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Summary
The Quit India Movement was a significant episode in India’s struggle for independence. The movement was a response to the British government’s failure to offer a satisfactory political solution through the Cripps Mission, which proposed limited self-governance after World War II but fell short of promising immediate independence. The mission’s failure, combined with the looming threat of a Japanese invasion, convinced Indian leaders, particularly Mahatma Gandhi, that British presence in India was increasingly harmful.
The Congress Working Committee passed the Quit India Resolution in July 1942 at Wardha, demanding an immediate end to British rule. On August 8, 1942, the All-India Congress Committee ratified the resolution in Bombay, marking the beginning of the Quit India Movement. Gandhi urged the nation to “Do or Die,” emphasizing the necessity of immediate action to achieve freedom.
The British government responded swiftly and harshly. Gandhi, along with other Congress leaders, was arrested before the movement could gain momentum. Despite the leadership being in jail, widespread protests and acts of civil disobedience erupted across the country. Strikes, demonstrations, and the hoisting of national flags on public buildings became common. The British authorities cracked down on these activities with brutal force, employing measures such as mass arrests, public shootings, and aerial bombings. Approximately 10,000 people were killed, and 60,000 were imprisoned.
Despite its suppression, the Quit India Movement had a profound impact. It demonstrated the deep-rooted nationalist sentiments and the willingness of Indians to sacrifice for freedom. The movement made it clear to the British that their rule in India was no longer tenable without the consent of the people, setting the stage for the eventual independence of India in 1947.
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Textbook (Total History) solutions
Multiple-Choice Questions
1. Arrange the following events chronologically.
(i) Quit India Resolution (ii) Cripps’ Mission (iii) Resignation of Congress Ministries (iv) August Offer
A. (iii), (ii), (i) and (iv) B. (iii), (iv), (ii) and (i) C. (iv), (iii), (ii) and (i) D. (iii), (ii), (iv) and (i)
Answer: B. (iii), (iv), (ii) and (i)
2. In 1942, Japanese forces were marching towards
A. China B. Arunachal Pradesh C. Assam D. Tibet
Answer: C. Assam
3. At Wardha, the Congress Working Committee adopted a resolution that was passed at Bombay. Name the resolution.
A. Poorna Swaraj Resolution B. Quit India Resolution C. Non-Cooperation Resolution D. Swaraj Resolution
Answer: B. Quit India Resolution
4. Which of the following was NOT stressed by Mahatma Gandhi while exhorting the people to join the Quit India Movement?
A. Forget the differences between the Hindus and Muslims and think of yourselves as Indians only.
B. Our quarrel is not with British people; we fight their imperialism and we must purge ourselves of hatred.
C. Feel from today that you are a free man and not a dependent. Do or die. Either free India or die in the attempt.
D. Freedom of India is an end that will purify all means employed to achieve it.
Answer: D. Freedom of India is an end that will purify all means employed to achieve it.
Select the correct relationship
1. (A) The Congress ministries resigned in October-November 1939 as the British government joined the Second World War without consulting the Indian National Congress.
(B) The Muslim League celebrated the day when the Congress ministries resigned as the day of ‘thanks-giving’.
(a) (A) contradicts (B)
(b) (A) is the reason for (B)
(c) (A) is true but (B) is false
(d) (A) and (B) are independent of each other.
Answer: (b) (A) is the reason for (B)
Explanation: The Congress ministries resigned in protest because they were not consulted by the British before declaring India’s involvement in World War II. The Muslim League, which opposed the Congress’s dominance, celebrated this resignation as it saw the event as an opportunity to weaken the Congress’s influence and to strengthen its own position. The Muslim League viewed the resignation as a victory and a cause for celebration, which is why the day was marked as ‘thanks-giving.’
2. (A) Lord Linlithgow made the August Offer in 1940.
(B) The Congress rejected the offer but the Muslim League accepted the offer.
(a) (B) contradicts (A)
(b) (B) is the reason for (A)
(c) (A) is true but (B) is false
(d) (A) and (B) are independent of each other.
Answer: (c) (A) is true but (B) is false
Explanation: Lord Linlithgow made the August Offer in 1940 as a way to gain Indian support during World War II by promising more self-governance after the war. However, both the Congress and the Muslim League rejected the offer. The Congress rejected it because it did not promise immediate independence, and the Muslim League rejected it because it did not guarantee the creation of Pakistan. Thus, while the August Offer did happen, it is incorrect to say that the Muslim League accepted it.
3. (A) The Cripps Mission proposed that India would be given a Dominion Status after the end of the Second World War.
(B) The Cripps Mission failed to fulfill its promise after the Second World War.
(a) (B) contradicts (A)
(b) (B) is the reason for (A)
(c) (A) is true but (B) is false
(d) (A) and (B) are independent of each other.
Answer: (a) (B) contradicts (A)
Explanation: The Cripps Mission in 1942 proposed that India would be granted Dominion Status after World War II, meaning India would become semi-independent but still remain within the British Commonwealth. However, the mission itself was a failure as it did not meet the demands of Indian leaders, leading to its rejection. Since the Cripps Mission’s proposals were not accepted, the promise of Dominion Status was never fulfilled, making statement (B) incorrect as it implies the promise was made and then broken, rather than never accepted in the first place.
4. (A) Gandhiji decided to launch a movement calling upon the British to quit India.
(B) In 1942 Gandhiji declared that the presence of British in India was an invitation to Japan to invade India.
(a) (B) contradicts (A)
(b) (B) is the reason for (A)
(c) (A) is true but (B) is false
(d) (A) and (B) are independent of each other.
Answer: (b) (B) is the reason for (A)
Explanation: Gandhiji’s decision to launch the Quit India Movement was directly influenced by his belief that the British presence in India during World War II made the country vulnerable to Japanese invasion. He argued that the British were an inviting target for Japan, and their withdrawal would remove this threat. Thus, statement (B) explains the rationale behind Gandhiji’s decision in statement (A).
5. (A) The Quit India movement made independence of India as the only agenda of the National Movement.
(B) After the suppression of the Quit India Movement, the battle for the freedom was carried on beyond India’s frontier by Subhas Chandra Bose.
(a) (B) contradicts (A)
(b) (B) is the reason for (A)
(c) (A) is true but (B) is false
(d) (A) and (B) are independent of each other.
Answer: (d) (A) and (B) are independent of each other.
Explanation: The Quit India Movement focused on making Indian independence the sole objective of the national struggle, unifying various factions under this cause. On the other hand, Subhas Chandra Bose’s activities took place after the movement was suppressed, focusing on a different approach by seeking help from foreign powers and organizing the Indian National Army. While both events are related to the independence struggle, they were separate actions with different strategies, making them independent of each other.
Short Answer Questions
1. Under what condition, the Congress proposed to support Britain during the Second World War? Why did the Congress Ministries resign in 1939?
Answer: The Congress proposed to support Britain during the Second World War on the condition that India must be declared free or at least have effective power before it could actively participate in the War. The Congress Ministries resigned in 1939 because the Viceroy declared India at war with Germany without consulting the National Congress or the elected members of the Central Legislature.
2. What was the reaction of the British Government and the Muslim League to the resignation of Congress ministries in 1939?
Answer:
- The British Government was happy because the Congress ministries had controlled several provinces.
- The Muslim League was jubilant over the resignation of Congress Ministries and offered its friendship to the British Government. It celebrated the day when the Congress ministries resigned as a ‘day of deliverance and ‘thanks-giving.’
3. Give any two salient features of the August Offer.
Answer:
- It did not give a clear assurance for the establishment of Pakistan
- It was also assured that the Constitution would not be framed without the consent of the minorities.
4. Why was the August Offer rejected by the Congress as well as the Muslim League?
Answer:
- The Congress rejected the August Offer because it did not provide any effective power to Indians and was seen as inadequate.
- The Muslim League rejected the Offer because it did not specifically grant the establishment of Pakistan.
5. What reasons did the Muslim League put forward for the creation of two independent nations?
Answer:
- The Muslim League argued that Muslims could not expect any justice at the hands of the Congress.
- The League also demanded the division of India into two autonomous States, stating that Muslims constituted a separate nation and had the right to self-determination.
6. How was the Constitution-making body to be constituted according to the Cripps Proposals of 1942?
Answer: A Constituent Assembly would be set up. It would consist of the members elected by the Lower House of the Indian Legislature and the representatives of the Princely States nominated by their rulers. It would be set up to draft a new Constitution.
7. Which point in the Cripps Offer was against the unity of the nation?
Answer: The Provinces would be free to join the Indian Union. If they would not join the Indian federation, they would formulate their own Constitutions which could have the same status as the Union of India.
8. Why did the people of the Princely States oppose the Cripps’ mission? What kind of status was promised to India after the War by Sir Stafford Cripps?
Answer: The people of the Princely States opposed the Cripps’ Mission because they had no right to send their representatives to the proposed Constitution-making body. Their representatives were to be selected by the rulers. India was promised Dominion Status after the War.
9. What did the Congress think of the threat of a Japanese attack on India in 1942?
Answer: The Congress leaders were anxious to save their country from the Japanese invasion but their slavery was a hindrance. Gandhiji observed, ‘The presence of British in India is an invitation to Japan to invade India. Their withdrawal removes the bait.’ Gandhiji and other leaders were convinced that this situation called for complete independence from the British immediately.
10. What was meant by the Quit India Movement?
Answer: The Quit India Movement was a movement calling for complete withdrawal of the British from India. The All-India Congress Committee met at Bombay on August 8, 1942 and passed the Quit India Resolution. Gandhiji declared that it was a decision “To Do or Die”. The British Government reacted by arresting Gandhiji and other Congress leaders, and the Congress was declared illegal. Despite severe repressive measures, the movement saw widespread participation across the country.
Structured Questions
1. 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 for the passing of this resolution?
Answer: The reasons for the passing of this resolution were the failure of the Cripps’ Mission and the Japanese threat to India.
(b) What was the British Government’s reaction to the Quit India Movement?
Answer: The British Government reacted to the Quit India Movement by arresting Gandhiji and other Congress leaders, declaring Congress illegal, and employing severe measures to crush the movement.
(c) How did the Quit India Movement show that national feelings had become too deep-rooted?
Answer: The Quit India Movement demonstrated that national feelings had become too deep-rooted by showing the depth of nationalist feeling in the country, the widespread participation across different sections of society, and the willingness of people to make sacrifices for independence.
2. Read the excerpt given below and answer the questions that follow:
“I, therefore, want freedom immediately, this very night, before dawn, if it can be had. Fraud and untruth today are stalking the world…. You may take it from me that I am not going to strike a bargain with the Viceroy for ministries and the like. I am not going to be satisfied with anything short of complete freedom. 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.
(Mahatma Gandhi addressing the Congress delegates on the night of 8 August, 1942)”
(a) State briefly the reasons that led Mahatma Gandhi to assert that he would not strike a bargain with the Viceroy.
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi asserted that he would not strike a bargain with the Viceroy because he was determined to achieve complete freedom for India, and he believed that anything less would be an acceptance of slavery.
(b) Which movement was started as a consequence of Mahatma Gandhi’s call for Do or Die? Explain briefly what all happened during this movement.
Answer: The Quit India Movement was started as a consequence of Mahatma Gandhi’s call for “Do or Die”. During this movement, there were strikes, demonstrations, attacks on symbols of British authority, and the establishment of parallel governments in some areas. The British government responded with severe repression, arresting leaders, and suppressing the movement.
(c) Was this movement a success or a failure? Give reasons to support your answer.
Answer: The Quit India Movement was a short-lived movement, but it was successful in demonstrating the deep-rooted nationalist feelings in India. It made it clear that the British would no longer be able to rule India against the wishes of its people, even though the movement itself was brutally suppressed.
Picture Study
(a) Identify the person in the picture with Gandhiji. Why did he come to India?
Answer: The person in the picture with Gandhiji is Sir Stafford Cripps. He came to India as a representative of the British government to discuss constitutional reforms and to seek Indian support for the British war effort during the Second World War.
(b) Give any two important points in the proposals given by this person. How did Gandhiji describe his proposals?
Answer:
- India would be given a Dominion Status after the war, which would allow India the freedom to remain within the British Commonwealth or to secede from it.
- A Constituent Assembly would be set up, consisting of elected members from British India and representatives of the Princely States, to frame a new constitution for the country.
Gandhiji described the Cripps’ proposals as a “post-dated cheque on a failing bank.”
(c) Why were the proposals of this Mission rejected by both the Congress and the Muslim League?
Answer: The proposals of the Cripps Mission were rejected by both the Congress and the Muslim League because they did not bring the promise of immediate independence, and they were seen as inadequate by various Indian political groups. The Congress rejected them because they did not concede to the demand for immediate self-governance, while the Muslim League was dissatisfied as the proposals did not include the formation of a separate state for Muslims, i.e., Pakistan.
Thinking Skills
1. Do you think the masses deviated from Gandhiji’s ideology of a non-violent mass struggle during the Quit India Movement? Give reasons to support your answer.
Answer: Yes, the masses deviated from Gandhiji’s ideology of a non-violent mass struggle during the Quit India Movement. There were widespread acts of violence, such as attacks on symbols of British authority like police stations, post offices, and railway stations. Additionally, national flags were hoisted on public buildings in defiance of the police, and in some areas, parallel governments were set up by the nationalists, indicating a departure from the strictly non-violent methods advocated by Gandhiji.
2. How was the Quit India Movement different from other popular movements organised earlier by Mahatma Gandhi?
Answer: The Quit India Movement was different from other popular movements organised earlier by Mahatma Gandhi because it was more spontaneous and widespread across the country. Unlike previous movements which were more controlled and directed by Gandhiji and the Congress leadership, the Quit India Movement saw a more decentralized and leaderless uprising with local leaders and ordinary citizens taking the initiative. Additionally, it involved more direct confrontation with the British authorities, including acts of sabotage and violence, which contrasted with the earlier emphasis on non-violent civil disobedience.
3. The British put down the Quit India Movement with ruthless brutality and the movement, unlike its predecessor, was short-lived. Despite all this, the Quit India Movement made the British realise that their days are numbered in India. What was the reason for it?
Answer: The reason the Quit India Movement made the British realise that their days were numbered in India was because it demonstrated the depth of nationalist feeling and the widespread desire for independence among the Indian people. The movement showed that the British could no longer rule India against the wishes of its people, as the participation in the movement was widespread across all sections of society, including Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Parsis, and even people from Princely States. The intensity and scale of the movement made it clear that the British rule was unsustainable in the long term.
Extra/additional MCQs
1. When did the Second World War break out?
A. September 1937
B. September 1938
C. September 1939
D. September 1940
Answer: C. September 1939
19. Where was Gandhiji detained during the Quit India Movement?
A. Red Fort, Delhi
B. Cellular Jail, Andaman
C. Agha Khan Palace, Pune
D. Ahmednagar Fort, Maharashtra
Answer: C. Agha Khan Palace, Pune
Extra/additional questions and answers
1. What event triggered the resignation of Congress ministries in 1939?
Answer: The outbreak of the Second World War.
38. How did the Quit India Movement impact the Congress Socialist Party and its leadership?
Answer: The Quit India Movement had a significant impact on the Congress Socialist Party, primarily due to its active and heroic role during the movement. The party was instrumental in keeping the movement alive through underground activities despite the government’s repressive measures. As a result of their efforts, the Congress Socialist Party gained strength and prominence. Its leader, Jai Prakash Narayan, emerged as a legendary figure in the Indian independence struggle. The underground movement led by the Congress Socialist Party continued until 1944, when it finally came to an end. The Quit India Movement thus elevated the party’s status and its leaders within the broader context of the National Movement for India’s independence.
Ron’e Dutta is a journalist, teacher, aspiring novelist, and blogger. He manages Online Free Notes and reads Victorian literature. His favourite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte and he hopes to travel the world. Get in touch with him by sending him a friend request.
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