NAME: ANUSHKA MUKHERJEE

COLLEGE ROLL NO: 23/BAH/0117

CU ROLL NO: 232013-11-0022
CU REGISTRATION NO: 013-1211-0062-23
SEMESTER: 3RD SEMESTER
DEPARTMENT: ENGLISH
SUBJECT: HISTORY
PAPER NAME: IDC 3
TOPIC: QUIT INDIA MOVMENT: ROLE OF MIDNAPORE
QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT – ROLE OF MIDNAPORE
 INTRODUCTION

The Quit India Movement came to being on the 8 of August 1942, under the guidance of
Mahatma Gandhi. The resolution was adopted by the All India Congress Committee (AICC)
as the mass disobedience act that would play forth if power was not immediately handed over
to the Indians. A significant aspect of this movement was a distinct difference in its
destructive methods than that of the Gandhi's concept of non-violence. The movement spread
to almost all the provinces as also most of the native states of the country. This prolonged the
economic exploitation of Indian people. Hence this greatly influenced the birth of the 'Quit
India Movement'. On this occasion, Gandhi delivered his famous “Do or Die” speech,
arguing that this was the final battle and so the Indians must win Independence or give up
their lives for it. This acted as a fuel to the already suffering Indian population and brought
about the expectation of throwing of the British authority out of power. Besides this, another
fundamental problem of poverty was also there. The poverty posed many questions for the
people of India belonging to different sections mainly the peasants, the industrial workers, the
educated middle class and the country as whole. This raised at once the question of political
and economic independence of sovereignty and representative nature of the state. Taking note
of the subsequent situations along with the development of the World War II situation, it felt
that subsequent events only provided further justification to its approval and made it clear
that the immediate ending of British rule in India was an urgent necessity. Hence the AICC
met at Bombay and approved the Quit India Resolution.
Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and other AICC leaders were arrested in the early hours
of 9th August 1942. This evoked uncontrollable outburst and violence from the local people
of India belonging to different class and regions. People started damaging the public
properties and attacking the Englishmen and English officers alongside conducting sabotage
and arson also. Not only in Bombay, there were also disturbance in Ahmadabad, Poona and
simultaneously in widely spread in the provinces of Madras, Bombay, Bihar, Bengal, Central
and United Province. Especially, the role of Midnapore district in Bengal Province was the
most in August Movement because in the Tamluk Sub-division of this district formed a
Parallel Civil Administrative System against the British rule. This self-Government was
formed on 17th December 1942 and was called the "Tamluk Jatiya Sarkar" (Tamluk National
Government) which lasted till 1st September 1943. I want to focus my tutorial on the
development of the Tamluk Jatiya Sarkar and their revolt against the British Government for
the Independence of India.
 LITERATURE SURVEY

Through the decades several historians and scholars have documented the role of Midnapore
in India's struggle for Independence in the Quit India Movement, in the forms of books,
Journals and research papers.

From Plassey to Partition: A history of Modern India- Sekhar Bandyopadhyay

This book is an unbiased book on modern India that delves into the history of India's struggle
for Independence without undermining any movement irrespective of its effectiveness or
length of influence. It covers the struggles and fights of all the corners of the country,
highlighting all the causes, consequences and reactions of each and every decision, proposals,
movements and errors. Sekhar Bandyopadhyay here throws light on both the sides, British
and Congress, in his book.

Defiance and Confrontation: The 1942 Quit India Movement in Midnapur- Bidyut
Chakrabarty
This article delves into the glorious background of the Midnapore district in Bengal and the
significance of its role in that of Quit India movement. It thoroughly explains the different
phases of the movement in the district alongside the participation of the mass in every
possible to rebel the British Raj. The article none the less covers every aspect that lead to or
is a part of the Independence struggle in Midnapore.

August Revolution in Midnapore: A Case Study in Tamluk (1942-1944) - Sanjib Bera

and Subhas Chandra Sen
The article gives us a write up on all the events that followed to the Quit India Movement
including the World War 2, threat from Japan and the measures taken by the British to avoid
losing their territory or their power. It covers all the various events that are linked to the
movement in a short yet informative manner. Hence this is article is all one needs to get a
proper knowledge on the background, mind set and socio-political history of the country at
that time

Quit India Movement- Shivani Sharma

This is a dissertation that seeks to probe the different phases of national struggle and study
the Quit India movement as a conclusion of the non-violent Gandhian era. The thesis is
divided into four chapters that cover the developments to the movement, resolve taken by the
congress and it’s unfolding in various regions which extended to unexpected periods of time,
in certain places.
Matangini Hazra: An Indian Brave heart- Ananya K.
The paper revolves around the historical figure of Matangini Hazra. As a female satyagrahi,
her character as a symbol of the fearless participation of the women in Bengal is highlighted
in this paper. Although a bit short, it gives one the entire background, both personal and
political, of Matangini as well as her sacrifices to understand the depth of her actions and
services towards not only her hometown but also her country.

Role of Matangini Hazra in Gandhiji's Quit India Movement: An Introspection.

This research paper covers the struggles for the freedom of India in Midnapore and especially
the role of women in this fight. Throwing light on not only the Matangini Hazra and her
procession, it also covers the story of the local women population who fought, lost, yet never
gave up. The involvement of the women of Bengal have all been highlighted giving one an
insight that gets undermined as a local movement and appreciation for their bravery and faith
for the country.
 HYPOTHESES

1. Midnapore as a significant centre during Quit India Movement OR Why

Midnapore

Midnapore district has always been involved as the forefront of all the previous struggles for
National independence. Since the Non-cooperation movement from 1919-22, it has continued
to be an active centre of all the Nationalist upsurge. After the successful removal of
Midnapore Union boards in 1921 by the anti-union board campaign, the Midnapore
Nationalists launched the salt Satyagraha and boycotting of educational institutions during
the Civil Disobedience movement, 1930-1932. Through the movements and campaigns the
strong hold of the Congress over the district was quit prominent. Hence when the Quit India
Resolution was launched on 9 August 1942, many districts including the Midnapore
Congress joined to fight against the British raj for their country and its freedom. During the
movement, Tamluk and Kotai of the five sub-divisions became prominent. The continuous
support of the citizens belonging to various social groups through acts of defiance and
boycott was remarkable and lasted longer than expected mainly due to the idea of
participating in what may have been the last battle of freedom with the British government.
Even during the cyclone in October 1942, they continued their quest irrespective of the lives
lost and the critical state they were in. Hitesranjan Sanyal who has studied the Congress
movements in this area in great detail has shown the extent to which “the principles of
Gandhian organization were specifically formulated to guard against the sudden outbursts of
spontaneous collective violence: the whole thrust of organizational effort was to channel
mass mobilization into peaceful resistance to colonial authority”.

2. Creation of Tamluk Jatiya sarakar as a parallel government

Initially, the Congress volunteers revolted through organised attacks on police stations, post
offices and other government buildings however, after the deployment of the troops in the
area their operations went underground. The villagers and peasants contributed to the national
cause by providing the volunteers with food and shelter. In this process, Congress emerged as
a legitimate and accepted authority amongst the locals. In the middle of December, the
Congress set up its own parallel government to that of the colonial one. With its own
institutional structure and procedures, the national government which came into being,
imposed taxes and administrated justice and punishment. This government came to be known
as Tamluk Jatiya Sarkar. It attained success in conducting the administration smoothly and
accordingly despite the odds. Organised around a President, Council of Ministers, Court and
War council, the government continues its activities more or less successfully till it was
dismantled in September 1944.

3. The important role of Matangini Hazra

In Bengal, Women's engagement in the independence fight in Midnapore was remarkable,

and Matangini Hazra was one of them. Born in poverty, she received no formal education and
was married of as a child later widowed at 18 years of age. Her turning point came when she
decided to join the Indian Independence Movement. She was profoundly inspired by Gandhi
and followed his actions to the point, where she was given the nickname, Gandhi Buri', She
joined the Civil Disobedience Movement and was arrested for violating the salt act in 1932.
When released she joined the Indian National Congress and continued to participate in the
fight for freedom. When the Quit India Movement commenced in 1942, she requested to lead
a protest to the Tamluk court and police station and, very soon she lead 6000 protesters at the
age of seventy three on September 1942. As they approached the cops opened fire at her yet
she did not stop. Continuously chanting "Vande Mataram" she kept on going with the
congress flag in her hand until she was shot a third time, where eventually she succumbed to
her injuries. Till the end, Matangini Hazra proved that she was a lady of extraordinary
bravery and perseverance.

4. Quit India Movement, was it successful or not.

The Quit India Movement, launched by Mahatma Gandhi on August 9, 1942, was a crucial
moment in India's struggle for independence. It may not have achieved its goal of ending the
British rule, it played a significant role of shaping the path towards India's eventual freedom
in 1947. The movement included mass protests, strikes and acts of disobedience but faces
brutal repression from the alien government. Congress leaders that played an important role,
were arrested immediately after the resolution was passed, leaving the movement without
anyone guiding it. Without leadership, the protests that earlier followed the principles of non-
violence became spontaneous to the point that it became, in some cases, violent. This lead to
a number of police shootings, mass arrests etc. Despite the circumstances, the movement
succeeded in resisting the British and giving them the message that their colonial power won't
last long. It also highlighted the unity showed by Indians irrespective of their regions and
social backgrounds that demanded complete independence. The movement may not have
resulted in the direct Independence of India in 1942, but it severely weakened the British
control, forcing them to acknowledge them that they could not hold down the uprisings any
longer. Thus, while the Quit India Movement was a 'short-time' failure, it was a long-term
success that eventually led to India's Independence in 1947.
 RESEARCH BODY

The Quit India resolution was launched on 9 August 1942 by Gandhi which would see the
last of the freedom struggles of the country. After the arrest of Gandhi and other Congress
leaders, underground cells were set up by congress workers to keep operations running. Some
of their underground activities included the distribution of pamphlets in secret locations and a
secure radio station through which they could send messages to the nation. Though the
movement started out as non-violent movement, many protests have, on occasion, resulted in
violence. They attacked government buildings, cut telegraph lines, and withdrew railway
services in an attempt to weaken British administration. This movement after some time may
have died out but at some places like Satara, Talcher and Midnapore it still carried on to
heights that were never dreamed of. The congress in Midnapore, particularly its local leaders
and activists, played a crucial role in mobilizing people to organize protests and even engage
in revolutionary activities against the British administration. Midnapore district had always
been in the forefront of all previous struggles for National Independence and during Quit
India movement in 1942, it played a significant role too.
The region was known for its revolutionary activities, participation of local leaders as well as
common people and establishing a parallel government, all against the British rule. With a
rich history dating back to ancient times, the region has been home to various indigenous
communities and has witnessed multiple socio-political transformations over the centuries.
During the British colonial period, Midnapore became a prominent hub of anti-colonial
resistance. The people of Midnapore actively participated in several uprisings against British
rule, including the First War of Independence in 1857 and the Swadeshi Movement of the
early 20th century. Socio-economic factors also added an intensity to Midnapore movements.
Being fundamentally an agricultural population, the region had a dense population of farming
peasants who did not fare much better under exploitation by colonial rulers. High-level
taxation, inappropriate land revenue policy, and consequent economic constraints led to mass
resentment against the British rule with mass participation into national movements across
the region. Hence, the region was characterized by a combination of Gandhian non-violent
movements and armed revolutionary actions, making it one of the most politically active
districts in Bengal.
Alongside the Congress leaders, the mass especially the peasants helped the revolution by
providing resources to the rebels and boycotting the schools and colleges belonging to the
British raj. The Congress activists in Midnapore attacked government offices, cut telegraph
wires, and disrupted railway lines as well. Thousands of police stations, courts, and even
government buildings were burned to paralyze British administration. Following the example
set by the freedom fighters of the 1930s such as the Bengal Volunteers, Congress workers,
impelled by him, began to resort to underground resistance and guerrilla warfare tactics. The
revolution can be chalked down to three phases. The first phase can also be considered a
preparatory stage as the movement began by handing out leaflets and holding meetings,
upholding the Gandhian image of the revolution. The second phase was in motion when the
'Thana' attack took place in September 1942, afterwards going underground. After the
Cyclone in October the third phase started as the Nationalist undeterred by the chaos
continued anti-British Campaign. Through the three phases contoured, we can observe that
the movement assumed the nature of a civil rebellion with the participants from various social
groups. By the end of September 1942, the August revolution took a completely different turn
with the involvement of large masses of the peasantry.
In the process emerged a new group of leaders from the local Congress Organisation who by
resorting to violent attacks on anything that symbolises the British dominance, questioned the
validity non-violence resistance. The Bengal publication, Biplabi that appeared weekly
ignited the patriotism of the people of Tamluk who rose to fight for Bengal's freedom and
honour. In the middle of August, 1942, a 'War Council' was formed in both Kontai and
Tamluk sub-division in Midnapore District. In Tamluk the sub-divisional Congress
Committee of Midnapore transformed itself into a 'War Council' before the execution of rebel
plans in the area. The Tamluk rebels then converted their 'War Council' into a 'Parallel
Administrations' called the “Tamluk Jatiya Sarkar” and continued their work and agitation till
September 1944. Here all the executive powers had been given to a 'Sarbadhinayak' who will
have formed his council of ministers, and conduct the business of the government.
On September 1942, a well-planned attack on six police headquarters took place. The
communication network in and around the district was destroyed to prevent any backup from
the government. The other forms of anti-imperialist acts were the lack cooperation from the
peasants. The police and government officials in the district found it difficult to obtain food
supplies and resources due to the people refusing to sell them. During the next seven days
many government buildings like- Duk Bungalows, Union Boards Office, police outposts,
panchayat offices etc. were burnt and destroyed. Later on, five processions, large in number,
came from all directions towards Tamluk to seize the police station, consisting of Hindus,
Muslims and many women. The seventy-three year old Matangini Hazra, a Satyagrahi who
followed and respected Gandhi, was the one who lead the procession to the police station.
Carrying the flag of Congress she stepped forward and requested the troops not to fire at the
unarmed crowd. Irrespective of her plea, she was shot at, but undeterred she went ahead,
chanting the slogan "Vande Mataram" while doing so. She went on bravely before getting
shot two more times and succumbing to her injuries, dying a martyr's death, still holding the
national flag. Besides Matangini, nine other people lost their lives to the shooting in Tamluk
that day.
Along with the police brutality and suppression for the August Movement, Midnapore was
struck with yet another issue of natural calamity. In October 1942, a cyclone struck the
Tamluk sub-division which wrought indescribable havoc and destruction in both the
resources and properties as well as local lives. Around thousands of people died along with
most of the cattle. The British seeing this as an opportunity to win the favour of the locals set
up relief camps and aids, yet undeterred by the national cause they did not sought any help
from the British. The Congress tried to provide as much help and relief possible but they
were not able to support all of the population to its feet. Though the circumstances around
them were not favourable, the Congress, it's leaders and the people and left no stone unturned
in keeping the movement on track and had done so till the end of November 1942. Under
severe military confrontations the movement began to decline.
The troops sent by the British government had succeeded in destroying several camps, though
most of the leaders escaped. But soon, the top leaders began to be arrested, and without a
leader or government to guide them, the local population was at loss and were no longer in
position to help the rebels. As a result, 'the acts of the rebel authority became more and more
terroristic in nature'. The reason might be that in order to advance the nationalist cause, the
participants were eager to resort to such acts including kidnapping, murder arson etc.
Alongside the struggles of the Congress, the military operations launched to crush the August
revolution were no less to add to the decline. Another aspect behind the decline can be the
lack of support from upper strata for the revolution. Instead of fighting for the cause along
with other social groups, they sided with the imperial power. The Quit India movement in
Midnapur was an unequal fight in all accounts and thus despite its admirable effort, declined.
 CONCLUSION

Midnapore's role in the Quit India Movement was pivotal as it mobilized the public's
sentiments against the British rule. The rebellion of 1942 was perhaps a message for the
British about the rise of India as united county and that there time of rule was coming to an
end. Although the Congress in Midnapore launched the movement to participate, their
rebellion continued till the next two years. The participation of the common mass along with
their leaders, belonging to different caste or religion, irrespective of their success or failure,
remains an inspiration till date. The Congress's participation in the Quit India Movement
became a source of inspiration for later independence movements in Midnapore.
 REFERENCES

 Bandyopadhyay,Sekhar. (2004). From Plassey to Partition: A History of Modern

India (2nd ed.). Orient Blackswan publication.
 Chakrabarty, Bidyut. (1992). Defiance and Confrontation: The 1942 Quit India
Movement in Midnapur. Social Scientist, 20(7), 01-09.
[Link]
 Bera, Sanjib., & Chandra Sen, Subhas. (2023). August Revolution in Midnapore: A
Case Study in Tamluk (1942-1944). International Journal of Research on Social and
Natural Sciences, 7(2), 06-11.
[Link]
 Sharma, S. K. (Ed.). (2009). Quit India movement: a challenge to the British power in
India.
 Manna, Sujit. (2022). Role of Matangini Hazra in Gandhiji's Quit India Movement:
An Introspection. Indian Journal of Applied Research, 12(5), 01-02.
[Link]
introspection_May_2022_1517509426_2413184.pdf