75th Anniversary of “Quit India” Movement

The August Revolution of 1942

The Quit India Movement, also known as the August Movement, marked one of the most decisive and powerful mass uprisings in India’s struggle for independence. It reflected the collective resolve of millions of Indians determined to end British rule once and for all.

Genesis of the Movement

On 26 April 1942, Mahatma Gandhi wrote an article titled “Quit India” in the Harijan Patrika, articulating the urgent need for British withdrawal from India. The idea soon gathered momentum. On 14 July 1942, the Congress Working Committee adopted a historic resolution declaring that the immediate end of British rule was essential both for India’s freedom and for the success of the Allied cause during World War II.

The movement formally began on 8 August 1942, when Mahatma Gandhi moved the Quit India Resolution at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) meeting held at Gowlia Tank Maidan, Mumbai (now August Kranti Maidan).

In his electrifying address, Gandhiji gave the nation the immortal mantra:

“Do or Die. We shall either be free or die in the attempt.”

These words created an atmosphere charged with determination and patriotic fervour across the country.

Salient Features of the Resolution

The Quit India Resolution emphasized mass participation through non-violent means. Its key features included:

• Nationwide hartals (strikes) in cities and villages.
• Encouragement to people to make their own salt as an act of self-reliance and defiance.
• Students above 16 years urged to leave institutions and join the non-violent struggle.
• Citizens asked to wear badges bearing the motto “Do or Die.”

Immediate Repression and Nationwide Uprising

In the early hours of 9 August 1942, the British administration arrested all top Congress leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Maulana Azad, and declared the Congress an unlawful organization.

Despite imprisonment and failing health, Gandhiji undertook a 21-day fast, continuing his moral resistance. His last exhortation deeply inspired the masses, who were ready to make the supreme sacrifice.

A massive wave of protests swept across the country. Strikes, meetings, and processions erupted in major cities such as Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, Patna, and Ahmedabad. The movement soon spread to rural areas and also went underground in urban centers.

The British responded with severe repression. Railways, post offices, and government establishments became focal points of confrontation. By the end of 1942:

• Over 60,000 people were arrested
• Around 10,000 people lost their lives

Civil liberties, freedom of speech, and press freedoms were curtailed. Many leaders remained imprisoned until the end of World War II.

Regional Centers and Leadership

The Quit India Movement witnessed remarkable local leadership and mass participation. Important centers included:

• Satara (Maharashtra)
• Tamluk and Contai (Midnapore, Bengal)
• Balurghat (West Dinajpur)
• Balia and Azamgarh (U.P.)
• Naogaon (Assam)

Prominent leaders included Nana Patil, Chaitu Pandey, Matangini Hazra, Sushil Dhara, Kanaklata Barua, and many others.

In Midnapore, the movement took the form of a mass uprising. On 29 September 1942, 72-year-old Matangini Hazra led a procession of 20,000 people; she was martyred when police opened fire. Subsequently, leaders such as Ajay Mukherjee, Sushil Dhara, and Satish Samanta established the Tamluk Provisional National Government on 17 December 1942. They even formed an armed force called Bidyut Bahini and a women’s organization named Bhagini Sena.

Significance of the Movement

The Quit India Movement demonstrated the immense power of unified mass resistance. Although it was suppressed, it convinced the British that governing India against the will of its people was no longer feasible. The movement became a turning point, compelling the British to consider an orderly and dignified withdrawal.

It stands as a testament to the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering spirit of the Indian people.

Philatelic Tribute

To commemorate this historic struggle, the Department of Posts issued a Miniature Sheet consisting of eight Commemorative Postage Stamps on the 75th Anniversary of the Quit India Movement (August Movement).

The miniature sheet honours the leaders, martyrs, and countless unsung heroes whose sacrifice paved the way for India’s independence, preserving for posterity one of the most defining chapters of the nation’s freedom movement.