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What happened at the Indian National Congress session in Bombay in 1942?
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Mumbai
Entrance to Mumbai Harbour, marked by the Gateway of India (right foreground).
At the Indian National Congress session held in Bombay (now Mumbai) in August 1942, the party formally voted to initiate the Quit India Movement to demand an immediate end to British rule in India.12
Key events during and immediately following the session included:
- The "Do or Die" Speech: On August 8, 1942, Mahatma Gandhi delivered his famous speech, declaring, "The mantra is 'Do or Die.' We shall either free India or die in the attempt; we shall not live to see the perpetuation of our slavery."12
- Leadership Arrests: The morning after the resolution was passed, British authorities invoked the Defence of India Act to arrest Gandhi and other prominent Congress leaders, including Jawaharlal Nehru, Abul Kalam Azad, and Vallabhbhai Patel.12
- Continued Protest: Despite the mass arrests, the movement continued. On August 9, Aruna Asaf Ali presided over the Congress session in Bombay, where she hoisted the Congress flag and galvanized protesters across the country.1
While the movement failed to secure immediate independence, it demonstrated the widespread resolve of the Indian people and underscored the necessity of decolonization following World War II.1