"… it is no longer justified in holding the nation back from endeavouring to assert it's will against an imperialist and authoritarian government….The Committee resolves, tosanction…the starting of a mass struggle on non-violent lines on the widest possible scale.."

Within hours after the AICC meeting had concluded on the night of 8th august, most of the leaders including Mahatma Gandhi were arrested.The public reaction was immediate and spontaneous.There were hartals,processions and demonstrations every where. The police had to resort to all repressive measures at many places.In Delhi alone, on 11th and 12th August police had to open fire at 47 places in which 76 people were killed. In Satara in Karnatka, the peasantry started under ground guerilla resistance to British rule whichcontinued till 1944. The revolutionary violence occurred on a large scale not only in the British India but also in the native states. The revolt was spearheaded by the students, workers and peasants. There were strikes in factories, schools and colleges. ThePolice Stations, Post Offices and Railway stations which were considered the symbols of British authority in India, were attacked, set on fire and wrecked.

The government reacted sharply and let loose a reign of terror.There were several cases of unarmed crowds being machine gunned from the air.The revolt was short lived but intense. The government succeeded in suppressing the revolt but not before more than a thousand people had lost their lives in the state violence.

Though the revolt failed but it succeeded in achieving two things. Firstly it gave expression to India's anger against imperialism and her determination to be free, in a very clear cut manner. Secondly the revolt made it crystal clear to the British rulers that the days of imperialist domination of India were numbered. After the rising of August,1942 it was very clear that the exit of the British from India was only a question of time.

Now the nation needs another August Kranti, may not be exactly like the one in 1942 but definitely with the same aim as the August Kranti of 1942. The main aim of August Kranti was to " assert will against imperialism". Asserting will and fight against Imperialism is much more needed at this time as compared to the pre independence days. The domination of imperialism in the post independent India has become much wider and stronger than it was in the pre independence days. Now there is hardly any field of life which is not being over whelmingly dominated by Imperialism.