25.

The Congress Working Committee passed the famous ‘Quit India Resolution’ at Wardha in July 1942. With reference to this, answer the following questions:

(a) What were the reasons behind the passing of this resolution?

(b) What was the British government’s reaction to the Quit India Movement?

(c) What was the impact and significance of this movement?

(a) The following are the reasons for the passing of the ‘Quit India’ resolution.

i. Failure of the Cripps Mission – The failure of the Cripps Mission had generated a lot of anger among the Indian masses and the Congress leaders in particular.

ii. Resignation of the Congress Ministries – The Congress ministries had resigned on the war issue. Their objection was that the British government had dragged India into a major war without consulting even the central legislature or the provincial governments.

iii. Failure of the August Offer – The August offer made by the Viceroy Lord Linlithgow failed to impress the leadership of both the Hindus as well as the Muslims.

(b) The British government reacted in a violent and repressive manner to the nonviolent Quit India movement. The State apparatus was used ruthlessly in the name of maintaining law and order in order to suppress popular discontent. Mobs of protesting Indians were often lathi charged, dispersed by the fire of pistols, rifles and occasionally even machine guns. Captured protestors were subjected to flogging, beatings and extreme torture. Women were stripped and assaulted and even children were subjected to atrocities. A huge number of protestors were thrown into jail without trial with long terms of imprisonment.

(c) The Quit India movement was an important landmark in India’s struggle for freedom from British colonisation. It instilled a new confidence among the Indian masses and aroused a spirit of total sacrifice in them. The movement attracted participation from a large number of people including such varied professions as peasants, workers, lawyers, teachers, soldiers, etc. Men and women of all age groups formed the cadre of the movement. The most important effect of the Quit India Movement was that it made the British realise that in the context of the crippling effects of the Second World War on Britain’s resources and the bitter opposition to its rule India, it would be very difficult to continue ruling the Indians.