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History · CDS

HC14 — GoI Act 1935, Quit India & INA

📚 HC14 · Freedom Struggle – V · Chapter 2 of 3 CDS Level ★ High Priority

📌 CDS Focus: The GoI Act 1935, Quit India Movement (1942), Cripps Mission, and Subhas Chandra Bose's INA are among the top-tested Modern India topics. The exact phrases ("Do or Die"), Bose's slogans ("Jai Hind," "Give me blood"), INA trial at Red Fort, and the 1937 elections outcome are directly tested. The August Offer, Cripps Mission failure, and Wavell Plan are frequently confused in MCQs.

PART A — GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ACT 1935 & 1937 ELECTIONS

1. Government of India Act 1935

📌 Key Features

Provincial Autonomy — provinces given substantial self-governance under elected ministers
All-India Federation (Provinces + Princely States) — never came into force as states didn't join
Federal Court established — forerunner of Supreme Court
RBI established under this act (1935)
Dyarchy introduced at Centre (but provinces had full autonomy)
Separate electorates extended; Federal Railway Authority created

📌 Congress & 1937 Elections

INC initially opposed GoI Act 1935 as "Charter of Bondage" (Ambedkar)
Yet INC contested 1937 provincial elections — won massive victory
Congress ministries formed in 8 out of 11 provinces
Muslim League performed poorly; Jinnah hurt
Congress ministries resigned in 1939 when Viceroy declared war (WWII) without consulting them
Congress resignation gave Jinnah his opportunity — declared a "Day of Deliverance"

⚠ 1935 Act Traps: (1) RBI was established under GoI Act 1935 — NOT the GoI Act 1919. (2) All-India Federation was never implemented — provinces had autonomy, federation did not come into being. (3) Federal Court (not High Court) was established. (4) Congress resigned from ministries in 1939 — NOT when GoI Act was passed.

PART B — WORLD WAR II & QUIT INDIA MOVEMENT

2. WWII Context — August Offer & Cripps Mission

Proposal	Year	By	INC Response & Why Rejected
August Offer	1940	Viceroy Linlithgow	Offered expansion of councils after war; no Dominion status guarantee; INC rejected — too vague
Cripps Mission	March 1942	Sir Stafford Cripps (Churchill govt)	Offered Dominion status after war; Constituent Assembly; right to secede. Gandhi called it "a post-dated cheque on a crashing bank." INC rejected — no present power transfer; Jinnah rejected — no guaranteed Pakistan
Wavell Plan / Simla Conference	1945	Viceroy Wavell	Proposed expanded Executive Council with equal Hindu-Muslim representation; Jinnah insisted ALL Muslim members be from ML — deadlocked; failed
Cabinet Mission Plan	May 1946	British Cabinet	Proposed united India with 3 groups; rejected Pakistan directly; INC and ML initially accepted, then disputes; eventually led to Partition

3. Quit India Movement — August 1942

3.1 Launch & Key Facts Maximum PYQs

📌 Key Facts

Launched: 8 August 1942 at Bombay session of INC (Gowalia Tank Maidan)
Gandhi's slogan: "Do or Die" (Karenge ya Marenge)
Also called August Revolution or August Kranti
Entire INC leadership arrested on 9 August 1942 (midnight)
Gandhi imprisoned at Aga Khan Palace, Pune
Spread spontaneously across India; people took their own initiative

📌 Underground Leaders & Parallel Govts

Aruna Asaf Ali — hoisted INC flag at Gowalia Tank; "Heroine of QIM"
Ram Manohar Lohia — ran underground radio; escaped arrest
Jayaprakash Narayan — led underground movement; escaped from Hazaribagh jail
Parallel governments: Ballia (Chittu Pandey), Tamluk (Satara), Satara (Nana Patil) — brief local self-rule
Satara parallel govt lasted longest (1943–45)

⚠ Quit India Traps: (1) QIM launched 8 August 1942 — NOT 9 August (arrests were on 9 August). (2) Aruna Asaf Ali hoisted the flag — NOT Gandhi (Gandhi was arrested). (3) Gandhi was imprisoned at Aga Khan Palace, Pune — NOT Yerawada (he was at Yerawada for CDM). (4) Gandhi's slogan was "Do or Die" — NOT "Give me blood" (that was Bose). (5) QIM was NOT planned — leadership was arrested; people acted on their own initiative.

PART C — SUBHAS CHANDRA BOSE & INA

4. Subhas Chandra Bose & Indian National Army

4.1 Bose's Journey to INA High Priority PYQ

🌟

Early Career

INC to Forward Bloc

ICS topper — resigned; joined INC; mentored by C.R. Das
Elected INC President twice: 1938 (Haripura) and 1939 (Tripuri)
At Tripuri, defeated Gandhi's candidate Pattabhi Sitaramayya — Gandhi took it as personal defeat
Resigned from INC presidency; founded Forward Bloc (1939)
Placed under house arrest; escaped January 1941 (disguised as Ziauddin)

✈️

Escape & Abroad

Berlin to Singapore

Kabul → Moscow → Berlin (January–April 1941)
Met Hitler; formed Indian Legion in Germany
Travelled by submarine to Japan (1943)
Took over INA leadership from Mohan Singh in Singapore
Proclaimed Azad Hind Government at Singapore, 21 October 1943

⚔️

INA & Azad Hind

1943–1945

INA — Indian National Army — formed originally by Mohan Singh from Indian POWs in Malaya
Bose's slogans: "Give me blood and I will give you freedom" and "Jai Hind"
INA marched towards Imphal-Kohima (1944); Japanese support
INA defeated as Japan retreated; Bose died in a plane crash at Taihoku (Taiwan), 18 August 1945
INA Trials (Red Fort, 1945–46) — INA officers tried for treason; defence by Nehru, Bhulabhai Desai; trials caused massive public outrage; charges dropped

💡 Bose Key Facts: Forward Bloc = 1939. Azad Hind Govt = 21 Oct 1943, Singapore. INA Trials = Red Fort 1945. Bose died = 18 Aug 1945 (plane crash, Taiwan). First INA formed by = Mohan Singh (Bose took over later). Bose's title = Netaji.

4.2 Royal Indian Navy Mutiny — 1946 PYQ

RIN Mutiny (February 1946): Naval ratings of the Royal Indian Navy on HMIS Talwar (Bombay) mutinied on 18 February 1946 — protesting racial discrimination, poor food, and inspired by INA's example. Spread to 78 ships and 20 shore establishments. Both INC and Muslim League jointly called it off. Sardar Patel negotiated their surrender promising no victimisation. Last major armed uprising before Independence. Showed the British that they could no longer rely on Indian armed forces.

⚡ HC14 Memory Chart — Fast Revision

📜 GoI Act 1935

Provincial Autonomy — implemented
All-India Federation — NEVER implemented
Federal Court — established
RBI — established 1935
1937 elections — Congress won 8/11 provinces

✊ Quit India 1942

Date: 8 August 1942
Venue: Gowalia Tank, Bombay
Slogan: "Do or Die"
Aruna Asaf Ali — hoisted flag
Gandhi — Aga Khan Palace, Pune

🌐 War Proposals

August Offer 1940 — vague; rejected
Cripps Mission 1942 — "post-dated cheque"
Wavell Plan 1945 — Jinnah deadlock
Cabinet Mission 1946 — United India plan

🌟 Bose & INA

Forward Bloc — 1939
Escaped Jan 1941 (disguised as Ziauddin)
Azad Hind Govt — 21 Oct 1943, Singapore
"Give me blood… freedom"
Died: 18 Aug 1945 — plane crash, Taiwan

⚖️ INA Trials

Red Fort, Delhi — 1945–46
Defence: Nehru + Bhulabhai Desai
Tried: Shah Nawaz Khan, Dhillon, Sahgal
Charges dropped — massive outrage
First INA: Mohan Singh (Bose took over)

🚢 RIN Mutiny 1946

18 February 1946; HMIS Talwar
Bombay; 78 ships; 20 shore establishments
Both INC + ML called it off
Patel negotiated surrender
Last major armed uprising before Independence

📄 Topic-Wise PYQs & Tricky Questions

Q1. The Quit India Movement was launched on: CDS PYQ

(a) 9 August 1942(b) 8 August 1942 (c) 15 August 1942(d) 8 August 1940

✔ Answer: (b) 8 August 1942

The Quit India Movement was launched on 8 August 1942 at the Bombay session of INC at Gowalia Tank Maidan. Gandhi gave the "Do or Die" call. On 9 August, the entire INC leadership was arrested in a pre-dawn crackdown. Students often confuse 8 August (launch) with 9 August (arrests). August 9 is now observed as Quit India Day/August Kranti Diwas.

Q2. Who hoisted the INC flag at Gowalia Tank during the Quit India Movement? Tricky

(a) Mahatma Gandhi(b) Jawaharlal Nehru (c) Aruna Asaf Ali(d) Sarojini Naidu

✔ Answer: (c) Aruna Asaf Ali

After the arrest of Gandhi and other leaders on 9 August 1942, Aruna Asaf Ali hoisted the INC flag at Gowalia Tank, Bombay, becoming the face of the Quit India Movement. Called "Heroine of the 1942 Movement," she went underground and evaded arrest. She later received the Bharat Ratna in 1997. Gandhi was taken to Aga Khan Palace in Pune.

Q3. The Cripps Mission (1942) was rejected by INC because: CDS PYQ

(a) It promised immediate independence(b) Dominion status was offered only after the war (c) It included Pakistan in the proposal(d) Gandhi opposed all foreign talks

✔ Answer: (b) Dominion status was offered only after the war

The Cripps Mission offered Dominion status (not full independence) and that too only after World War II ended. There was no transfer of power during the war. Gandhi famously called it "a post-dated cheque on a crashing bank." The INC wanted immediate transfer of power; the Muslim League rejected it because it didn't guarantee Pakistan.

Q4. The Azad Hind Government was proclaimed at: CDS PYQ

(a) Berlin(b) Tokyo (c) Singapore(d) Rangoon

✔ Answer: (c) Singapore

Subhas Chandra Bose proclaimed the Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind Government) at Singapore on 21 October 1943. He took over the INA from Mohan Singh. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands (under Japanese occupation) were renamed Shaheed Dweep and Swaraj Dweep by Bose. INA headquarters was later moved to Rangoon as Japanese forces advanced.

Q5. Who organised the first Indian National Army (before Bose took over)? Tricky

(a) Subhas Chandra Bose(b) Mohan Singh (c) Rash Behari Bose(d) Shah Nawaz Khan

✔ Answer: (b) Mohan Singh

The first INA was organised by Captain Mohan Singh from Indian POWs (Prisoners of War) captured by Japan in Malaya and Singapore after the fall of Singapore (1942). Rash Behari Bose (Indian revolutionary in Japan) also played a key role in the formation. Subhas Chandra Bose arrived in Singapore in 1943 and took over the INA from Mohan Singh/Rash Behari Bose.

Q6. Congress won elections in how many provinces in 1937 under the GoI Act 1935? CDS PYQ

(a) 6(b) 7 (c) 8(d) 11

✔ Answer: (c) 8

In the 1937 provincial elections under the GoI Act 1935, Congress won an absolute majority in 6 provinces and formed ministries in 8 out of 11 provinces (with the support of allies). This was a massive mandate. The Muslim League performed very poorly — which deeply alarmed Jinnah. Congress ministries resigned in October-November 1939 when Viceroy Linlithgow declared India at war without consulting them.

Q7. Subhas Chandra Bose escaped from house arrest in 1941 disguised as: Tricky

(a) A Muslim trader(b) Ziauddin (an insurance agent) (c) A British soldier(d) A Bengali priest

✔ Answer: (b) Ziauddin (an insurance agent)

Subhas Chandra Bose escaped from his Elgin Road, Calcutta house arrest in January 1941 disguised as Ziauddin, a Pathan insurance agent. He travelled to Peshawar, then Kabul, then Moscow, and finally Berlin. His nephew Sisir Kumar Bose drove him in a car to begin the escape. This "Great Escape" is one of the most dramatic episodes of the freedom struggle.

Q8. The INA trials were held at: CDS PYQ

(a) India Gate, Delhi(b) Red Fort, Delhi (c) Lahore(d) Calcutta High Court

✔ Answer: (b) Red Fort, Delhi

The INA trials (1945–46) were held at the Red Fort, Delhi. The British tried INA officers — including Shah Nawaz Khan, P.K. Sehgal, and G.S. Dhillon — for treason. The defence was led by Bhulabhai Desai and included Jawaharlal Nehru, Tej Bahadur Sapru. The trials backfired on the British — massive public outrage and sympathy for INA officers led to the charges being dropped.

📋 Quick Reference — HC14

📜 GoI Act 1935

Provincial Autonomy — yes, implemented
All-India Federation — no, never
RBI + Federal Court created
1937: Congress won 8/11 provinces
Congress resigned: Oct–Nov 1939 (WWII)

✊ Quit India 1942

8 Aug 1942 — Gowalia Tank, Bombay
"Do or Die" — Gandhi
Aruna Asaf Ali — hoisted flag
Gandhi — Aga Khan Palace, Pune
JP Narayan + Lohia — underground

🌐 British Proposals

August Offer 1940 — vague; rejected
Cripps 1942 — "post-dated cheque"
Wavell 1945 — Jinnah vetoed
Cabinet Mission 1946 — United India

🌟 Bose Timeline

Forward Bloc 1939
Escaped: Jan 1941 (as Ziauddin)
Azad Hind: 21 Oct 1943, Singapore
"Give me blood… freedom" · "Jai Hind"
Died: 18 Aug 1945, Taiwan

⚖️ INA Trials

Red Fort, Delhi 1945–46
Accused: Khan, Sehgal, Dhillon
Defence: Nehru + Bhulabhai Desai
Result: Charges dropped; public outrage

🚢 RIN Mutiny 1946

18 Feb 1946; HMIS Talwar, Bombay
78 ships mutinied
Both INC + ML called it off
Patel negotiated; showed British vulnerability

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