Chapter 5: Quit India Movement

I couldn’t wait to travel back home. But things went wrong immediately. We had landed during the World War II time in India, and the beginning of the Quit India Movement.

Aunty tried hitting the “H” button again to take us back home, but in vain. I said “ We have no other choice but to watch it” and began to view the events.

We arrived at the famous All India Congress Session of 1942. I saw Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru during the All India Conference Committee Session, 1942. The President of All India Congress Session Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, was there along with various leaders. We waited and witnessed the entire session which continued past midnight into the next day.

“Gandhiji, can we pass the resolution?”

“Yes, let us launch it.”

“These angrez (foreigners) won’t leave until World War II ends.”

“Shaab” called a young man.

“Yes, Meherally. Do you have anything in mind?”

“Jee shaab. Let us name this movement as Bharat Chhodo Andolan - The Quit India Movement.”

The slogan Quit India was coined by Yusuf Meherally - a trade unionist and the then Mayor of Bombay. He had also coined the term Simon Go Back. Gandhi and his team boarded the car and was driven to a nearby maidan, where there were thousands of people waiting for Mahatma Gandhi. It was the Gowalia Tank Maidan. Bapuji was dressed in white khadi as usual and spoke, switching fluently between English and Hindustani.

“Wow, what a strategy to cover a wider audience.” I thought.

Gandhiji appealed, “Let us have a unity of hearts and a joint effort by Hindus and Muslims in the fight for freedom. We shall either free India or die in the attempt, we shall not live to see the perpetuation of our slavery. Take the pledge, with God and your own conscience as your witness, that you will no longer rest till freedom is achieved and will be prepared to lay down your life in the attempt to achieve it.”

I saw a lady leading the crowd. I recognised her, the Grand Old Lady. Yes! Aruna Asaf Ali led the remainder of the party and unfurled the Congress flag at Gowalia Tank Maidan, marking the beginning of the Quit India Movement. The policemen and British officers in the gathering flushed pale, on hearing this.

“Gosh, is this an indirect threat to Her Highness?”

The walkie talkies buzzed. I sensed tension in the air.

A senior officer yelled, “TEAR GAS!”

Police used tear gas to disperse the large crowd which had gathered at Gowalia. After the failure of the Cripps Mission to secure Indian support for the British war army and troops, Gandhi made a call to Do or Die in his Quit India speech at the Gowalia Tank Maidan.

The Pudumai jerked. We thought it was time for another scene.

The All India Congress Committee whipped up a mass protest. The movement was followed by large-scale violence at railway stations, telegraph offices, government buildings, and other pillars of colonial rule. There were several acts of looting and pillaging, and the government held Gandhi accountable for these acts of violence and treason. However, all of the main leaders were arrested, the Congress was ruled out and the police and the British Indian army were brought into the picture to stamp out any remains of the movement.

Militant students of Benares University and children from schools played a pivotal role in this movement’s progress. Workers, students and middle-class radicals were actively involved in most parts of the country. In Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, the movement spread to the villages very rapidly and received support from the masses. Socialists like Jayaprakash Narayan played a vital role in the Quit India movement in eastern UP and Bihar and spread awareness everywhere.

Pudumai jerked again and yes, it was time for another scene.

Meanwhile somewhere in the north eastern parts of the country, the revolutionary Netaji Subash Chandra Bose stirred the freedom movement with his fierce inclination towards Patriotism.

“Hey, looks like our Supreme commander had a retreat from the British arrest!”

“Yes, two weeks ago, he spoke on the radio and we all listened to him.”

Netaji was talking through Azad Hind Radio. I heard the leader’s voice. It gave me goosebumps. I could see the cheer all over the country, as the country listened to him.

“Ever since I left India last year, British propaganda agencies have, from time to time given contradictory reports of my whereabouts, while newspapers in England have not hesitated to use uncomplimentary language about me. The latest report about my death is perhaps an instance of wishful thinking. I can imagine that the British Government would, at this critical hour in India’s history, like to see me dead since they are now trying their level best to win India over to their side for the purpose of their Imperialistic war.”

Netaji reached countries like Japan where he organized the Indian National Army (INA) to overthrow the British from India. The INA also received a lot of support from India, including women.

“Give me blood and I shall give you freedom” was one of the most popular statements made by Netaji, where he urges the people of India to join him in his freedom movement against the British.

Subhash Chandra Bose, with the help of Japan, began to fight the British forces due to which he was able to free Andaman and Nicobar Islands from the Britishers and also gain access to enter the northeastern border of India.

Netaji then moved to Burma seeking allies to expel Britain out of India. He was giving fierce speeches every now and then.

www.netajisubhasbose.org

The Quit India movement was the glue that united the Indian people against British rule. Most of the demonstrations and protests had been suppressed by 1944. After his release in 1944, Gandhiji continued his resistance against the British and went on a 21-day fast. By the end of World War II, Britain was weakened a lot.

Reports say that

www.open.ac.uk

At the conclusion of World War II, the Labour Party came to power in Britain. The Labour Party was largely helpful and supportive of the Indian people for gaining their freedom. A Constituent Assembly was formed in July 1946, to build the Constitution of India and Dr Rajendra Prasad was elected as its President. On 26^th November 1949, the Constitution of India was formally adopted by the Constituent Assembly and the Constitution came into force on January 26, 1950, when Dr Rajendra Prasad was elected the first President of India for his great contribution.

A Cabinet Mission was sent to India in March 1946, which proposed the formation of an interim Government and the convening of a Constituent Assembly comprising members elected by the provincial legislatures and nominees of the Indian states. A Government was formed headed by Jawaharlal Nehru. However, the Muslim League denied their participation in the Constituent Assembly and pressed for a separate state of Pakistan, for the Muslims only. Lord Mountbatten, the Viceroy of India, put up a plan for the partitioning of India into two parts - India and Pakistan. The Indian leaders had no choice but to accept the division, as the Muslim League was very persistent and kept on pressing for the fulfillment of their demands.

India became free exactly at the midnight of August 14, 1947. Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of independent India and continued his term till 1964.

Jawaharlal Nehru is famous for his speech, A Tryst with Destiny, that he had given on the night when India became Independent.

It begins as follows

www.cam.ac.uk

However, the partition was a gruesome and bloody event with multiple casualties among the Indians and Pakistanis. The Britishers’ Divide-and-Rule policies created a rupture in the heart and soul of India. It is not usual for people to think much about Independence Day, but after witnessing this struggle I understand how the people rejoiced after gaining freedom. After years of struggle, India is now a booming economy with a lot more progress and innovation than it was during pre-independence.

Aunty hit the last button and we were about to go home.