Dandi March

News: Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi and all the brave freedom fighters who took part in the historic march ‘Dandi Satyagraha.

About Dandi March

• Mahatma Gandhi launched the non-violent Civil Disobedience Movement with the Dandi March.
• The march began on 12 March 1930 and ended on 6 April 1930.
• Gandhi and 80 followers walked about 241 miles from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi in present-day Gujarat, where they broke the British salt law by making salt.
• The march saw large participation of women.
• The Salt Satyagraha was based on Gandhi’s principle of non-violence.
• Purpose
  • The British government had a monopoly on salt production and sale.
  • Since salt was essential in daily life, the restrictions were seen as unjust and oppressive.
  • The Salt Satyagraha aimed to unite Indians in the struggle for Swaraj (self-rule).
• Circumstances Leading to the March
  • Under British Raj, salt production and distribution were controlled by the government.
  • Indians were not allowed to produce or sell salt independently and had to buy heavily taxed imported salt.
  • Poor people could not afford expensive salt, making the tax highly controversial.
  • Gandhi used the march to protest British exploitation and unfair laws and to mobilize people through non-violent resistance.
• Aftermath
  • The movement spread across the country with widespread defiance of salt laws.
  • C. Rajagopalachari led a similar movement in Tamil Nadu, and protests also occurred in West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.
  • Jawaharlal Nehru was arrested on 14 April 1930 for breaking salt laws.
  • Gandhi was arrested on the night of 4–5 May 1930. Leaders like Sarojini Naidu continued the movement despite police brutality.
  • The Satyagraha continued for about a year until Gandhi’s release from jail.