Quit India Movement Day: When Mahatma Gandhi coined famous slogan do or die

Quit India Movement Day: The Quit India Movement played a very significant role in India’s struggle for freedom from British rule. It was on August 8, 1942 when the Quit India Movement or Bharat Chhodo Andolan was launched by Mahatma Gandhi. It is also called the August Kranti or August Movement.

It was during the launch of the Quit India Movement when Mahatma Gandhi delivered his famous 'do or die' speech at the Gowalia Tank Maidan, now called the August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai. The Quit India Movement was launched at the Bombay (now Mumbai) session of the All India Congress Committee.

A resolution was also passed during the session for civil disobedience if the British didn't agree to the demands for the complete transfer of governance. The movement was peaceful and non-violent.

Mahatma Gandhi urged Indians to act as an independent nation and not follow orders of the British. The movement under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi brought people together to uproot imperialism.

The British government, however, refused to grant total independence to India and the movement was brutally suppressed by the British government and around one lakh people were arrested.

People were lathi-charged and huge fines were imposed. When all top Congress leaders were arrested, Aruna Asaf Ali led the citizens in Mumbai to hoist the national flag at Gowalia Tank Maidan.

Five years after the Quit India movement was launched, India achieved independence from British rule on August 15, 1947.