Dandi march
- 2. In December, 1929,the Indian National Congress declared that total independence for India was its avowed objective and to that effect January 26,1930 , was celebrated as Independence Day throughout the country. People everywhere enthusiastically pledged themselves to fight for “Purna Swaraj”. Again this background, Gandhiji under the authority of the Congress took the first step and launched the civil disobedience movement known as the Salt Satyagraha. This was considered as civil disobedience by the British as producing salt was their monopoly.
- 3. The March was intended to protest against the nefarious provisions of the Salt Tax imposed by the British. The March, in effect, was the spark that ignited the flames of the Freedom Movement and caused the idea of mass civil disobedience to spread like wildfire across the nation. It was based on non violent Satyagraha. Gandhian ideas were widely followed. It was an open challenge to the British rule. The people openly disobeyed laws.
- 4. Gandhiji led a march on foot from Sabarmati to Dandi. He broke the Salt Law at Dandi and inaugurated the Movement. Followed by an entourage of seventy nine Ashramites. On 6th April 1930, Gandhi with the accompaniment of seventy nine satyagrahis, violated the Salt Law by picking up a fistful of salt lying on the sea shore. They manually made salt on the shores of Dandi.
- 5. The program of the Civil Disobedience Movement (also known as Dandi March) incorporated besides the breaking of the Salt Laws, picketing of shops selling foreign goods and liquor, bonfire of cloth, refusal to pay taxes and avoidance of offices by the public officers and schools by the students. Even the women joined forces against the British.
- 6. Rich Peasants- Depression and fall in prices affected them badly. They demanded reduction in land revenue. Poor peasants- Depression affected them badly. They demanded reduction in rent. Business Class- They demanded protection against the import of foreign goods. Industrial Workers- They were poorly paid. Conditions of work were miserable.
- 7. In the March of 1930, Gandhi met with the Viceroy, Lord Irwin and signed an agreement known as the Gandhi-Irwin Pact. The two main clauses of the pact entailed; Congress participation in the Round Table Conference and cessation of The Civil Disobedience Movement. The Government of India released all Satyagrahis from prison.
- 8. The Salt March, which took place from March to April 1930 in India, was an act of civil disobedience led by Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948) to protest British rule in India. During the march, thousands of Indians followed Gandhi from his religious retreat near Ahmedabad to the Arabian Sea coast, a distance of some 240 miles. The march resulted in the arrest of nearly 60,000 people, including Gandhi himself. India finally was granted its independence in 1947.