Quit India Movement and Subhas Chandra Bose

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Contents• Events leading to QIM• Resignation of Congress Ministers• Implications of the Resignation• The August Offer 1940• Individual Satyagraha• Cripps Mission 1942• Rejection of the Offer• The Course of the Movement • Government Repression• Impact of the Movement• S C Bose and the INA

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1. Events leading to the QIM

• The British Govt had thought that something had to be done in order to continue their rule in India.

• After 3 RTC the British drew proposals for the reforms of the Indian Govt.

• These reforms gave rise to the GIA 1935.• This Act provided for the creation of the AIF comprising the

eleven British provinces and these Princely states• Elections in 1937- Congress ministers were formed in 7 out of

11 provinces.• 3 Sept 1939- II WW

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Resignation of Congress Ministers

• British declared war without consulting the Indian leaders.• Indians did not wish the Britain to lose because they looked

down upon the Nazis and the Fascists as enemies of freedom and progress.

• Indians opposed Imperialism of Italy, Germany and Japan.• British was against Imperialist tendencies.• Indians were unhappy.• Indian troops were sent to Singapore and Middle East.• ILA passed emergency laws – limited the autonomy of the

provinces and restricted the civil liberties of the people- hurt Indians.

• CWC 8th Sept 1939.

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• Lord Linlithgow- Viceroy of India issued a statement on 17th Oct 1939.

• Viceroy proposed to establish an advising council, representing all Indians in order to associate them in the war efforts of the British.

• Attitude- not ready to part with power and grant complete freedom- Dominion Status distant future.

• Preaching of British.• Viceroy ordered the PG to carry on the war policy and made the

Congress leaders powerless.• Congress accused British of Imperialistic designs.• Perpetuating their rule in India

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3. Implications of the Resignation

• Viceroy was relieved by the resignation of the Congress Ministers as they controlled several policies.

• Congress justified by reiterating its demands for independence and its opposition to imperialism.

• Congress lost its goodwill of the British.• Resignation of Congress gave new lease of life to ML• ML lying low for 2 years burst into creativity and offered its

friendship to British Govt.• Dec 22nd 1939- ML celebrated as a day of deliverance and

launched a new offensive against the Congress.• Ministers of Punjab Bengal and Sindh did not resign and won

the goodwill of the British.

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4. The August Offer

• In WW II England was the target of Germans.• CWC offered help to British in War but……..• India’s demand for independence should be conceded and a

provincial National Government was formed at the Centre.• Also Viceroy should continue to hold office, but he should not

veto the decision of the NG.• League opposed and British rejected to grant.• Reason – Power could not be given to a body whose authority

is denied by large and powerful elements in India’s national life.• Aug 8th 1940- Lord Linlithgow- August Offer

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The August Offer1. After the war the Constitution would set up a Constitution making

body to frame a Constitution for India.

2. The present Executive Council of the Viceroy would be expanded to include Indian leaders.

3. The Govt would give due weightage to the minority’s demand in the new scheme of reforms.

• OFFFER WAS REJECTED BY CONGRESS BECAUSE:

1. AO did not satisfy the demands of the Congress.

2. No time limit to set up the Constitution making body.

3. No agreement could be reached on the expansion of the EC.

4. AO did not touch the provision of the NG

5. Nehru- AO was ‘as dead as a door nail’.• AO strengthen the hands of Jinnah to veto all Constitutional

progress.

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5.Cripps Mission 1942• Dec 1941- Japan entered against in WW against England and

started advancing towards India.• March 1942 Japanese were at the eastern frontiers of India.• Possibility of Indian soldiers supporting the Japan. • British were alarmed.• British made another offer to Indian nationalists in order to win their

support.• PM Churchill sent Sir Stafford Cripps with fresh proposals of

Constitutional reforms.

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Offer made by the Cripps

1. A Constitution making body would be set up to draft a new Constitution.

2. Indian would be given the Dominion Status immediately after the end of the war.

3. It envisaged a federation of British India and the Indian states as a dominion within the British Commonwealth.

4. Britain would accept the Constitution framed by Constitution making body, subject to few conditions.

5. Indian leaders were invited to participate in the Council of their country and the Commonwealth.

6. The power of Viceroy would remain as hitherto and he would be responsible for the defence of the country.

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Rejection of the Offer

1. It offered Dominion Status and at the same time, granted provinces the right to secede from the Union.

2. The powers of the Viceroy remained undiminished during the war and he was still responsible for the defence of the country.

3. Foundation of the British Empire seemed to be uncertain at the moment .

4. The people from the Princely States had no right to send their representatives to the proposed Constitution making body. Their representatives were to be selected y the rulers.

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6. Quit India Resolution

1. CWC met at Wardha- demanded immediate withdrawal of the British from India.

2. Adopted a resolution known as - QIR.

3. AICC- ratified the Resolution at Mumbai in 1942.

4. Resolution said that – the continuance of BR in India was not good for India nor for the success of the allied nations.

5. Insisted – provisional government should be formed in India.

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Reasons that led to the Passing of QIR

1. Failure of Cripps Mission.

2. Japan posed a threat to India.

3. Acute Communal Problem.

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7.The Course of the Movement

1. QIR – Gandhi: Final struggle for the freedom of the country.

2. 9th August Gandhi and others were arrested.

3. QIR and arrest of leaders reached India and the people responded by organising protests and demonstrations.

4. People from all walks of life and of all ages actively participated.

5. British offices of administration were attacked.

6. Some places – hartals, processions and demonstrations.

7. Violent protest halted public life and everything was paralysed.

8. In Ballia UP, the local leaders took over the town, Satars & Karnataka farmers started underground guerrilla resistance

9. Jayprakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia, and Asaf Ali- prominent leaders of the underground movement.

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Government Repression1. Sharp reaction by the Govt.

2. Repression transformed the country into a police state.

3. QIR and arrest of leaders reached India and the people responded by organising protests and demonstrations.

4. 10,000people were killed.

5. Unarmed people were killed in firing in Delhi by British.

6. Congress leaders of Bombay were hustled away from city in a special train.

7. Gandhi was detained in AKP & other leaders in jail at Ahmednagar Fort.

8. Machine gunning of mobs in Patna, Bhagalpur, Monghyr, Nadia and Talchar city. Many were convicted under the Defence of India Rules.

9. QIM was the last uprising against the British Rule in India & marked the culmination of British Rule in India.

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Impact of the Movement

1. It displayed the depth of national feelings.

2. People acquired great capacity for struggle and sacrifice.

3. It made the British realize that their days are numbered.

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Subhash Chandra Bose and The INA

1. Subhash Chandra Bose.

2. Forward Bloc

3. Arrest of Subhash Chandra Bose.

4. His work in South East Asia.

5. Formation of Indian National Army

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Subhash Chandra Bose

1. Born on 23rd Jan 1897 in a Bengali family settled at Cuttack in Orissa.

2. Joined Presidency college at Calcutta

3. Went to England for higher studies & passed ICS exam in 1920.

4. Didn’t like to work as a bureaucrat under British, hence joined the freedom movement.

5. Did not agree with Gandhiji yet actively participated in the freedom movement.

6. Participated in the CD movement. Filled with socialist ideas. Was elected President of Congress with the support of the younger elements in the Congress.

7. His differences with Gandhiji reached their heights in 1939.

8. Again elected President off Congress in 1939.

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FORWARD BLOC

1. Bose founded FB on 3rd May in 1939 after having differences of opinion with Gandhiji.

2. FB wanted to unite the members of the left wing under 1 banner.

3. Aim of FB- rally all progressive, radical and anti imperialist elements in the Congress for struggle, for immediate liberation of India 4rm da British.

4. FB worked 4- rebuilding India on Socialist, fair and equitable lines.

5. Workers, peasants, employees, students and youths.

6. FB stood for world peace, disarmament, friendly relations with socialist countries, non alignment and a new economic order.

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Formation of Indian Army

Tokyo Conference passed a resolution:

1. To form an INA

2. To establish provisionally an Indian Independence League of overseas Indians in all Asian countries controlled by Japan.

3. To hold a conference of the representatives of Indians at Bangkok in June 1942.