India’s involvement in the Second World War was problematic for Gandhiji who was against any form of violence. He realized however, that some form of opposition must be made against Fascist forces. To this end he reiterated that India was happy to offer help as a free country to the Allied efforts in World War II, but not under the yoke of the British Empire.
He wanted complete independence from the British and when a disillusioned Congress refused the proposals of the Cripps Mission, Gandhiji launched the final round in the Indian war for Independence. He initiated the Quit India Movement in August of 1942 with a pan-Indian cry for complete freedom from the British.
On August 8, 1942 he addressed the people from Mumbai’s Gowalia Tank Maidan saying, “Here is a mantra, a short one that I give you. Imprint it in your hearts, so that in every breath you give expression to it. The mantra is ‘Do or Die’. We shall either free India or die trying”.
By August 9, Gandhiji, Nehru and all senior Congress leaders had been arrested and detained. Protests broke out all over the country and Britain soon realized that India was becoming ungovernable. The question was no longer ‘if’ India would get independence but ‘when’.
Picture Credit : Google
