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
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.