Explained: Recalling ‘Quit India’, when ordinary Indians took to the streets with a vow to ‘Do or Die’ | Explained News,The Indian Express
On August 9, 1942, the biggest mass movement of the Indian freedom struggle was launched. The British launched a brutal crackdown, but the message was clear: they would have to leave India, nothing less was acceptable
On this day 80 years ago — on August 9, 1942 — the people of India launched the decisive final phase of the struggle for independence. It was a mass upsurge against colonial rule on a scale not seen earlier, and it sent out the unmistakable message that the sun was about to set on the British Empire in India.
Mahatma Gandhi, who had told the Raj to “Quit India” on the previous day (August 8) was already in jail along with the entire Congress leadership, so when August 9 dawned, the people were on their own — out on the street, driven by the Mahatma’s call of “Do or Die”.
This truly people-led movement was eventually crushed violently by the British, but by then it was clear that nothing short of their final departure was acceptable to India’s masses.
Build-up to August 1942
While factors leading to such a movement had been building up, matters came to a head with the failure of the Cripps Mission.
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