The August 8th, 2016 is celebrated as the 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement all around the country as the whole Country 75 years back have come together and carried out a movement against the British Colonial Rule in India. The Quit India Movement or the India August Movement commenced from August 8th, 1942, where the masses joined Mahatma Gandhi and All-India Congress Committee, during the World War II to demand an end to the British Rule in India. It was a civil disobedience movement conducted on a massive scale when the Cripps Mission had failed and Mahatma Gandhi made a speech to “Do or Die” in his Quit India speech in Mumbai. The movement resulted in mass arrests of almost all the big names of Indian National Congress (INC), and the Movement was crushed by the British forces.
However, it laid the foundation of the idea of complete freedom into the minds of Indians and also the British had to pay costs to post World War II.
The 22nd episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, our Prime Minister Narendra Modi had urged every Indian to celebrate this big day and the Independence Day as the festival of freedom.
But there are few facts which might shock you about the “Quit India Movement”, that you surely must know:-
- The Movement is also known as “August Kranti”.
- It was held under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi and was announced at the Bombay session of All India Congress Committee to urge the Indians for a complete Civil Disobedience Movement claiming for an end to British Rule.
- The ‘Gowalia Tank Maidan’ was heard loud with the Gandhi’s call of ‘Do or Die’ or ‘Karo ya Maro’ during his speech.
- The great leaders of Congress like Abdul Kalam Azad, Vallabhai Patel, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru got arrested on 9th August 1942.
- The Muslim League of India had completely opposed the Quit India Movement.
- The Viceroy’s Council, which includes the majority of Indians, along with All India Muslim League, the princely states, the Indian Imperial Police, the British Indian Army and the Indian Civil Service, all were against the Movement and opposed it.
- The Cripps Mission sent to India, which was an attempt of the British Government to seek complete cooperation from India in the World War II, had failed miserably. Resulting in the failure of this mission, the Quit India Movement had been called for.
- As a result of the Movement, the whole country saw agitated protests and riots, due to which the British lost control in various parts of the country.
- This Movement was a major milestone in the Indian Freedom struggle.
- The movement also saw aerial bombings and machine guns fired during the protests.
So, we all should celebrate the day and remember the freedom fighters who had given us the ultimate gift of freedom and the chance of breathing in the air of a free democratic country.
