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