New Delhi: India is celebrating the 75th anniversary of Quit India Movement.
In the 22nd edition of his 'Mann Ki Baat', Prime Minister Modi urged the people to celebrate the anniversary of the Quit India Movement and Independence Day as a festival of freedom.
Here are some of the lesser known facts about the Quit India Movement or Bharat Chhodo Andolan or India August Movement launched on 8 August 1942:-
- It is also known as August Kranti.
- This civil disobedience movement was launched at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee and it was led by Mahatma Gandhi demanding an end to British Rule of India.
- Mahatma Gandhi made a call to 'Do or Die' or 'Karo ya maro' in his Quit India speech delivered in Mumbai at the Gowalia Tank Maidan.
- Our great leaders from Congress like Abdul Kalam Azad, Vallabhai patel, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru got arrested on 9th August
- Mahatma Gandhi and his colleagues were bravely fought against the British who had the support of the Viceroy's Council (which had a majority of Indians), of the All India Muslim League, the princely states, the Indian Imperial Police, the British Indian Army and the Indian Civil Service.
- The Muslim League opposed the Quit India Movement
- The movement was started after Cripps Mission failed in India. The Cripps mission was an attempt in late March 1942 by the British government to secure full Indian cooperation and support for their efforts in World War II. The mission was headed by Sir Stafford Cripps.
- During the movement, for several weeks there was widespread rioting and the British lost control in some parts of the country.
- Even machine guns and aerial bombings were used by British officials to restore their rule.
- Quit India Movement is one of the most important milestones in the Indian freedom movement.