Quit India Movement
The Quit India Movement was launched under the leadership of Gandhi. The purpose of this was to set up series of non-violent ways hopefully leading up to the long awaited Independence. From this quote by Gandhi, "We shall either free India or die in the attempt; We shall not live to see the perpetuation of our slavery" the saying Do or Die soon became popular among the Indian people. This was a simple way of stating the way the importance to regain independence. "The British responded to the protests by staging mass arrests, implementing heavy fines and airdropping of bombs." The rebel movement which had resorted to violence to gain independence was working against Gandhi’s principles of non-violence.
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phases of the violent movements
1) The first was predominantly urban and included "unleashed an unprecedented and country-wide wave of mass fury."
2) The second phase of the movement started from the middle of August. "Militant students fanned out from different centers... destroying communications and leading peasant rebellion in Northern [and] Western Bihar, Eastern UP, and Midnapore in Bengal." A number of short-lived local 'national governments' were also set up.
3) The third phase of the movements started from about the end of September and was characterized by terrorist activities, sabotage and guerrilla warfare by educated youths and peasant squads. "Parallel national governments functioned at Tamluk in Midnapore, Satara in Maharasfra, and Talcher in Orissa."
2) The second phase of the movement started from the middle of August. "Militant students fanned out from different centers... destroying communications and leading peasant rebellion in Northern [and] Western Bihar, Eastern UP, and Midnapore in Bengal." A number of short-lived local 'national governments' were also set up.
3) The third phase of the movements started from about the end of September and was characterized by terrorist activities, sabotage and guerrilla warfare by educated youths and peasant squads. "Parallel national governments functioned at Tamluk in Midnapore, Satara in Maharasfra, and Talcher in Orissa."
Importance of non-violence
"One individual can begin a movement that turns the tide of history. Martin Luther King in the civil rights movement, Mohandas Ganhi in India, Nelson Mandela in South Africa are examples of people standing up with courage and non-violence to bring about needed changes."
- Jack Canfeild |
Through-out the course of history, many great influential leaders had fought with words rather than weapons. As observed by the initial violent protests of the Quit India Movement, when revolutionists had protested in a peaceful way, the British had no reason to attack back with drastic measures.
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"When I was a student, I studied philosophy and religion. I talked about being patient. Some people say I was too hopeful, too optimistic, but you have to be optimistic just in keeping with the philosophy of non-violence."
- John Lewis |
"I am in receipt of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's letter of 8 July. My honest opinion is that Civil Disobedience Movement is a little pre-mature. The Congress should first concede openheartedly and with handshake to Muslim League the theoretical Pakistan, and thereafter all parties unitedly make demand of Quit India. If the British refuse, start total disobedience..."
- Mahatma Gandhi
mahatma Gandhi's arrest
"An unjust law is itself a species of violence. Arrest for its breach is more so." This is the first every televised motion pictures showing the Indian Independence Movement and the revolution against the British forces which have been stationed in India. "There were 300,000 natives who [were] parading the streets of Bombay..." (Bagdor News) to peacefully boycott against Gandhi's Arrest after the Dandi March.
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