<P> India played a major role in the Allied war effort against both Japan and Germany . It provided over 2 million soldiers, who fought numerous campaigns in the Middle East, and in the India - Burma front . It supplied billions of pounds to the British war effort, which was eventually repaid . The Muslim and Sikh populations were strongly supportive of the British war effort, but the Hindu population was divided . Congress opposed the war, and tens of thousands of its leaders were imprisoned in 1942--45 . A major famine in eastern India led to hundreds of thousands of deaths by starvation, and remains a highly controversial issue regarding Churchill's reluctance to provide emergency food relief . </P> <P> With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the viceroy, Lord Linlithgow, declared war on India's behalf without consulting Indian leaders, leading the Congress provincial ministries to resign in protest . The Muslim League, in contrast, supported Britain in the war effort; however, it now took the view that Muslims would be unfairly treated in an independent India dominated by the Congress . Hindus not affiliated with the Congress typically supported the war . The two major Sikh factions, the Unionists and the Akali Dal, supported Britain and successfully urged large numbers of Sikhs to volunteer for the army . </P> <P> The British sent a high level Cripps' mission in 1942 to secure Indian nationalists' co-operation in the war effort in exchange for postwar independence and dominion status . Congress demanded immediate independence and the mission failed . Gandhi then launched the "Quit India" movement in August 1942, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the British from India or face nationwide civil disobedience . Along with thousands of other Congress leaders, Gandhi was immediately imprisoned, and the country erupted in violent local episodes led by students and later by peasant political groups, especially in Eastern United Provinces, Bihar, and western Bengal . According to John F. Riddick, from 9 August 1942 to 21 September 1942, the Quit India movement: </P> <Dl> <Dd> attacked 550 post offices, 250 railway stations, damaged many rail lines, destroyed 70 police stations, and burned or damaged 85 other government buildings . There were about 2,500 instances of telegraph wires being cut...The Government of India deployed 57 battalions of British troops to restore order . </Dd> </Dl>

Who is regarded as founder of the british empire in india