Audience

Live audience

The “Quit India” speech by Mahatma Gandhi was held in an open location: a park in central Bombay (now Mumbai). It was delivered in front of thousands of people, including civilians, members of the Indian National Congress, and press representatives. A few hours after the speech was delivered, almost all Congress leaders, including Gandhi himself, were arrested by British authorities. The Indian press was warned against publishing articles in support of the Congress's call for mass resistance, and it was also forbidden to report or comment on the measures taken by the British to oppose the movement. The British press published stories that were derisive and sceptical of Mahatma Gandhi, reflecting a national policy meant to diminish his power.

It is important to note that the first two parts of the speech were originally delivered in Hindustani and were translated later. Therefore, for the most part of the speech, the target audience was comprised of those who could understand Hindustani. Nevertheless, representatives of the foreign press were still present at the event (l. 596) and were addressed during the last part of the speech, which was delivered in English.

Main target audience

The main target audience of the speech are the people of India. Gandhi directly addresses them multiple times: “Let every man and woman live every moment of his or her life hereafter in the consciousness that he o...