The National Salt Satyagraha Memorial at Dandi, situated in Gujarat’s Navsari district was inaugurated on Mahatma Gandhi’s 71st death anniversary. The Prime Minister of India unveiled this memorial and statues of Mahatma Gandhi and the Satyagrahis who participated in the iconic Dandi Salt March in 1930.
Background of Salt Satyagraha
After the culmination of the Non-cooperation Movement from 1920-22, Mahatma Gandhi primarily focused on his social reform work. However, in 1928, he contemplated returning to politics. This was also the year of the all-India campaign against the all-White Simon Commission, dispatched from England to evaluate constitutional reforms and suggest recommendations to the Government.
In December 1929, on the occasion of its annual session held in Lahore, the Congress witnessed two pivotal events. One was the election of Jawaharlal Nehru as President, symbolising the transition of leadership to the younger generation. The other was the proclamation of commitment to “Purna Swaraj”, or complete independence.
The Advent of Civil Disobedience Movement
January 26, 1930 marked the observance of “Independence Day”, filled with patriotic fervour across the nation. It was further propelled by Gandhiji’s instructions on how the day should be commemorated. The Lahore Congress of 1929 had empowered the Congress Working Committee (CWC) to initiate a programme of civil disobedience which included non-payment of taxes.
In February 1930, at a CWC meeting in Sabarmati Ashram, Mahatma Gandhi was conferred full powers to initiate the Civil Disobedience Movement according to his discretion. This was the result of the Viceroy of India, Lord Irwin, neglecting Gandhiji’s ultimatum stating the minimum demands. Consequently, the path of civil disobedience was embarked upon.
Salt Satyagraha: The Start of Civil Disobedience
On March 12, 1930, Mahatma Gandhi along with 78 followers embarked on a 241-mile march from Sabarmati to the coastal town of Dandi on the Arabian Sea. Upon reaching Dandi, thousands joined his path, defying the British policy by manufacturing salt from seawater. Similar acts of defiance were witnessed in the coastal cities of Bombay and Karachi.
The wave of civil disobedience spread across India and involved millions of Indians. This led to the arrest of over 60,000 people including Gandhiji himself on May 5. However, the satyagraha carried on without him. The movement gained global attention when the poet Sarojini Naidu led 2,500 marchers on the Dharasana Salt Works, north of Bombay, an incident that prompted an international outcry against British policy in India.
The Aftermath
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 1931 | Gandhiji released from prison |
| August 1931 | Gandhiji attended the London conference as the sole representative of the nationalist Indian National Congress |
Why Salt Satyagraha?
Salt, an indispensable commodity in every Indian household, was chosen as the symbol for the start of the civil disobedience movement. People were prohibited from making salt even for domestic use, coercing them to purchase it from shops at steep prices. The state monopoly over salt was extremely unpopular; Gandhiji aimed to leverage this discontent against British rule and unify the civil disobedience movement.
Impact of the Movement
The Civil Disobedience Movement manifested in various forms across different provinces and was a significant progression in the freedom struggle. Terms such as boycott of foreign goods, chowkidari tax refusal, reading banned books publicly, defiance of forest laws, etc., featured prominently throughout the movement. Remarkably, the campaign drew support from various sections of society including women, peasants, workers, students, merchants and shopkeepers, giving the Congress an all-India status. For Indian women in particular, the movement represented entry into public space and was a liberating experience. Despite the withdrawal of the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1934 by the Congress, the movement received global attention and marked a critically important stage in the anti-imperialist struggle.
