THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT

DURING THE FIRST WORLD

WAR
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 The

Act of 1935

The

Cripps Mission of 1942

Quit

India Movement

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The Act of 1935

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The Act of 1935

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INTRODUCTION
Three Round Table Conferences were held in London. The Third Round Table
Conference sat from 17 November to 24 December, 1932. After this Conference the
Government drew up a set of proposals for the reform of the Indian government. The
Government of India Act received the Royal assent on 4 August, 1935.
The Act of 1935 provided for the creation of an All-India Federation consisting of the
eleven British provinces and such of the Princely States as acceded to the Federation.
Federal provisions of the Act were never put into operation. The most significant
aspect of the Act was the provision for Provincial Autonomy. Dyarchy was swept aside
to be replaced by a system of Responsible Government in the provinces.

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INTRODUCTION
As a result of the elections held in 1937 the Congress formed ministries in six
provinces, namely Bihar, Orissa, the Central Provinces (Madhya Pradesh), Madras
(Tamil Nadu) and Bombay (the Province covered the present territories of
Maharashtra and Gujarat). Later Congress ministries were formed in Assam and
North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) also. In Bengal a non-Congress coalition
ministry under Fazl-ul-Huq was formed and in Punjab the Unionist Party took office
under Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan. In Sindh the situation remained fluid because of
multiplicity of parties.

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The Cripps
Mission of 1942
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The Cripps Mission of 1942

CONTENTS
Why did Sir Stafford Cripps Come to India?
The Cripps Proposals
Rejection of the Cripps Proposals

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The Cripps Mission of 1942

WHY DID SIR STAFFORD CRIPPS COME

TO INDIA?
On 7 December, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbour, an American naval base in the
Hawaii island. Japans entry into the war on the side of Germany was a cause of great
worry for Britain, USA and China. Japan overran the Philippines and Malaya
(present day Malaysia). They occupied Burma also and then marched towards Assam.
The war thus had come to the very border of India. The efficient defence of India
demanded the fullest cooperation of the people of the country.
The British Prime Minister, Mr. Churchill was still not showing any eagerness to
reach an agreement with the Indian leaders. USA put pressure on Britain as well.
Hence, Sir Stafford Cripps, a member of the British War Cabinet, was sent to India to
solve the Indian problem. Sir Stafford Cripps arrived at Delhi in March 1942.

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The Cripps Mission of

1942

The Cripps Mission of 1942

THE CRIPPS PROPOSALS

1.

After the war India would be given the same Status as the other Dominions had.

2.

Immediately after the War a Constituent Assembly would be set up.

3.

The Princely States would be free to choose whether to join the Indian Union or to
stay out.

4.

The British Government would accept the Constitution so framed subject to the
condition that any Province or Provinces which did not accept the New
Constitution could frame a Constitution of their own. They, singly or together,
would be accorded the same status as the Indian Union had.

5.

Until the New Constitution was framed, the government desired effective
participation of Indian leaders in the Viceroys Executive Council. Only the
defence of India would remain under the control of the British Government.

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The Cripps Mission of

1942

The Cripps Mission of 1942

REJECTION OF THE CRIPPS

PROPOSALS
The proposals seemed to satisfy both the Muslim League and the Congress. Sir
Stafford Cripps declared that the proposals meant absolute self-government for
India. It provided a concession to the Muslim League and met the demands of the
Congress. However:
1.

The proposals could divide India into a number of independent states.

2.

The people of the Princely States had not been given the right to elect their
representatives to the proposed Constitution-making body. Their representatives
were to be elected by the rulers.

3.

Self-government or Dominion Status was yet very far away. Meanwhile, the
Governor-General was to continue with full powers over matters like war and
defence. In war times defence covers almost the whole of administration.

Even then the Congress leaders could have joined Viceroys Executive Council,
provided that they had an assurance that the Viceroy would act as a Constitutional
Head. No such assurance was coming forth. This killed the Cripps Offer.

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The Cripps Mission of

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Quit India
Movement
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Qui t Indi a Moveme nt

CONTENTS
Reasons for and Events Leading to the Movement
Reasons that Led to the Resolution
Quit India Resolution
Arrest of the Leaders
Governments Repressive Measures
Reasons for Failure of Movement
Impact and Significance of the Movement

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REASONS FOR AND EVENTS LEADING

TO THE MOVEMENT
World War II broke out in September 1939. It began with Germanys invasion of Poland. On
3rd September Britain declared war on Germany. The failure of the Cripps Mission (1942)
brought about a marked change in the attitude of the Congress leaders. They were till now
reluctant to launch a mass movement during the War. But now they were convinced that
British Rule must end immediately.
1.

Resignation of the Congress Ministries: The Congress Ministries resigned towards

the end of October 1939 on War issue. Their objection was that the British Government
had involved India in war without consulting the Central Legislature and Provincial
Governments. The British also could not satisfy Indians about their war aims. The
Congress Working Committee had made it clear that India could not fight for freedom
and democracy in Europe unless she herself was free. The Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow,
could not give any such assurance. The Muslim League rejoiced to see the fall of the
Congress Ministries and even celebrated 22nd December as the Day of Deliverance form
the Congress Rule. Now it could show its loyalty towards the government. It promised all
war help on the condition that no Constitutional scheme would be finalized without its
approval.

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REASONS FOR AND EVENTS LEADING

TO THE MOVEMENT
2.

The August Offer: The Congress was prepared to lend support to Britain in its
war on the condition that India was declared an independent nation. In the
meantime, war situation in Europe worsened. Therefore an attempt was made to
end the political deadlock. On 8th August Lord Linlithgow made a new offer known
as the August Offer.

After the War a representative Indian body would be set up to frame a Constitution for India.
Viceroys Executive Council will be expanded without delay
The Minorities were assured that the Government would not transfer power to any system of
government whose authority is directly denied by the large and powerful elements of Indian life.

Rejection: The Offer failed to satisfy the Congress leaders, as there was no time limit
within which the Constitution making body was to be set up. On the issue of expansion
of Viceroys Executive Council also no agreement could be reached. The Muslim League
welcomed the part of the Offer which assured the Minorities. But its overall reaction
was that Partition of India was the only possible solution to the Indian problem at that
point of time.

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REASONS FOR AND EVENTS LEADING

TO THE MOVEMENT
3.

Individual Satyagraha (1940): In 1940 Gandhi launched Individual Satyagraha.

The Movement continued throughout 1941.

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REASONS THAT LED TO THE

RESOLUTION
1.

2.

3.

Failure of the Cripps Mission: The failure of the Cripps Mission created a deep
disquiet in the country. The feeling was that the government was unwilling to
concede India to the right of self-government. Our Indian leaders wanted that until
new Constitution be framed, the Viceroy should be Constitutional Head. This was
also not acceptable to the Government. The Congress could no longer remain
inactive.
Worsening of Communal Situation: The Muslim League in its Lahore Session in
1940 had set Pakistan as its official target. It was at this Session that a definite
demand for Pakistan was made. Mr. Jinnah proclaimed that Muslims could not
expect any justice at the hands of the Congress. To make it worse, the Government
had been pampering the Muslim League.
Japan Posed a Serious Threat to India: Nothing could be done if Japan invaded
India. The feeling of helplessness irritated many people, especially Jawaharlal
Nehru, who even advised people to resort to guerrilla warfare in case of an attack.

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Qui t Indi a Moveme nt

QUIT INDIA RESOLUTION

The Congress Working Committee met at Wardha in July 1942. It adopted a long
Resolution that came to be known as the Quit India Resolution. It demanded that
British Rule in India must end immediately. The All-India Congress Committee met
at Mumbai to consider the Resolution. After a lengthy discussion it was passed on 8
August, 1942. If this demand was not conceded, the Congress declared its
resolve to start a mass struggle on non-violent lines under Gandhi's
leadership. In his speech Gandhi said, We shall do or die. We will either free
India or die in the attempt. Gandhi had stated that he would start the movement
after having met the Viceroy.

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ARREST OF THE LEADERS

In the early hours of the morning of August 9 Gandhi, Azad and other prominent
leaders were arrested. The Government alleged that destruction of the means of
communications formed a part of the Congress programme. As there was none to
provide leadership to the people, violent riots began on a large scale throughout India.
Mob violence was directed mostly against means of communication and government
buildings.

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GOVERNMENTS REPRESSIVE
MEASURES
The Government replied the movement by repression which assumed the form of a
War against the people. According to official figures, 60,000 people were arrested, 940
killed and 1,630 injured. But these were gross underestimates.

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Qui t Indi a Moveme nt

ARREST OF THE LEADERS

In the early hours of the morning of August 9 Gandhi, Azad and other prominent
leaders were arrested. The Government alleged that destruction of the means of
communications formed a part of the Congress programme. As there was none to
provide leadership to the people, violent riots began on a large scale throughout India.
Mob violence was directed mostly against means of communication and government
buildings.

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Qui t Indi a Moveme nt

REASONS FOR FAILURE OF

MOVEMENT
The Movement was short lived but intense. The reasons for its failure are:
1.

Jayaprakash Narayan assigned its failure to lack of coordination and lack of a

clear-cut programme of action.

2.

Some sections of society, including many known politicians, remained loyal to the
government.

3.

The government punished the resistance ruthlessly.

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IMPACT AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE

MOVEMENT
1.

The 1942 movement was an important landmark in Indias struggle for freedom.

2.

The Movement was symbolic of a new confidence the people had attained. It
aroused in the people a spirit of total sacrifice. It warned the British that they
were not wanted in India.

3.

It sent out a message that there was nothing to stop Indians from attaining their
freedom. The Movement hastened the British decision to quit India.

4.

In the history of British rule, no such revolt had occurred earlier. The young and
the old joined in the struggle for Independence. In the Quit India Movement the
Indian Revolution reached its climax.

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