Quit India Movement Day 2024: India's Independence Struggle

• Quit India Movement Day, also known as “August Kranti Diwas,” is observed on August 9th annually in India to commemorate the launch of the Quit India Movement in 1942. In 2024 this day is being celebrated on 08 August.
• The movement was a mass protest against British rule, aimed at nonviolent non-cooperation and civil disobedience.
• Participants in the movement came from all over India, including workers, students, and other social groups.
• In response, the British government launched an aggressive crackdown that resulted in the arrest of multiple activists and leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi.

History of Quit India Movement

• The Quit India movement, initiated by Mahatma Gandhi on August 9, 1942, marked a significant moment in India’s struggle for independence.
• The All India Congress Committee led a massive protest, demanding an “Orderly British Withdrawal” from India.
• The movement received support from various quarters, including the Viceroy’s Council, the All India Muslim League, princely states, the Indian Imperial Police, the British Indian Army, and the Indian Civil Service.
• President Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States encouraged Prime Minister Winston Churchill to take up some of India's demands, providing the movement with its main external support.

Outcomes of the Quit India Movement

• Despite not leading to immediate independence, the movement intensified the struggle for freedom and garnered international support for India’s cause.
• Post-World War II, the movement saw many violent protests across the country against British rule, with thousands of leaders arrested and kept in prison until 1945.
• The freedom fighters who had been imprisoned were released in 1945, marking the end of the movement.
• In 1992, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Quit India Movement, the Reserve Bank of India released a unique one rupee coin.

Significance of Quit India Movement Day

• The day is a day to remember the sacrifices of the freedom fighters who fought for India’s independence.
• It is a day to reaffirm our commitment to the ideals of freedom, democracy, and justice.
• It is a day to honor the power and unity of the Indian people.