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Kranti Diwas is a day observed to remember the historic ‘Quit India Movement’ initiated by Gandhi and Indian National Congress. This day is celebrated by national integration speeches, tributes to various freedom fighters, organisation of national level programmes apart from various other events. The term ‘Kranti’ stands for ‘Revolution’ and ‘Divas’ stands for ‘Day’, a day for revolution. Quit India movement date was decided to be on 9th August 1942. Quit India Movement was a civil disobedience movement which was declared as a passive resistance nicknamed ‘Do or Die’. The movement was to be carried out through peaceful mass protests and closing of business so as to force the British Government out of India, once and for all.
KRANTI DIWAS DAY VIDEO
As it is the day when quit India movement began it is referred as Quit India Movement Day. And as the movement was launched during August, it is also known as August Movement Day or August Kranti Divas. The movement was not a huge success as there were differences amongst the political parties regarding the movement, the British government’s suppression and lack of effective international support. The fruits of the movement didn’t come immediately but they were on the way. The mass support and participation of the Indian people jolted the British administration and ruling India was getting more and more tough. The movement further awakened the spirit of freedom amongst the Indians. The end of the world war affected Britain’s authority in the world and it could no longer maintain control over its Indian colonies. Not immediately but eventually the Quit India Movement did catalyse the independence of India from British rule on August 15, 1947.
World War II and its subsequent chain of events within the parameter of India initiated the Quit India Movement. In 1939 India participated in the World War II under British rule. Indian nationalist were not happy with this decision as it was not there war. The congress party did support the war claiming to be an ant-fascist war but asked for complete independence from the Britishers in exchange during September 1939. But the British administration did not yield.
Subhash Chander Bose an ex congressmen took matters in his own hand. He organized his own army called the Indian National Army with the help of the Japanese. With the help of Axis Powers i.e. German, Italy and Japan, he started guerrilla warfare against the British authorities in north east India. To further create trouble for the administration people were largely becoming discontented with British rule, Indian troops participating in the war were also discontented, the war condition in Europe was not suitable for the British economy. These occurrences during 1941-42 forced the Britishers to send a delegation under Stafford Cripps to India in a bid to resolve the situation in their favour. The delegation’s mission was referred as Cripps' Mission.
In March 1942, Cripps' Mission proposed a deal to Indian National Congress. They asked for full co-operation during the war and in return they would get certain powers from the crown and the Viceroy to an elected Indian legislature. This proposal was rejected as INC wanted self governance and the terms of mission were not clearly defined regarding the power to govern. Clearly it was a shrewd British tact which failed.
On August 8, 1942 the Quit India Resolution was passed at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee (AICC). The resolution demanded complete independence from the British government. The draft proposed massive civil disobedience if the British did not accede to the demands. This was done in the wake of false promises and the growing unrest of the populace against the British regime. In a speech at Gowalia Tank, Bombay (now known as August Kranti Maidan), Gandhi told Indians to follow non-violent civil disobedience. His words for this movement were – “We shall either free India or die in the attempt; we shall not live to see the perpetuation of our slavery" and "Let every Indian consider himself to be a free man ... Mere going to jail would not do."
On 9th August 1942, the movement started but the British regime was quick to act, they arrested Gandhiji and all the members of the Party's Working Committee (national leadership). Due to the arrest of major leaders, a young Aruna Asaf Ali presided over the AICC session on 9 August and hoisted the flag. Despite lack of direct leadership, large protests and demonstrations were held all over the country. Workers remained absent en masse and strikes were called. Not all demonstrations were peaceful, at some places bombs exploded, government buildings were set on fire, electricity was cut and transport and communication lines were severed. The movement was a huge success in regions like Satara, Talcher, and Midnapore. In Tamluk and Contai subdivisions of Midnapore, the local populace even established a parallel government.
Kranti Divas Day Alternate Names – Quit India Movement Day, Freedom Day, August Kranti Diwas, August Kranti Divas
