Why Quit India: The Resolution and Gandhi’s Instructions
Modern History › Quit India Movement, Demand for Pakistan and the INA · Topic 23.1
After the Cripps Mission failed, Gandhi framed a resolution demanding British withdrawal. The Working Committee at Wardha accepted the idea of a struggle on 14 July 1942, and the Quit India resolution, proposed by Nehru and seconded by Patel, was ratified at Gowalia Tank, Bombay, on 8 August 1942. Gandhi gave the mantra Do or Die, and was named leader of the struggle.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Quit India Movement, Demand for Pakistan and the INA
At a Glance
- Wardha CWC 14 July 1942 accepted a struggle
- Resolution Proposed by Nehru, seconded by Patel; ratified 8 August 1942 at Gowalia Tank, Bombay
- Demand An immediate end to British rule
- Slogan Do or Die
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: Quit India Movement, Demand for Pakistan and the INA
Where Does It Fit?
This is the first topic of the category on the Quit India Movement, the demand for Pakistan and the INA. The previous topic covered the Cripps Mission. This topic covers why the Quit India Movement began and the resolution. The next topic covers the spread of the movement and the repression. Previous topic: Cripps Mission, 1942.
How Did the Movement Begin?
After Cripps left, Gandhi framed a resolution calling for British withdrawal and for a non-violent Khilafat Committee Congress approval Special session at Calcutta, September 1920 Nagpur session…">non-cooperation movement against any Japanese invasion. The Working Committee meeting at Wardha on 14 July 1942 accepted the idea of a struggle. The mission is in Cripps Mission, 1942.
Why Was a Struggle Started Then?
| Reason | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1 | The failure of the Cripps Mission exposed Britain’s unchanged attitude and made clear that more silence would be tantamount to accepting the British right to decide Indians’ fate without consulting them |
| 2 | Popular discontent over rising prices and shortages of rice and salt, the commandeering of boats in Bengal and Orissa, and fears of a scorched earth policy in Assam, Bengal and Orissa against a possible Japanese advance |
| 3 | News of British reverses in South-East Asia and an imminent British collapse increased popular willingness to express discontent; Japanese troops were nearing India, and faith in British rule was so low that people were withdrawing deposits from banks and post offices |
| 4 | The manner of the British evacuation from South-East Asia, with a Black Road for Indian refugees and a White Road exclusively for European refugees, and the rout of a European power by an Asian one, shattered white prestige and exposed the racist attitude of the rulers |
| 5 | The leadership wanted to condition the masses for a possible Japanese invasion |
What Was the Quit India Resolution?
In July 1942 the Working Committee met at Wardha and resolved to authorise Gandhi to take charge of a non-violent mass movement. The resolution, generally called the Quit India resolution, was proposed by Jawaharlal Nehru and seconded by Sardar Patel, to be approved by the All India Congress Committee meeting in Bombay in August. It was ratified at Gowalia Tank, Bombay, on 8 August 1942.
| The meeting resolved to | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1 | Demand an immediate end to British rule in India |
| 2 | Declare the commitment of free India to defend itself against all types of Fascism and imperialism |
| 3 | Form a provisional government of India after British withdrawal |
| 4 | Sanction a civil disobedience movement against British rule |
Gandhi was named leader of the struggle.
What Were Gandhi’s Instructions?
Gandhi’s special instructions were spelt out at Gowalia Tank but not actually issued. They were directed at different sections of society.
| Group | Instruction |
|---|---|
| Government servants | Do not resign but declare allegiance to the Congress |
| Soldiers | Do not leave the Army but do not fire on compatriots |
| Students | If confident, leave studies |
| Peasants | Pay mutually agreed rent if the zamindars are anti-government; do not pay rent if they are pro-government |
| Princes | Support the masses and accept the sovereignty of your people |
| People of princely states | Support the ruler only if he is anti-government, and declare yourselves part of the Indian nation |
Gandhi then gave his famous mantra: he asked people to imprint on their hearts a short mantra, Do or Die, meaning that they would either free India or die in the attempt and not live to see slavery perpetuated. The historian Sumit Sarkar observes that, though the need for non-violence was always repeated, the mantra reflects Gandhi’s militant mood. As an analytical point, the instructions were meant to keep the movement non-violent and disciplined while including every group, but the arrest of the leaders on 9 August meant that they were never issued, as described in Spread of the Quit India Movement and Government Repression. The earlier slogan-based movement is in Dandi March and the Spread of Salt Law Disobedience.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Reasons Causes of Quit India are a standard Mains point
- Resolution details Proposers and date are Prelims facts
- Do or Die A well-known slogan
What Came Next?
The next topic describes how the movement spread and how the government repressed it. Next topic: Spread of the Quit India Movement and Government Repression.
Key People and Terms
- Quit India resolution The resolution ratified on 8 August 1942
- Gowalia Tank The Bombay ground where the AICC met
- Do or Die Gandhi’s mantra
- Scorched earth A policy of destroying resources before an enemy advance
- Black Road and White Road Separate evacuation routes for Indian and European refugees
- Provisional government The government to be formed after British withdrawal
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Wardha CWC: 14 July 1942; AICC Bombay: 8 August 1942.
- Proposed by Nehru, seconded by Patel.
- Mantra: Do or Die.
- Black Road for Indians; White Road for Europeans.
- Gandhi named leader of the struggle.
Do Not Confuse With
- Wardha and Gowalia Tank Wardha: Working Committee decision; Gowalia Tank: AICC ratification
- Quit India and Cripps Quit India followed the Cripps failure
- Instructions and the resolution Instructions were spelt out but not issued
Memory Hook
Cripps failed, Wardha agreed, Gowalia Tank ratified, and the mantra was Do or Die.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the causes and the resolution. These points add depth.
- Causes Cripps failure, hardship and Japanese advance
- Resolution Four decisions
- Instructions For each group
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the circumstances in which the Quit India Movement was launched in 1942.”
How to Answer
- Cripps Failure of the mission.
- Conditions Hardship, collapse in South-East Asia.
- Resolution Wardha and Gowalia Tank.
- Conclude Do or Die.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Quit India resolution?
The Quit India resolution was proposed by Jawaharlal Nehru and seconded by Sardar Patel, accepted by the Working Committee at Wardha in July 1942 and ratified at Gowalia Tank, Bombay, on 8 August 1942. It demanded an immediate end to British rule and sanctioned a civil disobedience movement.
Why was the Quit India Movement launched in 1942?
The Cripps Mission failed, wartime shortages and fears of scorched earth caused discontent, British reverses in South-East Asia lowered faith in British rule, the racist evacuation of Asia shattered white prestige, and leaders wanted to prepare the masses for a possible Japanese invasion.
What did the Quit India meeting resolve?
It resolved to demand an immediate end to British rule, to declare that free India would defend itself against Fascism and imperialism, to form a provisional government after British withdrawal, and to sanction a civil disobedience movement under Gandhi.
What were Gandhi's instructions to different sections?
Government servants should not resign but declare allegiance to the Congress; soldiers should not fire on compatriots; students could leave studies; peasants should withhold rent from pro-government zamindars; princes should accept the sovereignty of their people. The instructions were never actually issued.
What was Gandhi's mantra of Do or Die?
At Gowalia Tank Gandhi gave Do or Die as a mantra, saying that Indians would either free India or die in the attempt and would not live to see slavery perpetuated. Sumit Sarkar says it reflects his militant mood despite his insistence on non-violence.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Quit India resolution was ratified at Gowalia Tank on 8 August 1942.
Nehru proposed it and Patel seconded it.
2 Gandhi's instructions to soldiers were to leave the Army.
He told them not to leave the Army but not to fire on compatriots.
3 The slogan Do or Die was given by Gandhi during the Quit India Movement.
He called it a mantra.
4 The Quit India resolution proposed forming a provisional government after British withdrawal.
It also demanded an immediate end to British rule.
5 The Working Committee met at Wardha on 14 July 1942 to accept the idea of a struggle.
The AICC ratified the resolution in August.
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