The Non-Cooperation Movement (NCM) of 1920-22, the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) of 1930-34 and the Quit India Movement (QIM) of 1942 were the major movements led by Gandhiji in India’s struggle against the British rule. Though led by the same man, it is argued that the QIM differed radically from the earlier Gandhi-led movements, because of the following attributes of the three movements:

• Objectives of the movements: While the main objective of the NCM was Swaraj and that of the CDM was the refusal to obey certain laws, demands, orders, or commands given by the government, the Quit India Movement was less ambiguous in its declared objectives, which were:
  • An immediate end to the British rule over India.
  • Declaration of the commitment of free India to defend itself against all kinds of Imperialism and Fascism.
  • Formation of a provisional government of India after British withdrawal.
  • Sanctioning a civil disobedience movement against the British rule.
• Methods adopted: Both the NCM and CDM were non-violent movements. Gandhiji even ended the NCM when violence occurred at Chauri-Chaura. But during the QIM, Gandhiji was also prepared for riots and violence. Gandhiji wrote in ‘Harijan’ in March 1942 that an armed resistance in self-defence, against a stronger and well-equipped aggressor was to be considered a non-violent act.
• Challenge to the government: Both the NCM and CDM were political campaigns targeted at highlighting the excesses of the British government and asking for reforms. The QIM, however, aimed at complete withdrawal of the British rule in India. In the background of WWII, Gandhiji stressed the need for immediate British withdrawal and gave the slogan of ‘Do or Die’. The emphasis now was not on traditional Satyagraha but on ‘fight to the finish’. It, therefore, represented a challenge to the state machinery.
• Participation: The social base of the NCM and CDM had expanded gradually to accommodate wider popular participation. However, the 1942 movement from the very beginning was a massive uprising to compel the British to withdraw entirely from India.
  • The NCM largely remained an urban-based movement and active participation of women was lacking. Similarly, there was lower participation of industrial workers, Muslims and depressed classes during the CDM.
  • The QIM, on the other hand, was a truly pan-India movement. Not only did the students, government servants and peasants join the revolt, but Gandhiji also gave a call to soldiers, princes and the people of princely states to revolt in order to free India from British rule.
• Repression: Both NCM and CDM were political movements which saw arrests of popular leaders and detentions but the crackdown over the QIM rebellion was unprecedented in its sweep and brutality. The British took advantage of the war-time Emergency powers and used the army against Indians. As many as 57 battalions of British troops had been deployed to crush the agitation.

The Quit India Movement stands apart from the earlier movements in terms of the spirit and enthusiasm that it infused in the ordinary people to support indigenous institutions and structures of power. Though it failed to end the British rule in India, it was a movement that demonstrated the will and reserve of diverse communities of Indians to withstand both the high-handedness of imperial authorities and the elitism of the Indian political class.