Quit india movement
Gandhi initially preferred offering "non-violent moral support" to the British effort when World War II broke out in 1939, but the Congressional leaders were offended by the independent insert of India in the war without talk of the people's representatives.In 1942, although still committed in his efforts to
"launch a non-violent movement", Gandhi clarified that the movement
would not be stopped by individual acts of violence.Gandhi and the entire Congress Working Committee were arrested
in Bombay by the British on August 9 1942.
Gandhi was held for two years in the Aga Khan Palace in Pune. It was here that
Gandhi suffered two terrible setbacks in his personal life. His 50-year old secretary
Mahadev Desai died of a heart attack 6 days later and his wife Kasturba died after
18 months imprisonment on February 22 1944; six weeks later Gandhi suffered a
severe malaria attack.He was released before the end of the war on 6 May 1944
because of his failing health and needed surgery.While the leaders of Congress suffered in jail, the other
parties supported the war and gained organizational strength. Underground
publications flailed at the ruthless conquest of Congress, but it had little
control over events. At the end of the war, the British gave clear suggestions
that power would be transferred to Indian hands. At this point Gandhi called
off the struggle, and around 100,000 political prisoners were released,
including the Congress's leadership.