Question

The Congress Working Committee passed the famous Quit India Resolution at Wardha in July 1942. With reference to this, answer the following questions:

1. What were the reasons for the passing of this resolution?
2. What was the British Government’s reaction to the Quit India Movement?
3. How did the Quit India Movement show that national feelings had become too deep-rooted?

Answer 1

1. Reasons for passing the Quit India Resolution:
   1. In 1942, the failure of the Cripps' Mission ended any further talks between the British Government and Congress.
   2. The war situation in 1942 was not looking good.
   3. The Japanese Army had attacked Burma (Myanmar) and was moving towards Assam.
   4. Gandhiji believed that the British presence in India was an invitation for Japan to invade, and their withdrawal would remove that threat.
   5. Indian leaders wanted to protect their country from a Japanese invasion, but their slavery under British rule was a barrier.
   6. Gandhiji and other leaders felt that the situation required complete independence from the British.
   7. Gandhiji stated that India's safety and Britain's as well depended on the timely withdrawal of the British. This led to the decision to launch the Quit India Movement, urging the British to leave India.
2. The British government’s reaction to the Quit India Movement:
   1. Before the Congress could start the movement, the government took strong action.
   2. Early on August 9, Gandhiji and other Congress leaders were arrested and taken to unknown locations, and Congress was declared illegal.
   3. The government used harsh measures to crush the 1942 movement.
   4. The press was completely silenced.
   5. Demonstrators were fired at with machine guns and even bombed from the air.
   6. Prisoners were tortured.
   7. The police and secret police held complete power.
   8. By the end of 1942, nearly 10,000 people were killed, and 60,000 were arrested.
   9. The military took control of many towns and cities.
   10. Villages that rebelled were forced to pay large fines, and the villagers were publicly flogged.
   11. Gandhiji was detained at the Agha Khan Palace in Pune, while other leaders were jailed at Ahmednagar Fort.
3. 1. Mass and cross‑community participation: the movement drew people from all sections (Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, people in princely states) and wide geographic spread, towns, villages and many provinces took part.
   2. Popular, often spontaneous actions went beyond planned civil disobedience: attacks on symbols of British authority, hoisting of the national flag, strikes, and in some districts the setting up of parallel/local administrations (e.g., Ballia, Tamluk, Satara). These showed willingness to challenge authority at the local level.
   3. Sustained sacrifice and underground organisation: despite arrest of leaders, underground cells, a Central Directorate, underground broadcasts and continued resistance by leaders and volunteers kept the movement alive, showing depth of commitment and capacity for continued struggle.