Question

Briefly outline any four repressive measures adopted by the British government to suppress the Quit India Movement of 1942.

Answer 1

To prevent the Quit India Movement from spreading across the country, the British implemented a harsh policy:

1. There were widespread protests across India in response to Gandhi's and other Congress leaders' arrests. The Quit India Movement resulted in thousands of deaths and many injuries. Many places called for strikes.
2. The British quickly put an end to a large number of the protests by mass arresting over a million people. The police set fire to homes in many different places and fined the residents excessive amounts. Children and women suffered harassment. Up to 538 instances of military and police officer firings were reported.
3. The Congress leadership remained separate from the outside world for more than three years. By November 1942, 3,125 people had been critically injured, and 1,028 individuals had died, according to government statistics. Undoubtedly, the numbers were incredibly low, and the actual loss of life was significantly higher.
4. The movement highlighted the people's will to struggle for their freedom. Thus, this movement got the British Government's attention to India's opposition to imperialism.