Explained: Quit India — A short history of a ‘Do or Die’ national struggle

The Quit India Movement started on August 9, 1942, and set in motion a chain of events over the following five years, which finally ended with the British leaving India.

High prices and shortage of goods during the War had led to frustration building up among the people.

Perhaps the simplest, and the most powerful, slogan of the Indian National Movement was “Quit India”, or “Bharat Chhoro” — the call and command that Mahatma Gandhi gave to the British rulers of India 77 years ago. For the masses of this country, his exhortation was: “Karo ya maro”, “Do or die”.