Quit India Movement
The failure of the Cripps Mission and the fear of Japanese invasion in India led Gandhi to began his campaign for British to quit India. Gandhi believed that presence of British in India is an invitation of Japan to invade India and their withdrawal would remove that threat.
On 14th July 1942 in making of Congress working committee at Wardha, Gandhi drafted Quit India Resolution on 7th August 1942 the session of Congress started in Bombay. The next day on 8th August 1942 the congress ratified the Wardha Resolution with sanctioned non-violent mass struggle under leadership of Gandhi. This historic meeting took place at Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay which is officially renamed as August Kranti Maidan.
The meeting ended around midnight on 8th August 1942. In the early hours of 9th August police arrested Gandhi, Abul Kalam Azad and others eminent congress leaders like Nehru and Patel within a week the members of entire congress were arrested. The news of arrest of leaders shock the people and they come on street protesting it. The movement thereafter become directionless and leaderless.
The movement is often regarded as the final battle for independence of India as it mobilize millions of Indians to participate in struggle against colonial rule. The movement was characterized by its clear demand to British to leave India immediately. The slogan quit India captured the essence of movement emphasizing that India would no longer tolerate the British rule.
The movement witnessed precented mass participation across India. Indians including students, farmers and women's and even school going children's join the struggle.
Viceroy Lord Linlithgow described it as by far the most rebellion after 1857. Subhas Bose described it Guarilia war.
While Gandhi's movement were non-violent in nature, the Quit India marked a departure form it. Four major parallel government were established during the movement Balliya-UP, Tamluk- Bengal, Satara-Maharastra and Talcher-Orissa.
After September 1942 on account of increasing British repression, the movement event underground. It now took the shape of revolutionary activities. The prominent leaders of the underground activities were Achyut Patwardhan, Aruna Asaf Ali, Ram Manohar Lohia, etc.
The most significant act of underground activity was established of congress radio with Usha Mehta as the announcer. Tam Manohar Lohia used to regularly broadcast on this radio and radio continued till November 1942 when it was discovered and confiscated by the British police.
Muslim league kept a loop from the movement and gave the slogan divide and quit in 1943 Karachi Session. On 23rd March 1943 the league organized the celebration in the name of Pakistan Day.