiny (also called the Bombay Naval Mutiny or February Revolution) was the climactic event:

• Began on 18 February 1946 at HMIS Talwar (a signals school) at Bombay — over poor food, racism by officers, and the INA trials.
• Led by M.S. Khan (President, Naval Central Strike Committee), Madan Singh (Vice President).
• Spread within 48 hours to 78 ships and 20 shore establishments — Karachi, Madras, Cochin, Vizag, Calcutta — about 20,000 sailors.
• Sailors hoisted Congress, Muslim League, AND Communist Party flags simultaneously on the masts — a symbolic moment of unity.
• Bombay civilian sympathy strikes: 22 February 1946 — over 300 killed in Bombay clashes; mill workers struck.
• Sardar Patel (for Congress) and Jinnah (for League) appealed to sailors to surrender, with assurances of no victimisation.
• Surrender on 23 February 1946.

The mutiny is widely regarded as the moment Britain decided India could no longer be held. Attlee's government accelerated independence planning. The Cabinet Mission arrived shortly afterwards (24 March 1946), and within 18 months India was independent.

§10 — Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions