What is August Kranti?

August Kranti (August Revolution) refers to the Quit India Movement launched on 8 August 1942 at the Gowalia Tank Maidan (now renamed August Kranti Maidan) in Bombay. At this historic session of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), the Congress passed the Quit India Resolution demanding an immediate end to British rule in India.

Mahatma Gandhi delivered his famous "Do or Die" speech, calling upon Indians to either free themselves or perish in the attempt. Within hours, the British launched "Operation Zero Hour" and arrested the entire Congress leadership — including Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, and Azad — before sunrise on 9 August 1942. With the leadership imprisoned, the movement took a radical, spontaneous turn: workers went on strike, students boycotted institutions, telegraph lines were cut, railway tracks uprooted, and parallel governments (Prati Sarkar) were established in places like Satara, Ballia, and Midnapore. The movement represented the most intense phase of the Indian freedom struggle and is considered the final mass revolt before independence.

Key Features / Provisions

# Feature Details
1 Date 8 August 1942 (Quit India Resolution)
2 Venue Gowalia Tank Maidan, Bombay (now August Kranti Maidan)
3 Resolution AICC demanded immediate end to British rule
4 Gandhi's call "Do or Die" — Karo ya Maro
5 British response Operation Zero Hour — mass arrests of Congress leadership on 9 August
6 Spontaneous revolt Strikes, boycotts, sabotage — most "un-Gandhian" movement
7 Parallel governments Prati Sarkar in Satara (Maharashtra), Ballia (UP), Midnapore (Bengal)
8 Cripps Mission Failed March 1942 — catalyst for the Quit India demand
9 Japanese threat Fear of Japanese invasion; Congress felt British could not defend India
10 Significance Last mass revolt before independence; shook British confidence in ruling India

Historical Background

  • September 1939 — WWII began; Viceroy Linlithgow declared India at war without consulting Indian leaders
  • October 1939 — Congress ministries in 7 provinces resigned in protest
  • March 1940 — Muslim League passed the Lahore Resolution demanding Pakistan
  • August 1940 — "August Offer" by British — rejected by Congress
  • March 1942 — Cripps Mission arrived — offered Dominion Status after the war; Congress rejected it
  • July 1942 — Congress Working Committee at Wardha adopted resolution demanding British withdrawal
  • 8 August 1942 — AICC passed Quit India Resolution at Gowalia Tank Maidan, Bombay
  • 9 August 1942 — Operation Zero Hour — all Congress leaders arrested before sunrise
  • August–September 1942 — Spontaneous uprisings; railway tracks uprooted; telegraph lines cut
  • 1942–1943 — Parallel governments in Satara, Ballia, Midnapore, Talcher
  • 1943–1944 — Movement gradually suppressed; leaders remained in jail
  • June 1945 — Congress leaders released; Shimla Conference held

UPSC Exam Corner

Prelims: Key Facts

  • Date: 8 August 1942 (resolution); 9 August 1942 (leaders arrested)
  • Venue: Gowalia Tank Maidan, Bombay (August Kranti Maidan)
  • Slogan: "Do or Die" (Karo ya Maro)
  • "Quit India" coined by: Yusuf Meherally
  • Operation Zero Hour: British arrested all Congress leaders before sunrise, 9 August
  • Parallel governments: Satara, Ballia, Midnapore, Talcher
  • Context: Failure of Cripps Mission (March 1942); WWII Japanese advance

Mains: Probable Themes

  1. "August Kranti was the most radical phase of the Indian national movement." — Analyse its spontaneous, leaderless character
  2. "The Quit India Movement demonstrated that British rule in India was no longer sustainable." — Evaluate its impact on British policy
  3. "Examine the role of parallel governments during the Quit India Movement." — Satara, Ballia, Midnapore

Sources: Wikipedia — Quit India Movement | Vajiram & Ravi | Britannica — Quit India Movement | Next IAS