Quit India Movement Questions and Answers

I. Short Answer Questions

1. Under what condition, the Congress proposed to support Britain during the Second World War? Why did the Congress Ministries resign in 1939?

Ans: The Congress agreed to support Britain in the Second World War only if India was declared free and given effective power to govern itself. The Congress Ministries resigned because:

• The British Government declared India a participant in the war without consulting the Indian National Congress or the elected members of the Central Legislature.
• The Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow, refused to give any assurance regarding freedom or transfer of power to Indians.
• Therefore, the Congress Ministries resigned in October–November 1939.

2. What was the reaction of the British Government and the Muslim League to the resignation of Congress ministries in 1939?

Ans: British Government:

• The Viceroy was pleased because the Congress Ministries had controlled several provinces and their resignation removed an obstacle to British policies.

Muslim League:

• The Muslim League welcomed the resignation of the Congress Ministries.
• It offered friendship to the British Government and celebrated the day as a "Day of Deliverance and Thanksgiving."

3. Give any two salient features of August Offer.

Ans: 

• The British Government offered Dominion Status to India after the end of the Second World War.
• No future constitutional scheme would be imposed without the consent of minorities, and their views would be given due importance.

4. Why was the August Offer rejected by the Congress as well as the Muslim League?

Ans: Congress rejected the August Offer because:

• It did not promise immediate transfer of power to Indians.
• The provision giving minorities a veto could obstruct India's constitutional progress.

Muslim League rejected the August Offer because:

• It did not contain any clear assurance regarding the creation of Pakistan.
• The League felt that its demand for a separate Muslim state had not been recognised.

5. What reasons did the Muslim League put forward for the creation of two independent nations?

Ans: 

• The Muslim League argued that Hindus and Muslims were two separate nations, having different religions, cultures, traditions and ways of life.
• It claimed that the Muslims were a separate political community and therefore needed a separate homeland to safeguard their interests.
• The League feared that in an independent India, Muslims would be dominated by the Hindu majority.
• Hence, it demanded the creation of a separate state called Pakistan.

6. Why was the Cripps Mission sent to India?

Ans: 

• The British Government sent the Cripps Mission to India in March 1942 to secure the cooperation and support of Indians during the Second World War.
• The mission was also sent because of the Japanese threat to India, and Britain wanted Indian support for its war efforts.

7. How was the Constitution-making body to be constituted according to the Cripps Proposals of 1942?

Ans: 

• After the Second World War, a Constituent Assembly would be set up to frame the Constitution of India.
• The members from British Indian Provinces would be elected by the Provincial Legislatures.
• The Princely States would nominate their representatives to the Constituent Assembly.

8. Which point in the Cripps Offer was against the unity of the nation?

Ans: 

• The Cripps Offer stated that any Province was free to remain outside the proposed Indian Union and could form a separate constitution of its own.
• This provision encouraged provincial secession and was therefore considered a threat to the unity and integrity of India.

9. Why did the people of the Princely States oppose the Cripps' mission? What kind of status was promised to India after the War by Sir Stafford Cripps?

Ans:

• The Cripps Proposals allowed the Princes to nominate their representatives to the Constituent Assembly instead of having them elected by the people.
• Therefore, the people of the Princely States opposed the scheme as it did not provide them with democratic representation.

Sir Stafford Cripps promised Dominion Status to India after the end of the Second World War.

10. What did the Congress think of the threat of a Japanese attack on India in 1942?

Ans: 

• The Congress believed that the presence of the British in India was an invitation to Japan to invade India.
• It felt that if the British left India and transferred power to Indians, the danger of a Japanese attack would be greatly reduced.
• Therefore, the Congress demanded the immediate withdrawal of British rule from India.

11. What was meant by the Quit India Movement?

Ans: 

• The Quit India Movement was a mass movement launched by the Indian National Congress on 8 August 1942 demanding the immediate withdrawal of the British from India.
• It was led by Mahatma Gandhi, who gave the famous call "Do or Die."

12. Name a prominent person who played an important role in the Quit India Movement. Mention any two activities people undertook as a part of the Quit India Movement.

Ans: Jayaprakash Narayan was among the prominent leaders of the Quit India Movement. Any two activities:

• People struck at the symbols of British authority by attacking police stations, post offices and railway stations.
• They disrupted communication and transport services by cutting telephone and telegraph wires and damaging railway tracks.

13. How did the Quit India Movement show that national feelings had become too deep-rooted?

Ans: 

• The Quit India Movement witnessed mass participation of people from all sections of society, including students, workers, peasants and women.
• Even after the arrest of Gandhiji and other leaders, the movement continued in many parts of the country.
• People willingly faced arrests, repression and sacrifices for the cause of freedom.
• This showed that the desire for independence had become deeply rooted among the Indian people.

II. Structured Questions

1. The British Government sent a mission headed by Sir Stafford Cripps to India in March 1942. In this context, answer the following:

(a) Why was the mission sent to India?

Ans: 

• The British Government sent the Cripps Mission to India in March 1942 to secure the cooperation and support of Indians during the Second World War.
• The mission was sent because the Japanese threat to India had increased, and Britain needed Indian support for its war efforts.
• It also aimed to obtain the cooperation of Indian political leaders by offering proposals for India's future constitutional development.

(b) Mention any three proposals of the Cripps' Mission.

Ans: 

• After the Second World War, India would be granted Dominion Status.
• A Constituent Assembly would be set up to frame the Constitution of India.
• Any Province would be free to remain outside the proposed Indian Union and frame its own constitution.
• The Princely States would be represented in the Constituent Assembly through nominated representatives.
• During the war, Defence would remain under the control of the British Government/Viceroy.

(c) Why were these proposals rejected by both the Congress and the Muslim League?

Ans: Congress rejected the proposals because:

• They did not provide for the immediate transfer of power to Indians.
• The provision allowing Provinces to remain outside the Union threatened the unity of India.
• Defence was to remain under the control of the British Government during the war.

Muslim League rejected the proposals because:

• The proposals did not clearly accept the League's demand for Pakistan.
• The League was dissatisfied with the proposed method for forming the Constituent Assembly.

2. The Congress Working Committee passed the famous Quit India Resolution at Wardha in July 1942. With reference to this answer the following questions:

(a) What were the reasons for the passing of this resolution?

Ans: 

• The failure of the Cripps Mission disappointed Indians as it did not promise immediate independence.
• The Japanese threat to India created a sense of urgency, and Congress felt that British rule invited Japanese aggression.
• The Congress believed that only an immediate end to British rule could unite the people and enable India to defend itself.
• Therefore, the Congress Working Committee passed the Quit India Resolution at Wardha in July 1942, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the British from India.

(b) What was the British Government's reaction to the Quit India Movement?

Ans: 

• Immediately after the launch of the Quit India Movement, the British Government arrested Mahatma Gandhi and other Congress leaders on 9 August 1942.
• The Congress was declared an unlawful organisation and its offices were sealed.
• The Government adopted severe repressive measures, including lathi charges, firing on demonstrators, mass arrests and censorship of the press.
• Thousands of people were arrested, and many were killed or injured during the suppression of the movement.

(c) What was the impact and significance of this movement?

Ans: 

• The Quit India Movement made Independence the immediate and ultimate goal of the Indian National Movement.
• It demonstrated that national feelings had become deeply rooted among the Indian people, as the movement continued even after the arrest of the leaders.
• The British Government realised that it could no longer rule India against the wishes of the Indian people.
• The movement involved the participation of people from all sections of society and gave a new impetus to the struggle for freedom.
• It paved the way for the eventual transfer of power and the achievement of Independence in 1947.