Role of Dandi March in CDM

Role of Dandi March in CDM

Question:-The march to Dandi was a major part of the Civil Disobedience Movement. Explain.

Indians, previously, had easy access to the sea and the salt produced from its water. They, in fact, used to produce salt for their personal use themselves. But along with all the other taxations, the production and sale of salt by anyone but the British government was made a criminal offenses through the British Salt Act of 1882.

A common interest of people

So, while Salt was readily and freely available to people in the coastal areas, they were forced to pay money for it. Since Salt is needed by all, irrespective of geography, class/caste, religious beliefs, and ethnic backgrounds, this was a point, Gandhi realized, where Indians would come together.

Dandi Yatra

On the 12th of March, 1930 exactly at 6.30 a.m. from the Sabarmati Ashram near Ahmedabad, Mohandas K. Gandhi led a yatra (march) towards the village of Dandi near the small town of Navsari.

Enthusiastic response

When he started, there were about 78 volunteers following him. They set out on foot. They covered 240 miles and 48 villages in 24 days, and the initiative received immense response all across the way and thousands of people followed him including the likes of Sarojini Naidu.

Making of salt

They reached Dandi on the 5th of April, 1930. Early in the morning of April 6th, he symbolically boiled some seawater and encouraged his followers to do the same whenever was convenient for them.

First disobedience

It was an open disobedience of the British law. This sparked the flame for the greater Civil Disobedience Movement all across the country.

Arrest of Gandhi

The British too considered the Dandi March and the making of salt by and under the leadership of Gandhiji as a flout of their salt laws. He was arrested on the midnight of 4th of May, 1930.

Course of the movement

However, the Satyagraha against the salt tax continued for almost a year after that. Over 80,000 Indians were jailed. The movement ended when Gandhi was released from jail and negotiations were carried out with Viceroy Lord Irwin.

The movement might not have had any major immediate concessions for the Indians by the British, but it is considered next to the Non-Cooperation movement of 1920-22.