1993 - Quit India Movement | Commemorative Coin

The 3rd commemorative coin of 1993 was issued to mark the Golden Jubilee of the Quit India Movement, which played a vital role in India’s struggle for independence.

The Quit India Movement, also known as the August Movement (August Kranti), was a major civil disobedience campaign launched in India in August 1942, following Mohandas Gandhi’s call for immediate independence from British rule. Gandhi aimed to compel the British government to enter into negotiations with Indian leaders. Within less than twenty-four hours of his speech, almost the entire leadership of the Indian National Congress, at both national and regional levels, was arrested, with many spending the remainder of World War II in confinement.

By 1942, Indian opinions on World War II were deeply divided. The British Governor-General of India, Lord Linlithgow, had unilaterally committed India to the war effort without consulting Indian leaders. Some Indians believed supporting Britain’s struggle, particularly during the Battle of Britain, might secure eventual independence. Others were incensed by Britain’s disregard for Indian civil rights and autonomy, and were unsympathetic to the hardships faced by Britons.

At the outbreak of the war, the Congress Party had conditionally supported the fight against fascism during its Wardha Working Committee meeting in September 1939, requesting independence in return—a proposal that was rejected by the British. Gandhi personally opposed endorsing the war, as he adhered to non-violent resistance and could not support armed conflict, even against leaders like Hitler, Mussolini, or Tojo. Nevertheless, during the height of the Battle of Britain, he expressed support for fighting racism while clarifying that he did not seek to rebuild India on the ruins of Britain. Despite his nuanced position, opinions remained divided within the country.

Meanwhile, Subhas Chandra Bose took independent action, organizing the Indian National Army with Japanese support and soliciting help from Axis powers to wage guerrilla warfare against British authorities.

On July 14, 1942, the Indian National Congress passed a resolution demanding complete independence. The draft warned that if the British did not accede to the demand, massive civil disobedience would be launched. This decision proved controversial within the party. Prominent leaders such as Chakravarti Rajagopalachari resigned in protest, while some regional organizers also opposed the move. Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Azad expressed apprehension but ultimately supported Gandhi’s leadership. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, and Dr. Anugrah Narayan Sinha, along with many veteran Gandhians and socialists like Jayaprakash Narayan and Asoka Mehta, strongly endorsed the campaign.

The Congress faced challenges in uniting other political forces under a single platform. Smaller parties, including the Communist Party of India and the Hindu Mahasabha, opposed the call, while Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s resistance led many Muslims to cooperate with the British, strengthening the Muslim League’s hold over provincial governments.

On August 8, 1942, the Quit India Resolution was formally passed at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee (AICC). In a historic speech at Gowalia Tank, Bombay, Gandhi urged Indians to engage in non-violent civil disobedience and to act as if they were already an independent nation. His call resonated widely, gaining support among large sections of the population and igniting a nationwide movement that would leave a lasting mark on India’s struggle for independence.