The Congress Working Committee accepted the idea of struggle at a meeting at Wardha in July, 1942. The historic August meeting at Gowalia Tank in Bombay formally launched the Movement. It was here that Gandhiji gave the mantra, Do or Die.

Gandhiji’s speech also contained specific instructions for different sections of people.

• Government servants would not yet be asked to resign, but they should openly declare their alliance to the Congress.

• Soldiers were also not to leave their posts, but they were to refuse to fire on our own people.

• The Princes were asked to accept the sovereignty of their own people.

• Students were asked to give up studies, if they were sure that they could continue to remain firm till independence.

• Peasants were asked to pay rents to Zamindars, his portion of rent, if the Zamindars make common cause with the ryots. But, no tax should be paid if Zamindars want to side with the government.

• These instructions were not issued actually because of the preventive arrest. But they do make Gandhijis intentions clear.