Quit India Movement was launched in response to
Contents12
- ACabinet Mission Plan
- BCripps Proposals
- CSimon Commission Report
- DWavell Plan
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Answer: (B) Cripps Proposals
The Cripps Mission (March 1942) was sent by the British Government during World War II.
The Cripps Proposals included:
- establishment of a Dominion (not full independence)
- a Constituent Assembly after the war
- the right of Provinces to make separate constitutions.
However, all these promises were for AFTER the war ended, offering nothing immediate. The Indian National Congress rejected it.
Gandhi famously described it as 'a post-dated cheque on a crashing bank' — meaning a worthless promise from a declining empire.
Disappointed by the failure of the Cripps Mission, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) met at Wardha in July 1942 and accepted the idea of a mass struggle. This led to the Quit India Resolution on 8th August 1942 at the Bombay session.
So the Quit India Movement was launched in direct response to the failure of the Cripps Proposals.
The Cabinet Mission (a) came later in 1946, Simon Commission (c) was in 1927, and Wavell Plan (d) was in 1945.
The Quit India Movement in August 1942 was the largest mass movement against British rule, involving millions of Indians in direct resistance.
The Cripps Mission in March 1942 offered only post-war promises with no immediate concessions, which Gandhi called 'a post-dated cheque on a crashing bank', leading directly to the Quit India call.
UPSC tests the cause-effect relationship between British wartime proposals and Indian mass movements, not just isolated events.
Cripps Mission 1942
Modern Indian History Cripps Proposals Cripps Mission
Cripps Mission 1942: Proposals & Gandhi's 'Post-dated Cheque' Rejection
Cripps Mission arrived in March 1942 during World War II with constitutional proposals
Gandhi rejected it as 'post-dated cheque on a crashing bank' - worthless promise from declining empire
Its failure led directly to Quit India Movement launch in August 1942
Offered Dominion status and Constituent Assembly but only after the war
Context & Purpose
The Cripps Mission was Britain's attempt to secure Indian cooperation during World War II when Japanese forces threatened India's eastern borders. Sent by Stafford Cripps in March 1942, it aimed to offer constitutional concessions in exchange for Indian support in the war effort.
Key Proposals
Proposal | Details | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
Dominion Status | Full self-governing dominion like Canada/Australia | After war ends |
Constituent Assembly | Indians to frame their own constitution | After war ends |
Provincial Opt-out | Provinces could form separate constitutions | After war ends |
Defense Cooperation | British control over defense during war | Immediate |
Why Congress Rejected
No immediate transfer of power - all promises were post-war
Vague dominion status instead of complete independence
Provincial opt-out clause could lead to partition
British retained defense control during the critical war period
No Indian participation in current wartime government
Direct Link to Quit India
The Cripps Mission's failure in April 1942 led to immediate Congress action. The Congress Working Committee met at Wardha in July 1942 and decided on mass struggle. This culminated in the Quit India Resolution on 8th August 1942 at Bombay - making Cripps Proposals the direct trigger for Quit India Movement.
Trap: Don't confuse with Cabinet Mission 1946 - came 4 years later
Trap: Cripps offered Dominion status, not full independence
Gandhi's quote: 'post-dated cheque on a crashing bank' - remember the exact phrase
Timing: Mission was March 1942, rejection led to August 1942 Quit India
Quit India Movement 1942
Modern Indian History Quit India Movement Quit India
Quit India Movement 1942: Launch, Leadership & British Response
Launched on 8th August 1942 at Bombay session after Cripps Mission failure
Gandhi's slogan: 'Do or Die' - most radical call for immediate British exit
Leaderless resistance after immediate arrest of top Congress leaders
Also called August Revolution due to spontaneous mass uprising
Path to Launch
%%{init: {"flowchart": {"wrappingWidth": 460}}}%%
flowchart TD
s1["`**Cripps Mission arrives**
March 1942 - British constitutional offer`"]
s2["`**Mission fails**
April 1942 - Congress rejects proposals`"]
s3["`**Wardha CWC meeting**
July 1942 - Decision for mass struggle`"]
s4["`**Quit India Resolution**
8th August 1942 - Bombay session launch`"]
s1 --> s2
s2 --> s3
s3 --> s4Key Features
Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
Slogan | 'Do or Die' (Karo ya Maro) |
Nature | Mass civil disobedience, most radical demand |
Demand | Immediate British withdrawal from India |
Leadership | Leaderless after mass arrests on 9th August |
Response | Spontaneous uprisings, strikes, sabotage |
Duration | 1942-1944 with varying intensity |
British Counter-measures
Mass arrests of entire Congress leadership on 9th August 1942
Banned Congress as an organization throughout British India
Military suppression with troops, police firing on crowds
Communication cuts - telegraph lines, railway disruption targeted
Heavy penalties including flogging, fines, property confiscation
Trap: Quit India was response to Cripps failure, not Cabinet Mission (1946)
Trap: Launched in August 1942, not 1941 or 1943
Timing confusion: Wardha meeting July → Bombay launch August
Leadership: Called leaderless movement due to immediate arrests
Other British Constitutional Offers
Modern Indian History Cabinet Mission Plan Simon Commission Report Wavell Plan
British Constitutional Offers: Cabinet Mission, Simon Commission & Wavell Plan
Simon Commission 1927 - all-white commission for constitutional review, boycotted by Indians
Cabinet Mission 1946 - three-member mission for transfer of power negotiations
Wavell Plan 1945 - Viceroy's proposal for Executive Council reconstruction
Chronological Comparison
Mission/Plan | Year | Key Proposal | Indian Response | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Simon Commission | 1927 | Constitutional review by 7 British MPs | Boycotted - 'Simon Go Back' | Led to Round Table Conferences |
Cripps Mission | 1942 | Dominion status after war | Rejected by Congress | Triggered Quit India Movement |
Wavell Plan | 1945 | Equal Muslims-others in Executive Council | Accepted by Congress, rejected by League | Failed due to communal deadlock |
Cabinet Mission | 1946 | United India with federal structure | Initially accepted, later disputed | Led to Interim Government |
Why These Didn't Trigger Quit India
Simon Commission (1927) - came 15 years before, during different political phase
Wavell Plan (1945) - came during post-war negotiations, after Quit India ended
Cabinet Mission (1946) - serious transfer of power talks, not wartime pressure
Only Cripps Mission failure created the immediate frustration that sparked mass movement
Chronology trap: Simon Commission 1927, Cripps 1942, Wavell 1945, Cabinet Mission 1946
Confusion: Cabinet Mission ≠ Cripps Mission - different years and contexts
Response pattern: Simon was boycotted, Cripps was rejected, others had mixed responses