Quit India Resolution

The resolution of the Quit India Movement, ratified on August 8, 1942, at the Congress meeting in Gowalia Tank, Bombay, included the following key points:

• Immediate End to British Rule: The Quit India Resolution demanded the immediate end of British colonial rule in India. It called for the British to "Quit India" and transfer power to the Indian people.
• Commitment to Defend Free India: The resolution declared that a free India would be committed to defending itself against all forms of Fascism and imperialism. It emphasized India's determination to protect its sovereignty and independence.
• Provisional Government of India: The resolution proposed the formation of a provisional Government of India following the withdrawal of the British. This provisional government would be tasked with governing the country until a permanent government could be established.
• Civil Disobedience Movement: The Quit India Resolution sanctioned a civil disobedience movement against British rule. It called on the Indian people to engage in nonviolent resistance and mass civil disobedience as a means to press for their demand for independence.
• The Quit India Movement marked a turning point in India's struggle for freedom, with the resolution outlining the core objectives and strategies to achieve independence. The movement witnessed widespread participation and a strong display of unity among the Indian population in their quest for self-rule. Despite facing severe repression and arrests by the British authorities, the Quit India Movement strengthened India's resolve for independence and significantly contributed to the eventual transfer of power from British rule to Indian hands in 1947. The movement remains a symbol of India's unwavering commitment to nonviolent resistance and the pursuit of freedom and sovereignty.

During the Quit India Movement, Mahatma Gandhi provided specific instructions to different groups of people to participate in the nonviolent civil disobedience movement. These instructions were designed to mobilize diverse sections of society in their quest for independence and to assert their support for the Indian National Congress (INC) and the movement's objectives. The instructions were as follows:

• Government Employees: Gandhi urged government employees not to resign from their positions but to pledge their allegiance to the Indian National Congress. By remaining in their posts and supporting the INC, they could contribute to the movement from within the government machinery.
• Soldiers: Gandhi advised soldiers not to use violence against their fellow countrymen, even if they were ordered to do so by their superiors. Instead, he urged them to remain with the army but to refrain from firing on their comrades in the civil disobedience movement.
• Landlords/Zamindars: For landlords or zamindars who were against the government, Gandhi recommended that they accept the agreed-upon rent from their tenants. However, for those who supported the government, he advised the tenants not to pay the rent as a form of protest.
• Students: Gandhi offered students the choice to participate in the movement based on their confidence and conviction. If they felt strongly about the cause, he encouraged them to leave their studies and join the civil disobedience movement.
• Princes: Gandhi called upon the princely rulers to align themselves with the aspirations of the Indian people and embrace the idea of a sovereign India. He urged them to stand behind the people's demands for independence and self-rule.
• People of Princely States: For the residents of princely states, Gandhi advised them to support their rulers only if the rulers were anti-government. However, if the rulers aligned with the British government, Gandhi recommended that the people declare themselves as Indian citizens and express their loyalty to the broader movement for independence.
• These instructions were part of Gandhi's strategy to engage various segments of society in a united and nonviolent protest against British rule. By providing tailored guidance to different groups, he aimed to harness the collective strength and participation of the Indian population in the Quit India Movement.