The failure of the Cripps Mission and the fear of an imminent Japanese invasion of India led Mahatma Gandhi to begin his battle for the British to leave India.
Mahatma Gandhi believed that an interim government could be made only after the British left India and the Hindu-Muslim problem sorted out.
Detail of the movement:
The All India Congress Committee gathered at Bombay on 8 August 1942 and passed the famous Quit India Resolution.
On the same day, Gandhi gave his call of ‘do or die’.
On 8th and 9th August 1942, the government seized all the prominent leaders of the Congress.
For once, this pre-prepared action of the government left the Indian people without leadership.
Mahatma Gandhi was held in prison at Poona.
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Abul Kalam Azad, and other leaders were detained in the Ahmednagar Fort.
At this time, leadership was provided by Ram Manohar Lohia, Achyuta, and S.M. Joshi.
The role of Jayaprakash Narain in this movement was significant.
Reach of the Movement:
A large number of students also left their schools and colleges to join the movement.
The youth of the nation also participated in this movement with patriotism.
Strikes, demonstrations and public meetings were organized in various towns and cities.
Slowly the movement spread in the rural areas.
In 1943, as the movement gained further momentum, there were armed attacks on government buildings in Madras and Bengal.
In 1944 Mahatma Gandhi was released from jail. Quit India Movement was the final attempt for the country’s freedom.
The British Government ordered for 538 rounds of firing. Nearly 60,229 persons were jailed. At least 7,000 people were killed.
This movement paved the way for India’s freedom. It moved among Indians the feelings of bravery, enthusiasm, and sacrifice.