At the Bombay session of the AICC on August 9, 1942, the Quit India Movement or August Kranti Din was to end British rule in India. 

Mahatma Gandhi raised the slogan ‘Do or die’ in his Quit India Movement after the British failed to secure India’s cooperation with Britain in World War II. Then Viceroy Linlithgow claimed the Quit India Movement to be ‘by far the most serious rebellion since 1857.’ 

Soon after the movement gathered pace, multiple national leaders including Mahatma Gandhi, Abdul Kalam Azad, Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel were arrested without trial. 

The British rule declared AICC an ‘unlawful organisation’ and raided its office across the country. Along with the arrest of leaders, a major chunk of AICC’s funds were also frozen. 

While the first half of the movement witnessed peaceful protests and processions, the second half saw violent agitations, setting fire to post offices and government premises. 

After the arrest of AICC top brass, young Aruna Asaf Ali presided over the AICC session. Despite several warnings and appeals to maintain peace, Aruna Asaf Ali hoisted the national flag in front of a huge crowd, enraged over the British rule in India. 

In the final phase, the movement witnessed bombing at government places in Mumbai. The British, however, refused to grant immediate independence. India attained full independence in 1947.