What were the events that led to the Quit India Movement? Point out its results.

Background and Long-Term Factors

Several long-term factors contributed to the growing discontent that ultimately led to the Quit India Movement. These included:

• Economic Hardship: World War I and the subsequent economic depression had severely impacted the Indian economy. The war-time price rise and scarcity of essential goods further aggravated the situation.
• Political Disenchantment: Despite participating in the war effort, Indians were not granted substantial political reforms. The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms (1919) and the Government of India Act, 1935, were seen as inadequate.
• Rise of Nationalist Sentiment: The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22) and the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-34) had instilled a strong sense of national consciousness among the Indian people.
• Social Unrest: Peasant movements and labor unrest were prevalent across the country, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with the existing social and economic order.

Immediate Triggers and Events Leading to the Movement

The immediate factors that triggered the Quit India Movement were:

• Failure of the Cripps Mission (1942): Sir Stafford Cripps’s mission to India aimed to secure Indian cooperation in the war effort in exchange for a promise of dominion status after the war. However, the mission failed due to disagreements over the extent of immediate self-governance and the provision for secession of provinces. This failure deeply disillusioned Indian leaders.
• Japanese Advance in Southeast Asia: The rapid Japanese advances in Southeast Asia created a sense of urgency and fear of an imminent invasion of India. The British government’s ‘scorched earth’ policy, aimed at denying resources to the Japanese, caused further hardship to the Indian population.
• Growing Demand for Complete Independence: Leaders like Subhas Chandra Bose, who had broken away from the Congress, advocated for complete and immediate independence. This influenced public opinion and put pressure on the Congress leadership.

The Launch of the Movement and Initial Phase

On August 8, 1942, the Indian National Congress, at its Bombay session, passed the ‘Quit India’ resolution demanding an end to British rule in India. Mahatma Gandhi called for a ‘Do or Die’ movement, urging Indians to peacefully resist British authority.

• Mass Arrests: The British government responded swiftly with mass arrests of Congress leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
• Underground Resistance: Despite the arrests, the movement continued through underground networks led by leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia, and Aruna Asaf Ali.
• Widespread Protests: The movement witnessed widespread protests, including strikes, demonstrations, and acts of sabotage across the country.

Results and Consequences of the Quit India Movement

The Quit India Movement, despite being brutally suppressed, had significant consequences:

• Demonstration of Indian Resolve: The movement demonstrated the unwavering determination of the Indian people to achieve independence.
• Weakening of British Authority: The widespread unrest and disruption of administration significantly weakened British authority in India.
• Increased Political Awareness: The movement heightened political awareness among the Indian masses and encouraged greater participation in the freedom struggle.
• Post-War Reforms: The Labour government, which came to power in Britain after the war, recognized the inevitability of Indian independence and initiated the process of constitutional reforms, culminating in the Indian Independence Act of 1947.
• Impact on the Congress: The Congress was severely weakened by the arrests of its leaders and the suppression of the movement. However, it emerged as the dominant political force in the post-independence era.