Britishers ruled India for around 200 years many freedom fighters contributed to the independence of the nation and many movements were launched. One such movement was launched in the year 1942, the time when Britishers were highly involved in World War II. After Cripps Mission was failed many encouraged freedom fighters started All-India Quit Movement, aka Quit India Movement, against the British rule over the Indian Subcontinent.
After being in the clutches of the British government Indians needed independence immediately therefore Congress leaders, led by Mahatma Gandhi, launched a mass movement and asked for British free India. The movement is also known as “August Kranti” or “Bharat Chodo Andolan.”
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The movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi at the Bombay Session of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on August 8, 1942. The masses were addressed by Gandhi at Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay and the movement was started on August 9, 1942. The main idea behind the movement was to end the British Rule and Gandhi Ji called the movement “Kro ya Maro (Do or die)”. Many prominent leaders joined Mahatma Gandhi’s hands including, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Abul Kalam Azad, and Aruna Asaf Ali.
The movement spread like a fire in the forest so the British government immediately ordered to suppress the movement and many Indian leaders were sent behind the bars. Britishers even announced the All Indian Congress Committee as an unsanctioned organization.
The movement was started on August 9, 1942, and was concluded in September 1942. Before the movement was launched Mahatma Gandhi famously urged Britishers to “Leave India to God. If this is too much then leave it to anarchy.”
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The term “Quit India” was coined by them Bombay Mayor Yusuf Meherally.
Quit India Movement: Prominent leaders involved in the movement
- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
- Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
- Jawaharlal Nehru
- Dr Rajendra Prasad
- Subash Chandra Bose
- Mohammed Ali Jinnah
- Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
- R.P. Goenka
- Sarojini Naidu
- Sister Subbalakshmi
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Quit India Movement: Quotes and Slogans
Quotes:
Here are some quotes from the iconic speech of Mahatma Gandhi:
- “Ours is not a drive for power, but purely a non-violent fight for India’s independence.”
- “A non-violent soldier of freedom will covet nothing for himself, he fights only for the freedom of his country.”
- “Truth alone will endure, all the rest will be swept always in the tide of Time.”
- “Here is a mantra, a short one that I give you. You may imprint it on your hearts and let every breath of yours give expression to it. 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.”
- “Everybody will be his own master. It is to join a struggle for such democracy that I invite you today. Once you realize this you will forget the differences between the Hindus and Muslims, and think of yourselves as Indians only, engaged in the common struggle for independence.”
Slogans:
- “Do or Die” – Mahatma Gandhi
- “Vande Mataram!” – Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
- “Satyameva Jayate” – Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya
- “Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it”- Bal Gangadhar Tilak
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Quit India Movement: Speech by Mahatma Gandhi
Here is a piece of the speech delivered by Mahatma Gandhi at Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay on August 8, 1942. The speech was originally given in the Hindi language was then translated to other languages to ease the understanding.
Gandhi started his speech and said, “Before you discuss the resolution, let me place before you one or two things, I want you to understand two things very clearly and to consider them from the same point of view from which I am placing them before you. I ask you to consider it from my point of view because if you approve of it, you will be enjoined to carry out all I say. It will be a great responsibility. Some people ask me whether I am the same man that I was in 1920, or whether there has been any change in me or you. You are right in asking that question.
Let me, however, hasten to assure that I am the same Gandhi as I was in 1920. I have not changed in any fundamental respect. I attach the same importance to non-violence that I did then. If at all, my emphasis on it has grown stronger. There is no real contradiction between the present resolution and my previous writings and utterances.”
The speech was concluded with words for Mahatma Gandhi himself. He said, “Speaking for myself, I can say that I have never felt any hatred. As a matter of fact, I feel myself to be a greater friend of the British now than ever before. One reason is that they are today in distress. My very friendship, therefore, demands that I should try to save them from their mistakes. As I view the situation, they are on the brink of an abyss. It, therefore, becomes my duty to warn them of their danger even though it may, for the time being, anger them to the point of cutting off the friendly hand that is stretched out to help them. People may laugh, nevertheless, that is my claim. At a time when I may have to launch the biggest struggle of my life, I may not harbor hatred against anybody.”