The nationalist movement in Gandhian era witnessed three great waves of struggle- Non-cooperation Movement (1920-22), Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-34) and Quit India Movement (1942). In a step by step manner, under Gandhi's leadership Indian National Congress started with a call not to cooperate with the British which was unfortunately suspended after the Chaurichaura incident of irate mob setting fire to the police station at that place, thereby burning some policemen on the spot. Then in the thirties, during the time of Great Economic Depression of the thirties in the entire world, at the call of Gandhi, Congress adopted a programme of Civil Disobedience including making of salt from the saline sea-water, forest satyagraha and anti-Choukidari tax movement during 1930-34. The nation for the first time celebrated its independence day at the call of the Congress on 26 January, 1930. Unfortunately, Gandhi-Irwin Pact of 5 March 1931 led to the suspension of the Civil Disobedience Movement. The movement had on untimely demise by 1934.
The national political development since then became a curious mixture of two opposite trends. On one hand the Government of India Act, 1935 gave limited power to the people of India in the name of Provincial Autonomy and withheld the federal part to be implemented at the central level. The initial hesitation to accept the offer of office in the provincial level later changed after the British Government assured popular rule that led to the inauguration of the provincial ministries with Congress forming eight out of eleven provincial ministries. On the other hand, the outbreak of Second World War changed the political scenario. As the colonial authorities declared India's joining the War on the side of the Allied Powers without consulting the national leaders, the Congress ministries resigned in 1939, plunging the nation to a deep political crisis. After giving call for Individual Satyagraha Movement at Ramgarh in 1940, Congress decided to go for Quit India Movement from 9th August 1942. As national leadership was arrested, Gandhi directed the people to be their own leaders with a clarion call of 'Do or Die'.
This movement spread throughout the length and breadth of the province of Odisha. For the first time, breaking its own self-imposed restriction of keeping the Garjats out of the organized Congress activities and movement, the call was given by the Congress leadership to the people of Garjats (Princely States) and Mughalbandis (British administrated area) to take up the national call of Quit India. It was a movement for the whole country, reaching out to every nook and corner of India. The newly formed Congress Socialist Party (CSP) (formed in 1934) took the leadership of the Movement in the absence of traditional Gandhians as most of them were in jails.
In the Odishan context, CSP went for underground movement. Gandhian restriction on violence was overshadowed by militant, violent action by the people. It not only affected the six districts of the then Odisha but spread to the Garjats like Dhenkanal, Talcher, Nilgiri etc. Talcher was one among the five places in India where aeroplanes were used to fire upon the agitating masses.
The Odisha State Archives is in possession of a number of confidential documents on Quit India Movement. It is a pity that during this critical phase of Indian freedom struggle, Odia newspapers were not allowed to bring out their publications in a normal way. The Government of Odisha has decided to bring out a publication on this movement in which the people of Odisha played a conspicuous role. Fortunately, we have at our disposal the writings of such persons who played important role in this movement of Odisha. We have also at our disposal the Transfer of Power Volumes brought out by Her Majesty Stationery Office, London. On the basis of source material available in Odisha State Archives, we have brought out this compilation. This volume will be of immense help to the scholars and general public having interest. It will project this great movement in proper perspective before the people of various provinces of the country so that our historical achievements can attract national attention and have proper evaluation by posterity.
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