Dandi March - History India – Mocomi.com

UNF FOR ME!
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Dandi March
History for kids
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Do you know what salt,
the word salary, and
Indian independence have
in common? Well the
answer takes us back to
900 BC, when Roman
soldiers worked in a
sal-arium and were paid a
sal-ary of... you guessed
it- salt! That's actually
why we have the saying
'he's worth his salt',
meaning he is efficient
and worth the salt he gets
paid.
UNF FOR ME!
Dandi March

At around the same time the Maurya kingdom had special
officers of the court whose job was to monitor and collect a salt
tax. It was common even for Mughal emperors to levy a small
salt tax on their subjects.
So you see, taxes on salt have been around long before the Dandi
March in 1930. But under British rule, they were unfair and
unbearable.
UNF FOR ME!
Dandi March

UNF FOR ME!
By the 19th century the British East India Company had
monopolised the salt trade to such an extent that by 1858
approximately 10% of the Company's revenue was obtained from
the salt trade alone. Remember that they were also dealing in
hundreds of other commodities.
They controlled their trade with high taxes and heavy
restrictions that made it unaffordable even for the people who
were producing the salt.
Salt Tax
Dandi March

UNF FOR ME!
The lack of salt in people's diets led to the deaths and disease
due to iodine deficiency, and food shortages since it is an
essential ingredient in food preservation.
Two of the biggest salt producing regions of India during the
British rule were Orissa, which was part of the Calcutta
Presidency, and the Rann of Kutch, which was part of the
Bombay Presidency. Let's find out how they were significant.
Dandi March

Holding on to their salt monopoly was so important to the
British that they actually built a thorn fence around the western
frontiers of the Bengal to prevent smuggling. This 4000 km fence
consisted of thorny trees, stone walls and ditches, which made it
hard for smugglers to cross with their contraband.
Dandi March
UNF FOR ME!

The other is significant because it is the site of Mahatma
Gandhi's famous Salt March. After the declaration of Purna
Swaraj in 1929, Gandhi chose to use the issue of salt to protest
against the British rule. Even though the Raj did not feel
threatened by a protest on salt taxes, the choice was a wise
decision.
On March 12, 1930, Gandhi started his 390 km journey from
Sabarmati Ashram towards Dandi.
Dandi March
UNF FOR ME!

This small group of 78 people soon became a procession 3 km long
as Gandhi stopped in villages along the way to give speeches and
inspire more people to join him.
Finally on April 6th, Gandhiji arrived on the coast, picked up a
piece of salty sand and declared:
“With this, I am shaking the foundations of the British Empire.”
He encouraged people to boycott the tax
and make their own salt whenever and
wherever it were convenient.
Dandi March
UNF FOR ME!

There was pandemonium everywhere as people all over India began
to produce illegal salt. The Dandi march was so successful in
uniting people against the British that 60,000 people were
imprisoned within a month.
People all over began a mass civil disobedience movement by
boycotting British goods and refusing to pay taxes they thought
were unfair.
Dandi March
UNF FOR ME!
The lack of salt in
people's diets led to the
deaths and disease due to
iodine deficiency, and
food shortages since it
is an essential ingredient
in food preservation.

Two of the biggest salt producing regions of India during the
British rule were Orissa, which was part of the Calcutta
Presidency, and the Rann of Kutch, which was part of the Bombay
Presidency. Let's find out how they were significant.
What started as a peaceful protest against an unfair salt tax led
to mass unity against British rule. Wouldn't you agree that
Gandhiji is worth his salt?
Dandi March
UNF FOR ME!

UNF FOR ME!
efficient: working in a well-organised
manner
levy: impose (a tax or fine)
monopolise: obtain the majority share
or complete control
contraband: goods that have been
imported or exported illegaly
procession: a long line of people or
vehicles moving in an orderly fashion as part of a ceremony
pandemonium: wild disorder or confusion
Dandi March
GLOSSARY

In what year was the Dandi March?
Approximately how much revenue did the East India Company
earn as part of their salt trade in the 19th century?
What is the thorn fence?
Why did Gandhi choose to protest the unfair salt tax?
Dandi March
COMPREHENSION
UNF FOR ME!
For more Educational articles and
video for kids, visit:
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Dandi March - History India – Mocomi.com

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