The Salt March ,or The Dandi March

 It was found by Mahatma Gandhi that salt could be used as a powerful symbol which could unite the nation. 

On 31st of January 1930, Gandhiji sent a letter which stated eleven demands to Viceroy Irwin. The demands were made in the interest of the common people, industrialists, and peasants. The most stirring of all the demands was the demand to abolish the salt tax. Salt was a common thing consumed by all the different class of people, because of which all the classes stood together for the abolishment of the tax on salt.

Mahatma Gandhi showed the people, the huge salt tax and the government monopoly over it's production. And revealed the most oppressive face of the British rule in India. In this way, Gandhiji's letter was an ultimatum. It was clear that if demands were not fulfilled by 11th of March 1930, the Congress would launch a civil disobedience campaign. Viceroy Irwin denied the demands and was unwilling to negotiate with these.

So, Gandhiji started the famous march which was accompanied by hundreds of his volunteers. The march was of about 240 miles, which was from Sabarmati ashram to the Gujrati coastal town of Dandi. All the people gathered to see and hear him wherever he crossed by. Gandhiji, with his speeches told people what he meant by 'Swaraj' and taught people to peacefully defy the British rule. 

  On 6th of April, he reached Dandi and manufactured salt by boiling the sea water. In this way, he violated the British laws on salt production and the taxes on it. This was taken as the beginning of the 'Civil Disobedience Movement'. Now, people were considered to refuse the co-operation with the British laws. After the incident of Dandi, many broke out the salt law in different parts of the country. They manufactured salt by boiling sea water in front of the government salt factories.

  As the movement spread, foreign materials were were boycotted, shops were looted, peasants refused paying heavy taxes. For over years, the movement gained it's weight but after 1934, it lost it's momentum as congress was declared illegal and a bunch of laws were made to prevent meetings, demonstrations and boycotts.

THE END    

What actually happened in JALLIANWALA BAGH??

 On 13th of April 1919, the infamous Jallianwala Bagh incident  took place. But the reasons behind this were very sensitive to the Indian freedom struggle and though cruel.

 

Gandhiji in 1919, decided to launch nationwide satyagraha against the proposal of Rowlatt act (1919). This act had been hurriedly passed through the imperial legislative council despite of the united opposition of the Indian members. The Rowlatt act gave the British government enormous power to repress the ongoing political activities, and also allowed to imprison the political influencing person for two years without any mercy. Mahatma Gandhi wanted non-violent civil disobedience movement against such unjust laws. Many rallies were organized in various cities. The workers went on strike and shops and railways and officials were shut down. After hearing of the sudden boom in the movement British administration decided to clamp down the nationalists. 

Local leaders were picked up from Amritsar and Mahatma Gandhi was barred from entering Delhi. On 10th April, the police fired upon a peaceful protest in Amritsar which led to attacks on banks , post offices , and railway stations. After those attacks by the protestors, 'Martial law' was imposed and General Dyer took the command.

On 13th April, a large crowd gathered in the enclosed ground of Jallianwala Bagh. some had gathered to protest against the government's new repressive policies and many had came to attend the annual Baisakhi fair. The place where Jallianwala Bagh was located was far from the city. Being from outside the city, many villagers were unaware of the martial law imposed.

General Dyer entered the Jallianwala bagh, block all the exit points and opened fire on the crowd. Hundreds were killed in the firing. Many of them jumped into the well inside there, to save their life. But consecutively many of them jumped into the well so they couldn't survive even in the well. This led to the death of thousands instead.

This was a very painful incident in the page of Indian History. Frequently after this incident spread, crowds gathered on streets in many North Indian towns. There were strikes, clashes, with government officials and attacks on government buildings. While the Rowlatt Satyagraha had been a widespread movement, it was still limited mostly to cities and towns. Then, ,Mahatma Gandhi felt the need to launch a more broad based movement in India.

JAI HIND