India Post has released a set of 8 stamps on 09th August-2017 and a miniature sheet on the occasion of 75th Anniversary of the Freedom Movement, Quit India Movement. The President Shri Ram Nath Kovind released the stamps at the ‘At Home’ reception for Freedom Fighters, hosted by him, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi. The Vice President, Shri M. Hamid Ansari, the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and the Minister of State for Communications (Independent Charge) and Railways, Shri Manoj Sinha were also present on the occasion .On 26th April-1942, Gandhiji wrote an essay on ‘Quit India ‘ in Harijan Patrika, thereafter the notion of Quite India Movement started on 14th July 1942. When the congress working committee approved a resolution which declared that the immediate ending of British Rule in India is urgent necessity both the sake of India and for the success of the causes of United Nations on 08th August 1942, Mahatma Gandhi launched the Quit India resolution for freedom from British rule during the All India Congress Committee (AICC) meeting at Gowlia Tank Maitdan, Mumbai ( now known as August Kranti Maintan).The Movement was accompanied by a mass protest on non-violent lines, in which Gandhi called for ” an orderly British withdrawal from India”. Ina stirring speech Gandhiji told the people ” There is a mantra, a short one, that I give you. You imprint it on your heart and let every breath of yours give an expression to it . The mantra is do or die. We shall either be free or die in the attempt …. Every one of you from this movement consider himself a free man or women and even as act as if you are free and no longer under the heel of this imperialism”. These words created an electric atmosphere in the country.
The failure of Cripps Mission was another event which triggered off the Quit India Movement. Following were the salient feature of the Quit India Resolution launched by Gandhiji.
1) Hartals(strikes) in all cities and villages throughout the country.
2) All countrymen were promoted to self-made their salt as it is the prime necessity of our life.
3)Students above 16 may leave their college and universities and conduct a non-violence struggle for India’s freedom.
4) Every man or women in the country carry on badge bearing the motto do or die.In the early hours of 09th August, 1942 all the top leaders including Gandhiji, Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Azad where arrested and the congress were declared an unlawful organisation. despite his failing health and the recent demise of his wife, Gandhiji who was in prison, took on a 21 day fast. The British released Gandhiji due to his ill health, but Ganhiji continued his opposition and asked for the release of the congress leaders who were in prison. Gandhiji last minute exhortation ” Do or Die” sank deep in the minds of the people and they were ready to make the supreme sacrifice to defy the government.A wave of anger swept the country. The protest began in the form of innumerable strikes,meetings and processions in the major cities like Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, Patna and Ahmedabad. And then, the ruthless repressive measures taken by the police and the Army, who made the railways, post offices and other government properties their major targets. By the end of 1942, more than 60000 peoples were arrested and about 10000 were killed. It, however, spreed the rural areas, and went underground in the urban areas.
The British were prepared for this massive uprising. The British acted quickly and arrested thousands of people. Most of the of the leaders were arrested had to spend the next three years in jail. Until World war II ended. Apart from filling up jails with rebellious leaders, the British also wend ahead and abolished civil rights. freedom of speech and freedom of press.The main centers of the Quit India Movement were satara of maharashtra, Tamluk, Contai of Midnapore, Balughat of west Dhinajpur, Balia, Aazamgarth of U.P. Naogoan of assam, Among the notable leaders were Srinath Lal, Nana patil of Satara, Chaltu Pandey of Balia, Matangini Hazra, Sushil Dhara of Tamluk, Punjab’s Fakonani, Assam’s Kanaklata Barua, At Midnapore Bengal Quit India Movement took form of mass uprising. The peasant movement organizewd by Birendranath Shasmal (Desh Pran) enable the rapid spread of Quit India Movement. It hand deep impacts at Dimnajpur, Balurghat, Midnapore, Contai, Tamluk, Patashpur, Bhagwanpur, Sutahata, Nandigram, Manishadal, Birbhum, 24 parganans etc. On 29th September 1942, under leadership of 79 year old Matangini Hazra and Ramachandra Bera a mass of 2000 seized in court and police station. when police opened on this pocession manu along with Matagini Hazra died. after Matangini the leadership was taken by Ajay Mukerjee , Sushil Dhara, and Satish Samanta and they were captured lalbari. On 17th december 1942 Ajoy Mukerjee formed the Tamluk Provisional National Government. They formed an armed force called ‘BidyutBahani’ and women organization ‘Bhagini sena’.
The significance of Quit India Movement is that the British realized that they would not able to govern India successfully in the long run and began to think of ways they would exit the country in a peaceful and dignified manner. The Quit India Movement provided the power of masses.
