The Quit India resolution was passed on ________.

The correct answer is 8th Aug 1942.

Key Points

• The Quit India resolution was passed on August 8, 1942.
• The Quit India Movement, also known as the August Movement, was launched by the Indian National Congress (INC) under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi during World War II, demanding an end to British rule in India.
• The resolution was formally adopted by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) on August 8, 1942, at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Bombay (now Mumbai). This ground is also known as August Kranti Maidan due to this historic event.
• The backdrop to the Quit India Movement was the failure of the Cripps Mission in March 1942, which had offered limited self-governance that was deemed unacceptable by the Congress.
• Mahatma Gandhi, feeling that the British presence in India was emboldening Japan's aggression in Asia and advocating for immediate independence, played a crucial role in formulating the resolution.
• The draft of the Quit India resolution was prepared by Mahatma Gandhi himself, emphasizing non-violent resistance on a massive scale.
• Jawaharlal Nehru moved the historic resolution at the Bombay session of the AICC, and it was seconded by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, highlighting the unified stance of the Congress leadership.
• On the same day, Mahatma Gandhi delivered a powerful speech urging Indians to "Do or Die" in their quest for freedom, galvanizing the nation for the final push against British imperialism.
• The resolution called for the immediate end of British rule in India, the formation of a provisional government after British withdrawal, and a commitment to defending India against fascism and external aggression.
• In response to the passing of the resolution, the British government reacted swiftly and decisively. Within 24 hours, on August 9, 1942, they arrested Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and almost the entire top leadership of the Indian National Congress.
• The mass arrests led to spontaneous and widespread protests across India, often led by students, workers, and ordinary citizens in the absence of their leaders.
• The movement witnessed various forms of resistance, including strikes, demonstrations, and acts of sabotage against government infrastructure.
• While the initial phase of the movement was largely non-violent, the heavy-handed response from the British authorities led to instances of violence in some parts of the country.
• The Quit India Movement, despite being suppressed by the British government with force, is considered a crucial turning point in India's struggle for independence.