The Salt March, also called the Dandi March, was a pivotal act of civil disobedience led by Mahatma Gandhi against the British salt monopoly and salt tax. It marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement and symbolized mass non-violent resistance across India.
Background
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The British salt tax made it illegal for Indians to collect or produce salt independently, forcing them to buy heavily taxed salt.
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Gandhi sought a symbolic yet mass mobilizing issue to challenge British authority.
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Following the Purna Swaraj Declaration (1929), the Congress aimed to launch direct action against colonial laws.
The March
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Started on 12th March 1930 from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad.
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Gandhi walked 240 miles to Dandi on the Arabian Sea coast over 24 days, accompanied by a group of volunteers.
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On 6th April 1930, he produced salt from seawater, openly defying the salt laws.
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The march inspired thousands of Indians to engage in similar acts of civil disobedience across the country.
Objectives
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To protest the unjust salt laws and British monopoly.
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To mobilize mass participation in the freedom struggle.
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To demonstrate the power of non-violent civil disobedience.
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To challenge British authority symbolically and politically.
Impact and Achievements
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Triggered nationwide civil disobedience, with Indians breaking salt laws, boycotting British goods, and refusing taxes.
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United urban and rural populations, including women and peasants, in the nationalist movement.
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Drew international attention to India’s struggle for independence.
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Forced the British government to negotiate with Gandhi, leading to the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931).
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Strengthened Gandhi’s leadership and the moral legitimacy of the independence movement.
Key Takeaway
The Salt March (1930) was a symbolic yet powerful act of resistance that demonstrated the effectiveness of non-violent civil disobedience. It transformed the Indian independence struggle into a mass movement, uniting millions against British economic and political oppression.