41 Individual Satyagraha and Quit India Movement

D. Subramanyam Reddy

1. Introduction

After the abandonment of the Civil Disobedience Movement the Congress concentrated on the constructive programmes like production of Khaddar, removal of untouchability, promotion of education on national lines, spread of adult education, organization of industrial labour, issues relating to the kisans or ryots, labour etc. But, the decision of the Congress to suspend the movement caused disappointment in the country.

As a result, within the Congress, the Congress Socialist Party was formed on an All-India basis in 1934, and outside the Congress the kisan organizations were founded under the leadership of Swami Sahajanand, N.G. Ranga and Indualal Yagnik for the abolition of landlordism, reduction of land tax etc. Similarly, the Swaraj Party was revived by Dr. Ansari, B.C. Roy and Bhulabhai Desai in 1934 for the same objectives as that of the Congress but with greater emphasis on social and economic upliftment of the country alongside its political emancipation or completes Swaraj. At the same time, the Communist Party which was founded in 1920s also began to be reorganized and front organizations came to be established. Another interesting feature of the 1930s was that there was greater awakening among the peasants of India. This was due to the economic and political developments i.e., the impact of Great Depression of 1929-30, the Civil Disobedience Movement and the new leadership of the peasantry given by people like Swamy Sahajananda and others who organized Kisan movements at national and provincial level and formed Indian Kisan Congress in 1936 and later called All India Kisan Sabha. All these brought awareness on economic and political issues and provided stimulus to the national movement.

At this stage, elections were held to the Provincial Legislatures in 1937 under the Government of India Act of 1935. The Congress achieved notable victory. It got clear majority in six out of eleven British provinces and became single largest party in three others. For example, in Madras Presidency it emerged triumphant. It assumed office with C.Rajagopalachari as Chief Minister on 14 July 1937. Bejawada Gopala Reddy, Tanguturi Prakasam and V.V.Giri from Andhra joined the ministry. There was no representation from Rayalaseema region of present Andhra Pradesh. The Government remained in office till 29 October 1939 when it resigned for dragging India into Second World War without consulting Indians. While in office, it concentrated on constructive work such as promotion of primary education, upliftment of Harijans, reducing peasant grievances and implementation of prohibition.

When the Congress demanded declaration of independence in lieu of India’s support in the war the British refused, and therefore Gandhi asked (after the Ramgarh session of the Congress in March 1940) the Congress members to launch the Individual Satyagraha. It was launched in October 1940 and continued upto 1941. Meanwhile, the Forward Block also started its campaign during 6-13 April 1940. But, most of its leaders were arrested. Meanwhile, the Congress committees converted themselves into Satyagraha Committees. Simultaneously, the Congress continued dialogue with the Government to find a solution. As a result the Viceroy issued on 8 August 1940, a statement known as the August Offer. But, this did not satisfy the Congress. Thus it caused disappointment among the Congressmen. Hence, Gandhi decided to start a limited Satyagraha on an individual basis by a few select individuals in every locality. It began, at first, at Paunur, near Wardha with Vinobha Bhave’s speech on 17 October 1940 on dragging India into the war. His example was followed by Nehru and others. The movement continued upto December 1941. During 17 October 1940 and 17 November 1940 prominent persons like Vnobha Bhave, Nehru offered Satyagraha. During 17 November 1940 and 5 January 1941 individuals chosen by various bodies offered Satyagraha. From 5 January 1941 to April 1941 there was wide choice in selecting Satyagrahis. As a result there was sharp rise in the number of Satyagrahis.

The movement lost its vigour by the middle of the year 1941 due to the counter measures of the Government and practically came to an end by December 1941. Meanwhile, the attitude of the Government also changed due to worsening of the war situation. It released all Satyagrahis in December 1941 and the Congress resumed its normal activities.

2. The Quit India Movement:

By March 1942 the forces of the British enemy, Japan occupied Singapore, Rangoon and Andamans and even threatened British India’s frontiers. Anxious to have the full and active cooperation of India in the Second World War, the British Prime Minister Churchill announced in the House of Commons on 11 March 1942, the appointment of Sir Stafford Cripps to visit and get India’s support. Cripps arrived in Delhi on 22 March 1942 and on 29 March 1942 he released to the press the draft declaration of the Government wherein it was stated that:

• India would be given dominion status and right to leave even the Common Wealth after the War,
• A Constituent Assembly would be set up to implement these proposals,
• The constituent Assembly would consist of elected representative from Britain and nominees of native states,
• A native state, if it so desired, could remain outside the India Union and negotiate directly with Britain, and
• The defence of India, during the War, would be under the control of the British, but there would be an Indian as Defence member.

These proposals were, however, rejected by all parties. There was a general mood of frustration in all quarters.

Meanwhile, on April 6, 1942 Visakhapatnam and Kakinada in Andhra were bombed by Japan. The AICC (All India Congress Committee) met at Allahabad from 29 April to 2 May 1942 and urged for independence. The CWC (Congress Working Committee) also met at Wardha and passed a resolution on 14 May 1942 calling upon Britain to transfer power and Quit India immediately so that Japanese attack of India could be avoided. As there was no response from Britain the AICC met at Bombay, to endorse the Wardha resolution, under the Presidentship of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and passed the famous Quit India resolution on 8 August 1942, also known as the “August Resolution” and placed Gandhi in the command of the movement. In his address to the delegates Gandhi urged the people to forget differences between Hindus and Muslims and to think themselves as Indian only.

He said: “We shall either free India or die in the attempt; we shall not live to see the perpetuation of our slavery”. The resolution was moved by Jawaharlal and seconded by Vallabhai Patel. In spite of the resolution, Gandhi tried to meet the Viceroy and plead for independence but in vain. On the night of 8 August 1948, Gandhi, Jawaharlal and others were arrested and sent to jail.

The news of the resolution and the arrests reached the people by 9th morning. Naturally, they began demonstrations, processions, and haratals and demanded for lease of prisoners. There was spontaneous response to the movement from all parts of the country except from the Communist Party which viewed the war as against facists and hence cooperated with Government. Naturally, the Government banned all Congress Committees, organizations, blocked out all news on Congress activities and arrested all prominent leaders of the Congress but lifted ban on the Communist Party.

In places like the Andhra region of the Madras Presidency, the Congressmen who were closely watching the developments in the country, including the Allahabad and Wardha meetings and their resolutions drew-up an elaborate plan of action known as ‘the Andhra Circular’. In fact, the A.P.C.C. had issued a circular popularly known as “the Kurnool Circular” even before the AICC met at Bombay. It was drafted by Kala Venkata Rao, the General Secretary of the APCC and was sent on 29 May 1942 for the approval of the CWC through B. Pattabhi Sitaramayya, a member of the Congress Working Committee. It was later approved by the CWC as well as AICC.

This Circular envisaged a programme of defying prohibitory orders, lawyers to give up practice, students to leave colleges, picketing salt and foreign trade and industry, cutting of the toddy yielding palm trees, travelling without tickets in trains, pulling chains to stop trains and blowing up bridges so that communications might be disrupted and the movement of the army personnel retarded, the cutting of telegraph and telephone wires, non-payment of taxes excepting municipal taxes, picketing of recruitment offices and hoisting of national flag on all government buildings as a sign of independence. The instructions were to carry on the struggle till the finish. “Do or Die” was the slogan.

The participation of the students in the Quit India Movement is an important component of the movement. They left the Government colleges and schools, organized protests against arrests of leaders, conducted processions and demonstrations and some of the violent students took active part in sabotages and other violent activities.

Picketing also formed part of the movement. On 24 August 1942, the Commissioner of Police of Madras, for example, promulgated an order, under rule 56 of the Defence of India Rules, prohibiting the taking part in or holding of public meetings, processions or assemblies of Congress Organizations or the supporters or sympathizers of such meetings within the city of Madras. In spite of the order T.N. Skuntala Devi, wife of T.N. Krishna Reddy and T.N. Anasuya Devi wife of T.N. Raghunatha Reddy and daughters of Tikkavarapu Rami Reddy of Nellore, now in Andhra Pradesh who was studying in the Queen Mary’s College, Madras organized the Student Movements in all the colleges in Madras in 1943. T.N. Sakuntala Devi was sentenced to three months simple imprisonment for picketing the Egmore Magistrate’s court at Madras. Both the sisters were sent to Vellore jail, now in Tamilnadu.

During the second phase of the movement, the people raided municipal and other Government buildings, railway stations, police stations and post offices were also attacked and many of them were set on fire, and many a railway tracts and fish plates were removed. The British institutions which were considered the symbols of the British authority were badly damaged. The angry mob attacked these British symbols at various places in the country till 1943. By the end of 31 December 1943, the sabotage and losses in the country included 474 roads, 382 railway stations, 12,286 post and telegraphs, 66 derailments. Similar losses were incurred by the other departments also. These figures show the violent character of the movement.

When the Quit India Movement was launched in August 1942 the Congress Workers gave a call to the public servants to give up their jobs and join the national movement. In response to the call, some of the government servants resigned to their posts and took part in the anti-British struggle. Lawyers and others also extended their sympathy and moral support to the movement. Some of the Village Munsifs who played a vital role in the administration abstained from reporting about the movement, thus, indirectly extending their support to the struggle. Some of the teachers also resigned to their posts.

Similarly, the local bodies also extended their support. The Government, therefore, took steps to suffocate the activities of such local bodies. About 108 local bodies in the country were superseded by the Government. During this period, many District Boards were also superseded for passing resolutions sympathysing with the Congress movement. Despite the Government’s threat the public servants and local bodies closely associated themselves with the movement. Even the Muslims also participated in the movement.

In the last phase, the Quit India Movement became mild as in its first phase. It continued till Gandhi’s release, in May 1944, in the form of demonstrations and procession, Tilak’s anniversary, Gandhi Jayanti, and Independence Day were observed by taking out processions.

The press also played a key role in the movement just as every other section of the society.

3.  Gandhi’s fast:

Right from the beginning of the Quit India Movement, the Government adopted stringent measure against the movement. The provincial Governors issued draconian ordinances to quell the movement. The Government frequently used Section 144 of the Cr. P.C. for prohibiting meetings etc. To suppress the movement, the government used lathi-charge, whipping, shooting, imprisonment, pillage, arson, physical torture, imposition of collective fines, looting and burning of villages, rape and rapine on a mass scale, machine gunning and even aerial attacks, search of houses, imposition of punitive taxes and fines on individuals and villages, sometimes exemption from fines as part of Government’s policy of divide and rule. This policy continued throughout the struggle. However, people extended their support to the struggle.

While the Government was engaged in suppression of the movement, Gandhi who was accused by the Viceroy for the violent and the sabotage acts undertook a self-purificatory fast on 10 February 1943 which continued upto 3 March 1943. The people were thrown into anxiety. With Gandhi’s fast the country became tense. The people including students undertook sympathetic fasts, procession etc., and demanded the Government to release Gandhi. Gandhi’s fast evoked a great attention in the country.

At a time when there was political deadlock in the country Lord Wavell came as Viceroy in October 1943. It was felt necessary to release Gandhi and others and this was done on 6 May 1944. With this the nation heaved a sigh of relief. Gandhi also attempted to resolve the impasse. But, his efforts were futile.

4. Gandhi – Jinnah talks:

In September 1944, Gandhi started negotiations with Jinnah to solve communal problems. But, in this also he failed. The news of the break-down of the talks had caused wide-spread disappointment.

5. Wavell Plan:

Meanwhile, Wavell went to London in March 1945 and came back with the “Wavell Plan”. On 15 June 1945, all the Congress Working Committee members were released and a conference was convened at Simla on 25 June 1945. Though the proposals were conciliatory to some extent, the conference failed due to Jinnah’s insistence that Muslim League alone should have right to nominate Muslim members to the Viceroy’s Council. Meanwhile, the Labour Party with Attlee as Prime Minister came to power in Britain. It released all political prisoners and ordered general elections to solve India’s problem. The Indian National Army (INA) trials, the Revolt of the Indian Naval Rating at Bombay in February 1946 etc., also added fire to the situation. It became clear that the Government of Britain could no longer prolong the situation.

6. Indian National Army (INA) :

In 1943, Subhaschandra Bose left India to organize a military revolt against the British in association with the Japanese. He was successful in raising an army known as the Indian National Army (INA) or Azad Hind Fauj with the personnel of the Indian Military Prisoners of War taken by the Japanese. But, his attempt failed. When the news of the death of Subhaschandra was announced in 1945 it was observed as a day of mourning. After the conclusion of the Second World War, 20,000 personnel of the INA where repatriated to India. Three of its officers Shah Nawaz Khan, Shehgal and Dhillon were charged with having waged a war against the king and they were put on trial by a Military Tribunal set up by the Government in the Red Fort at Delhi. The trial of INA officers roused the emotions of the people. Despite provocation, the people displayed exemplary restraint and carried on the agitation against the trails.

7. Interim Government:

On 2 September 1946, Jawaharlal Nehru assumed office at the Centre as the head of the Interim Government. Resolutions congratulating him poured in for forming the Congress Government.

8. Peace March to Noakhali:

When there broke out communal classes in Noakhali and Tipperah districts of East Bengal , Gandhi undertook a ‘Peace march’ to East Bengal, in October 1946, appealing to both the Hindus and the Muslims to maintain communal harmony.

The tense atmosphere continued throughout the country till February 1947. It was on this day that Clement Attlee, the Prime Minister of England made the declaration that it was the British Government’s intention to take steps to affect the transfer of power to responsible Indian hands by a date not later than June 1948. In his plan of 3 June 1947, he outlines the procedure for transfer of power into Indian hands. The Indian Independence Bill received the Royal Assent on 18 July 1947. According to this Indian Independence Act of 1947, the Indian sub-continent was divided into India and Pakistan. India attained independence on 15 August 1947. The dawn of Independence was received with universal rejoicing all over the country.

9. Summary:

The Quit India Movement was a spontaneous violent outburst. It was not a preconceived one. Spontaneity was larger than in the earlier movements. The youth, particularly the students and the peasants played key role in the movement. Though it began as a non-violent one it transformed into a violent one. There were many acts of sabotage such as disruption of railways, removal of telephone and telegraph lines etc. To counteract these, the Government took repressive measures and even imposed collective fines. It placed the demand for independence on the immediate agenda of the National Movement and marked the culmination of the India’s Freedom Struggle.

To transfer power, Mountbatten was sent to India. He took charge as Viceroy of India on 24 March 1947. Attlee announced partition plan in the House of Commons on 3 June 1947. It provided for two dominions, India and Pakistan and withdrawal of Britain on 15 August 1947. The Congress accepted the plan. The Indian Independence Bill received the Royal Assent on 18 July 1947 and India became independent on 15 August 1947. People of India celebrated the event with great fervor and joy.

Web links

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quit_India_Movement
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champaran_and_Kheda_Satyagraha
• http://www.facts-about-india.com/gandhiji-in-champaran-ahmedabad-kheda.php
• https://books.google.co.in/books?id=mf4pLl5w6sC&pg=PA59&lpg=PA59&dq=individual+satyagraha+and+quit+india+movement&source=bl&ots=Cw_hW_thGe&sig=APzFV1PIJfCaIX3_sXKXnrIoag&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjhruq15rOAhUHKo8KHUZDDo8Q6AEIOzAF#v=onepage&q=individual%20satyagraha%20and%20quit%20india%20movement&f=false
• http://inc.in/about-congress/history/literature/6-Congress-and-the-Making-of–theIndianNation/24-National-Movement-During-the-Second-World-War
• http://vle.du.ac.in/mod/book/print.php?id=10583&chapterid=18412
• http://mpstudy.com/ias-preparation/freedom-struggle-1937-44-provincial-elections-augustoffercripps-mission-individual-satyagraha-quit-india-movement/
• http://india.wikia.com/wiki/Quit_India_Movement