Reviving Dandi March – Turning Phase in Indian freedom struggle
Aswani
The place Dandi March marks the legacy of one of the influential protests of the Indian freedom struggle. It was a mass movement initiated by Mahatma Gandhi against the unfair salt tax foisted by the British government over the production of salt by Indian farmers. this commenced on 12 March 1930 and lasted for 24 days until 5 April 1930. this momentous event of the Indian freedom struggle was against the atrocities of the colonial regime. Salt is something essential. no matter whether someone is rich or poor, salt is consumed by all. but under colonial reign, though we have sea wealth, Indians are banned from producing salt. It was the monopoly of the colonial power. This impacted the large majority of Indians, who were poor and could not afford to buy it. Indian protests against the salt tax began in the 19th century and continued as a major controversial topic.
Gandhiji chose as the spot for his figurative breaking of the conditions of the hated Salt Tax, was Dandi, a seaside village in the state of Gujarat, and, he marched there from his Ashram at Ahamadabad .there he set out on foot on March 12, accompanied by several followers. throughout the journey thousands and thousands of people gathered to hear Gandhi’s words on violating the law whenever they stopped in different-different villages along the route. This peaceful nature marches and is also known as salt satyagraha and this transformed into Civil Disobedience Movement contrary to pioneer rule in India. furthermore, it was the organized movement against British Raj after the Non- Cooperation movement.
This law-breaking salt-making was followed by the boycott of foreign cloth and liquor. What began as salt satyagraha soon expanded into mass satyagraha and acts of violence also broke out in certain areas. but unlike what happened during the non-cooperation movement, Gandhi denied pausing the civil disobedience movement this time.
The impact that the Dandi march created was noticeable throughout India. Thousands of people made salt or bought illegal salt. This period is considered the pinnacle of Gandhi’s political plea, as the march rallied many new followers from all of Indian society and the march seized the world’s alert. Most historians consider Dandi March brought a major turning key in India’s struggle for freedom.
Read more: Noncooperation movement
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12 March 1930
It was a mass movement initiated by Mahatma Gandhi against the unfair salt tax foisted by the British government over the production of salt by Indian farmers.
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