Gandhi was named the quit India movement's leader.Led by Mahatma Gandhi, it used methods of non-violent resistance to demand freedom from British rule.

1. QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT in oDISHa
last great struggle of the congress against British imperialism in Odisha
PADMINEE PANIGRAHI
DEPT.OF HISTORY
Rama Devi Women’s University

3. WHAT IS QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT:
The slogan Quit India movement was coined by ‘Yusuf Meherally’. The Quit India
Movement started slogans like “Bharat Cho do” or “Quit India”.The meeting held
at Wardha(6-12 July,1942) the movement launched on August 8,1942, by Mahatma
Gandhi during the Bombay Session of All India congress Committee. Gandhiji
give a slogan ‘Do or Die’ from the August Kranti or the Gwalior Tank Maidan.
Arun Asaf Ali also known as the ‘Grand Old Lady’ of the independence
movement hoisted the Indian Flag at the Gwalior Tank Maidan in Mumbai during
the Quit India Movement. This Movement considered a peaceful movement for
British leave from India.

4. CAUSE OF QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT:
The beginning of the second world war in 1939 and Japan which was part of
the axis power that were opposed to the British in the war were gaining onto
the north-eastern frontiers of India. Not only the Congress was unhappy over
the arbitrary decision of the British Government for dragging India into the
holocaust. Orissa too was simmering with discontent and waited for an
opportunity to explode. Failure of Cripps’ Mission and Japanese Threat were
two more causes for Quit India Movement.

5. QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT IN ORISSA:
It was in this situation that the Coalition Ministry presented the budget (1940-41) and passed the
following laws; (a) The Odisha Tenancy Second Amendment Act, 1941, (b) The Madras Estate Land
(Odisha Amendment) Act, 1942, (c) Odisha Auditing and Validating Act, 1942, (d) Odisha Weights
and Measures Bill, 1942 (e) The Bihar and Odisha State Aid to Industries (Odisha Amendment)
Bill, 1942, and (f) The Odisha Forest Bill, 1942. After this Amendments Quit India Movement also
occure in Odisha .

6. However, the Congress in Odisha made all preparations and started vigorous propaganda
work in every nook and corner of the province. It also held public meetings in various parts of
Odisha after the Wardha Resolution was endorsed. The instructions of Mahatma Gandhi
concerning last struggle began to be secretly circulated in different parts of Odisha at the
beginning of August 1942.The programme and policy adopted by Gandhi was accepted by all
political parties except the Swarajists and the Radical Democrats. Biswanath Das the ex-
Premier of Odisha was convicted and sentenced to three months of imprisonment, on 5 August
1942 by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Russelkonda in connection with a speech delivered
by him at Aska. The Congress vehemently protested against his conviction and on the day of
the judgement the courtroom was overcrowded with Congress Workers

7. There were large scale arrest in Bombay on 9 August 1942, in Odisha, on the same day,
Nityananda Kanungo, Bhagirathi Mohapatra, Gopabandhu Choudhury, Rama Devi and
Nabakrushna Choudhury were arrested and taken to the local jail for detention. The Utkal
Pradesh Congress Committee Office at Cuttack was raided and locked up by the local police.
The Utkal Pradesh Congress Committee and all District Congress Committees were banned and
considered as unlawful, by a notification under the Criminal Law Amendment Act, Imperial
Government of India. This marked the beginning of the August Revolution in Odisha. The
measures taken against the Congress and the unexpected arrest of all-important leaders in
August 1942 had tremendously agitated the political circles of Odisha, including that of the
Communists and the Socialists.

8. Hare Krishna Mahatab, Malati Devi Choudhury, Surendranath Dwivedy, Prahalad Ray and Laxmi
Narayan Mishra who attended the All India Congress Committee meeting at Bombay, organised
the masses against the British Imperialism. It was decided to set up an office of the August
Revolution in Odisha at Nandi Sahu’s house in Alisa Bazar, Cuttack. From there the movement was
conducted throughout Odisha. Surendranath Dwivedy and another 86 most other prominent
freedom fighters were arrested from various parts of the province. Uday Nath Rath and Nandi
Sahu were detained.Within a week, many Congress leaders were arrested. Hand written pamphlets
were circulated secretly in various parts of Odisha to rouse the masses against the British. The
peasants were asked to disobey the Rajas and zamindars. They were expected to demand
zamindari lands and excess of paddy from the zamindars.

9. At the beginning of the movement Cuttack, Puri, Koraput and Sambalpur districts were
mostly affected. Hartals, strikes, protest marches became the main activities at the initial
stages of the movement.90 Surendranath Dwivedy issued instructions to sabotage
communications by removing railway lines so as to isolate certain parts of the country in
order to make it easier for Congress in their area to carry on work. Consequently,
Surendranath Dwivedy remaining underground organized the Quit India Movement in
ODISHA as all other top ranking leaders were imprisoned.

10. Gandhian struggle for freedom and its manifestations in Orissa, its dimension and intensity
was beyond the expectations of the government . All political parties in Orissa ,irrespective
of their ideology responded to their clarion call to launch a total revolution .They pledged to
establish parallel Governments through the panchayats, defy the Governments by not
paying taxes and manufacturing salt and to seize the lands and properties of the Zamindars
found in excess of their requirement. Apart from this boycott, individual and mass
satyagraha , non-co-operation and hartal etc. were various approved measures for the
struggle. The Orissa Zamindars unfortunately played a very ignomious role during this
period by showing extra loyalty to the foreign Government at the coast of Nationalism.

11. EARLY STAGE OF QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT IN ODISHA :
The British Government’s dragging India into in 2nd world war scenario with the
expectation of Japan’s capture of India, compelled Gandhiji to declare the Quit
India Movement in India. The AICC adopted the Quit India resolution in Bombay
on 8 August 1942 dealing a final blow to British Imperialism. In Odisha’s leaders ,
only H.K Mahatab was arrested in Bombay and sent in Ahmadanagar fort jail. The
British Government declared all congress institutions in the province to be
unlawful in its gazette notifications Nos. 137 and 147 dated 9th Aug. By 10 August
1942, the police has seized all congress offices in the province. The police arrested
all prominent congress workers at the district level. The mass arrest in the
nationalist leaders in Odisha backfired in the form of public outrage.

12. The British Government’s strategy of repressing the uprising through tight control of
urban areas failed miserably. The movements leadership has how shifted to the younger
generation of students. Following these arrests, the situation appeared to be normal and
quite. However within two weeks, reports of revolutionary activity began to circulate
from remote villages in Odisha where the police were unwilling to address the law and
order problem. Revenshaw college students organised meetings, procession and
boycotted classes in support of Mahatama Gandhi’s call. As a form of protest against their
leaders arrest, they resolved to break the law and became violent, torching government
buildings and assaulting officers. They even engaged in harmful activities such as
defacing railway tracks and severing telegraph lines.

13. MOVEMENT IN KORAPUT DISTRICT:
Despite the lack of leaders, spontaneous popular outbursts occurred in a number of
locations. The anti-war propaganda already being waged by congressmen and socialists, as
well as the suffering of the populace as a result of the war , had laid the groundwork for a
spontaneous outburst of the masses, even among the hill tribes of the Koraput district . Civil
Disobedience took on a more serious tone toward the end of August 1942. In remote villages
of Odisha, believing that the Government machinery had collapsed, the populace defied the
authorities. Without the guidance of their imprisoned leaders, they engaged in violent
behaviour. They attacked and burned several government institutions, including post offices,
revenue offices, P.W.D. bungalows and police stations. In some locations, telegraph lines
were severed.

14. The Quit India Movement assumed the form of a mass uprising in the backward district of Koraput,
which was primarily populated by Adivasis. The Adivasis became so enraged with the British
authorities that they threatened to demolish all of the district’s government institutions. With this in
mind, the British government put an end to the movement by arresting its leaders. Despite the fact
that the movement was initiated by two boys, carrying Congress flags, preached the message of
revolution. It was followed by hartals and campaigns against tax evasion. Congress workers
organised large gatherings in various important locations throughout the Koraput district on 16
August 1942, and several workers were arrested. On the same day, a mob of 1000 people stormed a
taluka office. The police used lathi charges to disperse the violent mob. Meanwhile congress
workers began picketing in front of excise shops and shops selling foreign goods.

15. Participation of Laxman Naik:
The tribal district of Koraput did not lag behind in the struggle for freedom. A mob attack upon
the police station at Jeypore had to be dispersed with the help of armed force. Serious
disturbance broke out in the Malkangiri taluk, at Simbiliguda and Gunupur. The law and other
situation of the Nawarangpur subdivision was beyond control. 15 persons were short dead by
the Police at Papadahandi on 24 August. At Maithili P.S. the tribals under Laxman Naik’s
leadership caused the death of a forest guard for which in relation the police opened fire killing 5
and injuring 17 persons. Laxman and his tribal compatriots had firm faith on Gandhi and the
congress . He was arrested and sentenced to death by hanging on 29 August 1943.

16. Quit India Movement in Cuttack:
Basically in Cuttack district Quit India Movement started by students from Revenshaw and
other educational institutions. On 15 August 1942, approximately 200 revenshaw college students
set fire to the office building. Surajmal saha and Bibhudendra Mishra two student leaders were
arrested and taken to the Berhampur jail. The UPCC workers pasted posters througout the city,
urging government officials to resign and citizens to cease taxation and engage in various
revolutionary activities. Several prominent citizens including town lawyers organised meetings in
Cuttack during which resolutions condemning the Govenments repressive measures and
demanding the realease of national leaders were passed. In some locations ordinary men became
violent and engage in various revolutionary activities such as arson and looting.

17. Jajpur:
Jajpur the ancient capital of Odisha has always been a hot spot of political activities till now.
The then Jajpur Sub-Division and present District made maximum revolutionary activities.
Freedom fighters set fire on four PWD Bunglows, six Zamidari Kutcheries, Six canal revenue
offices, four post offices, five excisable articles, and police uniforms at twenty six places.
A mob of 10,000 in Jajpur Town proceeded towards police stations and SDO Offices. In other
part of present Jajpur District i.e. Kalakala, Darpan, Madhupur and Kanika people set fire in
government offices, attacked police and started revolutionary activities.
On the day of Rakhi Purnima 4 freedom fighters sacrificed their lives in anti-British Rally at
Kalamatia under Bari Block of Jajpur District.

18. Balasore District: Police oppression was most in Balasore District. Revolutionary activities were
made massively in rural areas including shutting down Zilla School, Government Offices.
• Domestic servants were stopped to work in house of Government officials and mass civil
disobedience was carried out. Two prominent leaders i.e. MLA Dwarakanath Das and
Jagannath Das were arrested.Six persons were killed and many more were injured in
Dhamnagar areas on 21st September 1942. Violence with police started in Khairadihi on
28th September 1942 and two persons were killed in police firing.
• Eram Police Operation: Eram was otherwise known as “Jallianwallabag” of Odisha. On
28th September 1942 people gathered at “Melena Padia” (Open space) and revolted not to pay
tax. Around 5000 armed people attacked police.
• As a result Police arrested leaders, lathi charged and fired on the mob. Twenty Six persons were
killed and fifty four persons injured.But from unofficial sources the umber is more. Pari Bewa a
female a leading freedom fighter sacrificed her life in this movement. Since then “Eram” is
called as “Rakta Tirtha Eram”.

20. In Ganjam:
The Ganjam District Congress Committee made all preparation to start Quit India
Movement but it was declared unlawful. In 1942 no remarkable event occurred during August
1942, except picketting. The Congress leaders of the district were arrested by 15 August 1942
and sentenced to imprisonment. However, in September 1942 the aboriginal tenants violated the
existing Forest Laws and cut down the trees in Ghumsar, which were under estate authorities.
In October 1942, there was some picketting of liquor shops. The telegraph wires on the main
road near Aska were disrupted. In November 1942, there was a lathi-charge on the political
prisoners in Berhampur Jail. Some government buildings in the Agency area were burnt. 123
M.S. Mohapatra and Ghanshym Patnaik (Secretary, Ganjam District Congress Committee) were
imprisoned at Berhampur jail towards the close of October 1942.

21. Movement in Gadjat areas:
In Gadjat States of Odisha i.e. Nayagarh, Talcher, Dhenkanal, Athagarh,
Mayurbhanj massive revolutionary activities started.In Dhenkanal the freedom fighters set
fire in Jails, Police Stations and Institutions. In Talcher the people started Guerrilla war
against the British. The appeal of Mahatma Gandhi had tremendous impact on the people of
the princely states of India and in Odisha too. The Quit India Movement caused an
unprecedented popular upsurge against the state authorities. In some of the princely states of
Odisha like Talcher and Dhenkanal, the movement assumed such proportions that the
authorities had to resort to aerial bombing and use of machine-gun. In Talcher, Pabitra Mohan
Pradhan organised the Quit India Movement in the state. He fled away from jail. The
Prajamandal organized the peasant-militias for fighting against the state force. The movement
gradually became widespread and very threatening.

22. The agitation in Dhenkanal in 1942 was so widespread, as it was in Talcher on account of the fact that
almost all the leaders of the Prajamandal had been arrested and put behind the bars. However,
Baishnab Charan Patnaik managed to escape and organised an armed squad of 17 peasant-militias in
Dhenkanal state. In the Nayagarh states, tension mounted due to failure of the ruling chieff to meet
the demands of the Prajamandal. In order to crush the movement, the leaders of Prajamandal; Sridhar
Das, Lakhsman Maharana and Sukra Behera were arrested on 19 August 1942. The action against
these leaders infuriated the situation. The peasant-militia was determined to secure their demands by
means of a peaceful satyagraha. In the princely state of Nilgiri, the Quit India Movement began on 15
August 1942, and turned violent due to arrest of some leaders. Banamali Das assumed the leadership
of peasant masses in the state of Nilgiri. The significant features of the movement were the violation
of forest laws and burning of uniforms etc. The police force arrested the Congress leaders, including
Kailash Chandra Mohanty and the Prajamandal activists. The Raja of Nilgiri took all preventive
measures to quell the popular protest. The peasants of the states had close connection with the Kisan
Sang therefore they were not provided loans by the moneylenders.

23. In the Sonepur state a protest agitation was launched for security of civil and political liberty as
well as against the various taxes, which were suspended in 1939 on the instruction of Mahatma
Gandhi. However, with the trepidation of revival of the mass agitation in 1942, the state
authorities arrested the Prajamandal leaders and detained them in jail. So there were no
popular leaders left to organize and direct any movement. In the state of Mayurbhanj the Quit
India Movement had a considerable impact on the aboriginal peasantmilitia. In June 1942, there
was a popular resistance against the state authority for not allowing the Prajamandal leaders to
construct a bigger dam at Silaghati in Pragana Khunta. The Prajamandal, however, started the
work without seeking permission, which, everyone knew, would never be granted by the
authorities. The sub-divisional police officer of Kaptipada promulgated Section 144 I.P.C. in the
area and arrested many Prajamandal workers for defiance of the order. Some of them were
fined and some were sent to jail.

24. The Quit India Revolution had its echo in many princely states of India. In the Bombay Congress,
Mahatma Gandhi appealed to the princes as well as the masses of the states participate to in the
revolution. He urged the rulers of the states to confer their subjects with responsible government
The Congress claimed to represent the states’ people. He remarked that “the princes should rise to
the occasion. If they failed to do this, they will have no quarter in a Free India. The destiny of the
Free India will be decided by Jawaharlal and others who have no sympathy for feudalism”. He
further stated that, “let the Princes also not abuse their authority. Their only chance of survival
depends on the goodwill of their people. Let them come forward and join in the movement. If the
answer is in negative, then I do not hesitate to say that even the Paramount Power will not be able
to come to their rescue, because the power itself will not be there. Responsible Government
should immediately be conferred to their subjects”.

25. CONCLUSION:
Gandhiji's photographs were taken out in processions and the slogan was "Mahatma Gandhi Ki
Jai". Most of the demonstrations and movements were suppressed by 1944The August revolt of 1942
was watershed in India’s march towards freedom. The movement was the last mass struggle waged
against mighty British Raj. It exceeded all other movements against British imperialism in its nature
and character. It spread to almost all the provinces from the Himalayas to Cape Comorin.138 Although,
the efforts failed to accomplish the colonial dominion but it was an unprecedented and unparalleled
popular upsurge against British imperialism in various parts of India139 including Odisha. It unified
the villages and towns and the country and the tribal and non-tribal peasants of Odisha against the
colonial bondage. In British Odisha the Congress leadership shaped the popular peasant movement
and Mahatma Gandhi emerged as the liberator from above, though the Kisan Sangh and the
Communists had a strong base. The popular peasant upsurge at the beginning of the Quit India
movement was against the immediate exploiters such as the zamindars, moneylenders, etc. However,
the later stages of the historic movement became a mass based struggle against the British imperialism.