Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India encyclopedia

FREEDOM MOVEMENT

or against the police. These outbreaks started almost simultaneously in widely separated areas in the provinces of Madras, Bombay and Bihar and also in the Central and United Provinces. Finally the damage done was so extensive as to make it incredible that it could have been perpetrated ‘on the spur of the moment without special implements and previous preparation. Railway systems were put out of action for a considerable period. Bengal was almost completely cut off from northern India, while communications with Madras were also inter- rupted by the damage done to the Railways in the Guntur district and around Bezwada. The general picture that emerges is that there was a widespread revolutionary upsurge of the people, almost throughout India, that manifested itself mainly in de- structive activities.The chief target of these attacks were the means of communication - Post and telegraph offices, telegraph wire, railway line etc., and government establish- ments specially police stations and other of- fice buildings. Ten to twenty thousand people, if not more, marched to small police stations and were mercilessly shot down by the police till they exhausted their ammunitions and were forced to surrender. The revolt was shortlived but intense. The Government successfully put down the revolt but not before over 10,000 people (according to Congress estimates) had died in police firing. Linlithgow accused Gandhiji of having planned the ‘ rebellion' in cold blood. Gandhi's response to this accusation was to go on a 3-week fast. To this, Linlithgow described his fast as ‘ political blackmail.' The revolt of 1942 threw up one promi- nent All-India leader, namely Jayaprakash Narayan. He asssigns two causes for the fail- ure of the outbreak of 1942, namely "lack of efficient organisation and of a complete pro- gramme of National Revolution". Many reasons have been given for start- ing the 'Quit India' movement. The first was the growing threat of Japanese invasion of India, Mahatma Gandhi wanted to save India from that attack and his view was if the British government withdrewfrom India the Japanese might not attack India. Another reason was the defencelessness of the British position in India and their easy defeat in Singapore. The view of Mahatma Gandhi was that India would meet with the same fate if the British did not withdraw from India. Another reason was the alarming growth of Axis, propaganda

Speaking at the session, Gandhi in his concluding lines remarked, ‘Freedom should be your Mantra ’ The same was reproduced by the Hindu (10th August 1942). The core of his words was: “I take up my task of leading you in this struggle not as a commander, not as your controller, but as the humble servant of you all... That is how 1 look at it. / want to share all the shocks that you have to face... / have pledged the Congress and the Congress will do or die... Let every Indian consider himself to be a free man. He must be ready for the actual attainment of freedom or perish in the attempt... There is no compromise on the demand for freedom. Freedom first, and then only the rest. Do not be cowards .... Freedom should be your “Mantra. ” The Muslim League was promised a Constitution, ‘ with the largest measure of autonomy for the federating units, and with the residuary powers vesting in these units.' In conclusion the resolution plainly stated that ‘it is no longer justified in holding the nation back from endeavouring to assert its will against an imperialist and authori- tarian government... The Committee re- solves, therefore, to sanction... the starting of a mass struggle on non-violent lines on the widest possible scale.... such a struggle must inevitably be under the lead- ership of Gandhi ji.' However, the official machinery had obviously been kept on the ready and moved with lightning speed. Within hours after the AICC meeting had concluded late on the night of 8th August, Gandhiji and all the members of the Congress Working Committee were ar- rested and hustled away from Bombay in a special train. Gandhiji was detained at the Aga Khan Palace in Poona; the other leaders were sent to Ahmednagar Fort. The AICC and all the provincial Con- gress committees except in NWFP were de- clared unlawful organisations. The Congress headquarters at Allahabad was seized by the police and the government confiscated the Congress funds. Rigorous control was im- posed on the publication of news and com- ments to such an extent that several newspa- pers, including the Harijan of Gandhi, had to suspend publication. The Quit India resolution sanctioned ‘the starting of a mass struggle on non- violent lines on the widest possible scale for

the vindication of India's inalienable right to freedom and independence. ’ Gandhiji was re- quested to ‘ take the lead and to guide the nation in the steps to be taken. ’ In a 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 ex- pression to it. The mantra is do or die. We shall either be free or die in the at- tempt.... Every one of you from this mo- ment consider himself a free man or woman and even act as if you are free and no longer under the heel of this imperialism''' News of the ‘Quit India’ resolution and of the arrest of the leaders reached the people on the morning of 9th August Public reaction was immediate and spontaneous. Public life virtually came to a standstill; all business was suspended. Every city and town observed a hartal. There Were demonstrations and processions everywhere. National songs and slogans demanding the release of the leaders rent the air. Though the crowds were agitated and excited, they remained peaceful. But the size of the crowds made the government nervous. When the crowds did not heed warnings and refused to disperse, the po- lice invariably opened fire. In Delhi alone during two days (11th & 12th August) the police opened fire on unarmed crowds on 47 different occasions. 76 persons were killed and 114 severely injured. Very soon the situation went completely out of control. The people had no guidance as most of the leaders were in prison. The ‘ Ordinance Raj' and continuing police repres- sion further inflamed the feelings of the people. There had been no Congress call for civil disobedience. Therefore, what started as individual acts of angry defiance, soon swelled into a movement and revolt. The revolt was spearheaded by the students, workers and the peasants. Jayaprakash Narayan, Ram Ma- nohar Lohia and Amna Asaf Ali were among the prominent leaders of the underground movement. Revolutionary violence occurred in every part of India. The Government reacted sharply and let loose a reign of terror. Lathi-charges, firing and mass arrests became such a com- mon feature that the country was trans- formed into a police state. In almost all cases of arson, violence and sabotage, these were directed either against communications of all kinds (including railways, posts and telegraphs)