Exhibition to mark the 79th anniversary of ‘Quit India Movement’ inaugurated as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebration

What is the News?

The Union Minister of Culture has inaugurated an exhibition to mark the 79th anniversary of the ‘Quit India Movement’ at the National Archives of India.

About Quit India Movement:

• The Quit India Movement is also known as the August Movement was a movement launched at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee by Mahatma Gandhi on 8 August 1942, demanding an end to British rule in India.

Causes of Quit India Movement:

• Involvement of India in World War II without prior consultation with the leaders
• Failure of Cripps Mission
• Shortage of essential commodities
• Prevalence of anti-British sentiment
• Centralisation of many small movements

Phases of Quit India Movement

The Quit India Movement can be viewed in three phases from its inception to end. The phases are as follows:

• First phase: The first phase or the inception of the movement had no violence. It began with civil disobedience, boycotts, strikes that the British Government quickly suppressed. Almost all members of the Congress Committee, including Gandhiji, were arrested and kept in Jail till 1945 without any trial.
• Second phase: The second phase of the movement took a violent and aggressive turn. Any building or offices which were the symbol of colonial authority was attacked and distracted.
• Third and last phase: In the last phase of the movement, there was the formation of many independent national or parallel governments in the isolated pockets of the country, such as Ballia, Satara, Tamluk, etc.

Successes of the Quit India Movement

• Women empowerment: This movement had the active participation of women of the country. Aruna Asif Ali hoisted the national flag on the Gowalia tank maidan; Usha Mehta, on the other hand, helped set up the underground radio station to spread awareness about the movement.
• Rise of future leaders: This movement also gave some future prominent leaders such as Biku Patnaik, Aruna Asif Ali, Ram Manohar Lohia, Sucheta Kriplani, J.P. Narayan, etc. These leaders were helping the movement through underground activities.

Failure of the Quit India Movement: The movement did not have the support of many organisations of the country itself.

• The Britishers were supported by the Princely States, British Indian Army, Indian Civil Services, Viceroy’s Council (which had Indians in the majority), All India Muslim League, Indian Imperial Police.
• The Hindu Mahasabha, Muslim League also opposed the Quit India