Mahatma Gandhi always condemned violence. Why did he say “do or die” at the time of the Quit India Movement?
The Quit India Movement was a civil disobedience movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942, with the goal of securing India’s independence from British rule. While Gandhi was generally an advocate of nonviolence, his slogan “do or die” during this movement reflected the extraordinary circumstances and the sense of urgency he felt.

Gandhi believed that the time had come for Indians to take decisive action to achieve swaraj (self-rule). The “do or die” slogan was meant to inspire Indians to be willing to make great sacrifices, even potentially risking their lives, in order to secure independence through non-violent resistance.

Gandhi saw this as a last, desperate attempt to pressure the British to grant India independence, after years of peaceful negotiations and protests had failed. He wanted to convey the idea that Indians were willing to take drastic measures and face the consequences, even potential violence from the authorities, in order to achieve their goal.

However, Gandhi still maintained that the methods of the Quit India Movement should remain non-violent. The “do or die” slogan was more about the intensity of purpose and willingness to make personal sacrifices, rather than an endorsement of violence itself. Gandhi believed that non-violent civil disobedience, if carried out with absolute determination, could ultimately succeed against the British regime.