Working Class in ‘Quit India’ Movement

Abstract

The article endeavours to critically analyse the role played by working class in the ‘Quit India’ movement in the Madras presidency in 1942. While focusing on the articulations of anti-colonial consciousness among the industrial workers in the Madras presidency, it interrogates the aspect of the role of the Communist Party of India in the ongoing struggle for India’s freedom. The working class undaunted by the repression of the colonial regime had forcefully demonstrated its sympathy and support to the anti-colonial struggle in different locations of the Madras presidency at the most critical point in its trajectory. Thus, it attempts to explore the less focused terrain of the working class history, that is, working class involvement in the anti-colonial struggle particularly the facet of industrial workers’ role and also the discreet and distinctive role of the Left forces in the ‘Quit India’ movement.