The sequence of events and the circumstances during the period 1939-1941 which led to Quit India Movement were as under

Attitude towards war

Generally speaking the attitude of Indians towards the World War can be categorized as follows:

i)     Since Britain was in trouble, India should seize the opportunity to gain freedom (propagated by Subhash Chandra Bose). This was to be done by:

1.    opposing the British efforts to mobilize India’s resources for the war.

2.    launching a strong movement against the British.The prime concern of the proponents of this view was to achieve India’s freedom and they were not concerned about the international situation.

ii)    India should not seek advantage of Britain’s problems. It should cooperate with the British in their war efforts unconditionally. Those who supported this view hoped that after the war the British would adopt a lenient view towards India in the light of her services, and suitably reward her.

iii)   There were many who considered Fascism as a greater threat to mankind, and wanted to help Britain in the War. But this help was to be conditional (Nehru). The conditions were India’s independence in the future and an interim government of Indians for the moment.

iv)  There were also sections who maintained a neutral position.

What did the Congress do in such a situation? Practically all of attitudes mentioned above were visible within the Congress, and it was a difficult task to steer towards a definite line of action. The Congress, at this juncture, offered full cooperation in the war, provided some sort of a responsible government was established at the centre immediately. As for the future, the Congress demanded a Constituent Assembly to frame the constitution of free India. Thus, it is clear, that the section which was in favour of launching a movement against the British at this time, was not heard by the Gandhian leadership. Gandhi questioned the British, “Will Great Britain have an unwilling India dragged into the War or, a willing ally co-operating with her in the prosecution of a defence of true democracy?” He further stated, “The Congress support will mean the greatest moral asset in favour of England and France”.

Though Gandhi supported the Congress Working Committee Resolution of conditional support he himself was not for it as he stated later “I was sorry to find myself alone in thinking that whatever support was to be given to the British should be given unconditionally.” Gandhi, in his personal capacity, was repeating his attitude towards the British of the First World War days i.e. cooperation. But now things were different and one had to come above one’s personal views, Gandhi realised that his silence might turn out to be a “distinct disservice to both India and England” and he stated:

If the British are fighting for the freedom of all, then their representatives have to state in the clearest possible terms that the freedom of India is necessarily included in the war aim. The content of such freedom can only be decided by Indians and them alone.

The British were not prepared either to make any concessions immediately or make promise about the future-except a vague talk of dominion status. Defence of India Rules was promulgated in order to check defiance of British authority and exploit Indian resources for the War effort.

There were two opinions in Congress about the launching of civil disobedience. Gandhi felt that the atmosphere was not in favour of civil disobedience as there were differences and indiscipline within the Congress. Those advocating Civil disobedience were attempting to convince Gandhi that once a movement was launched differences would disappear and all would work for its success. But Gandhi would not agree. The Congress Socialists and the All India Kisan Sabha(AIKS) were in favour of immediate struggle. N.G. Ranga even suggested that the AIKS should sever links with Congress and launch and independent movement. He was, however, checked by P. Sundarayya from doing so. It was in such an atmosphere that the Congress met at Ramgarh in March 1940 under the presidentship of Maulana Azad who declared-

Indian cannot endure the prospect of Nazism and Fascism, but she is even more tired of British imperialism.

The Ramgarh Congress called upon the people to prepare themselves for participating in a Satyagrah to be launched under Gandhi’s leadership. But the Socialists, Communists, Kisan Sabhaites and those belonging to the Forward Bloc[1] were not happy with the resolution. They held an anti-compromise conference at Ramgarh and Subhash Chandra Bose urged the people to resist compromise with imperialism and be ready for action.

There was resentment in India that Indians had not been consulted before the country was involved in the Second World War. To conciliate Indian opinion, the Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow made the following offer on 8 August 1940. The announcement came on the day of the Battle of Britain[2]. The declaration contained the following points:

1.    Immediate expansion of Governor-General’s Executive Council and establishment of an Advisory War Council.

2.    Minority opinion was sought to be preserved.

3.    There was to be a new Constitution drawn up by a constitutional body in which Indians would be represented. The new Constitution would come into effect after the war. In the interim, all parties and communities were required to cooperate with the British Government.

The Congress dismissed the announcement as of little consequence. It would not be satisfied with anything short of immediate democratic responsible government. Jawaharlal Nehru described the offer of dominion status as ‘dead as a door-nail’. Gandhiji expressed a view that ‘Government did not mean business.’ The Muslim League, however, welcomed the statement for its guarantee that minority opinion would always be protected.

Individual Satyagraha

Following Linlithgow’s the August offer, the AICC on 15 September, 1940 requested Gandhi to resume the leadership of the Congress. Under his leadership, on 11 October, the Congress Working Committee decided to start ‘individual civil disobedience’. The campaign had the following features:

1.    Satyagraha would be offered by a few selected individuals in every locality.

2.    Satyagrahis would demand ‘freedom of speech’ to preach against participation in the war.

3.    Before starting the fast, satyagrahis would inform the authorities of their intent.

At the start of the campaign, Acharya Vinoba Bhave made a speech protesting against the dragging of India into the war. By May 1941, an estimated 25,000 satyagrahis had been arrested. The Satyagraha lasted from 17 October 1940 to December 1941 and passed through four phases:

Phase 1, till mid November 1940. Only selected persons were allowed to offer Satyagraha. On 17 October 1940, Acharya Vinoba Bhave inaugurated the Satyagrah by delivering an anti-war speech at Paunar - village near Wardha. Bhave had been personally selected by Gandhi for this. His two other nominees Vallabhbhai and Nehru were arrested before they could offer Satyagrah.

Phase 2, from mid November 1940 to January 1941. Representative of CWC, AICC, and Central and Provincial Legislatures were allowed to join.

Phase 3, from January 1941 to April 1941. Members of local Congress bodies also joined. In this phase over 2,000 were jailed.

Phase 4, marked by protest of Rabindranath Tagore.

Individual Satyagraha expressed Indians’ strong political feeling and also induced the British government to accept more Indian demands.