Which of the following was/were the features of the Quit India Movemen

Which of the following was/were the features of the Quit India Movement?

From the very beginning, it was a rural revolt
It was essentially a moderate movement
It was marked by the unprecedented use of violence
It was marked by acute state repression

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1 only

1 and 2

3 and 4 only

1, 3 and 4

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2016

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The correct answer is C. Statements 3 and 4 accurately describe key features of the Quit India Movement, while statements 1 and 2 do not.

– Statement 1: “From the very beginning, it was a rural revolt”. Incorrect. The Quit India Movement was launched by the Congress leadership (in Bombay) and began with urban protests following the arrests of leaders. While it quickly spread to rural areas and saw significant participation there, including the setting up of parallel governments, it was not exclusively or primarily a rural revolt *from the very beginning*.
– Statement 2: “It was essentially a moderate movement”. Incorrect. The Quit India Movement (variously called August Kranti or Bharat Chhodo Andolan) was one of the most militant and radical phases of the Indian independence movement, characterized by mass participation, widespread disruption, and violence (both by protesters and the state).
– Statement 3: “It was marked by the unprecedented use of violence”. Correct. Following the sudden arrest of leaders, the movement became decentralized and spontaneous. There were widespread attacks on symbols of British authority – police stations, post offices, railway lines, and other government infrastructure. While not centrally directed, violence became a significant feature.
– Statement 4: “It was marked by acute state repression”. Correct. The British government responded swiftly and brutally. Congress leaders were imprisoned, meetings banned, protests fired upon, and widespread arrests and repression followed, crushing the movement within months, though localized resistance continued.

The Quit India Movement, launched in August 1942, was a call for immediate independence. With the leadership jailed, the movement took a more spontaneous and often violent turn, involving a wide range of people from students to peasants. Despite the severe repression, it demonstrated the depth of anti-British sentiment and the willingness of the masses to participate in a radical struggle.

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