Question

The Quit India Movement was short-lived but it results had far reaching consequences. In this context, answer the following questions:
(a) How did the Movement demonstrate the depth of national feelings?
(b) In what way did it highlight the people's struggle and sacrifice?
(c) What impact did it have on the British?

Answer 1

a) The movement showed the depth of the national will and convinced the British that their days in India were numbered. People from all parts of India fought together against the Britishers. Majority of leaders were arrested in the beginning, rest of the movement was carried by the people of India on their own.

b) Thousands were killed and injured in the wake of the 'Quit India' movement. Strikes were called in many places. The British swiftly suppressed many of these demonstrations by mass detentions; more than 100,000 people were imprisoned. Quit India Movement was a watershed movement in the sense, that it prepared the ground for future politics in India. Gandhi ji in his historic speech at Gowalia Tank Maidan had said, 'The power, when it comes, will belong to the people of India, and it will be for them to decide to whom it is placed....'. It is in the Quit India Movement that freedom struggle was owned by 'We the People' who fought for India's freedom.

c) The most important effect of the Quit India Movement was that it made the British realise that in the context of the harmful effects of the Second World War on Britain's resources and the bitter opposition to its rule India, it would be very difficult to continue ruling the Indians.