Quit India Movement: A Success or a Failure?
Positive outcome of the movement
- Emergence of national leaders: Quit India movement gave rise of prominent leaders like Biju Patnaik, Sucheta Kriplani, Ram Manohar Lohia. They undertook underground activities contributed significantly in the movement. Since all the national leaders were arrested on the second day itself, young leaders took the task in their hands
- Rise of nationalism: Students dropped out from college voluntarily, employees left government job and boycott of all foreign goods were made on large scale. Unity and sense of brotherhood emerged among the civilians due to the movement.
- Women participation: Female Leaders like Usha Mehta carried out underground activity to awaken the movement to general citizens
- Paved the wave of freedom: The negotiations with British led them believe that India cannot be governed in the long run after the WW 2 post effects. The freedom wave became stronger even thought quit India campaign crushed
Failure of the movement
- Spread of violence: Due to absence of leadership, people resorted to violence, electricity lines were cut, communication was disrupted and buildings were set on fire. Huge damage to government property was incurred and violence broke through
- Brutal suppression: In response to the opposition, British tried to suppress the movement by lathi charge, imprisonment and imposing fines. Villages were burnt in order to crush the agitation.
- Lack of support: There was lack of support from parties like Muslim League, Hindu Mahasabha and communist party of India. There was opposition from Indian Bureaucracy as well. Communist supported the war, League wanted the partition, Mahasabha felt that movement would create internal disturbances.
- Leaders: Leaders like Rajagopalachari opposed Gandhiji’s idea. SC Bose was busy organizing INA outside India. While some regions witnessed parallel government.
Quit India Movement – Date, History, Causes, and Significance
Quit India Movement popularly known as August Kranti, was launched by Indian National Congress( INC) on 8th August 1942. The place where Gandhiji delivered his speech was referred to as Kranti Medan in Bombay. Gandhi was made the Leader of the movement who gave the War cry ” Do or die” [ Karo ya Maro].
The major consequences of the movement were that Congress came to be declared unlawful association; Congress offices across the country came to be raided leaders were arrested and chaotic situations emerged with the movement. Some of the provisions of the movement were:
- Non-violence
- Civil disobedience
- Complete end of the British Empire
- Sovereign country after the withdrawal of Britishers
Table of Content
- What is Quit India Movement?
- Quit India Movement Day
- Quit India Movement Started Date
- Causes of Quit India Movement
- Responses to Quit India Movement
- Phases of Quit India Movement
- Quit India Movement : A Success or a Failure?
- Significance of Quit India Movement
- Questions and Answers on Quit India Movement