Overview: On 12 March 1930, Mahatma Gandhi began the Dandi March from Sabarmati Ashram to the coastal village of Dandi in Gujarat. The march was a direct challenge to the Salt Satyagraha, a tax‑resistance campaign that ignited a nationwide Civil Disobedience Movement. It later culminated in the 1931 Gandhi‑Irwin Pact, a pivotal political settlement.
Key Developments
- 24‑day march (12 March – 5 April 1930) ended with Gandhi making salt at Dandi, declaring the British salt monopoly broken.
- Approximately 60,000 Indians were arrested; prominent leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahadev Desai, Devdas Gandhi were among the first detainees.
- Leadership succession after Gandhi’s arrest: Abbas Tyabji → Sarojini Naidu → regional leaders such as Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Khudai Khidmatgar), C. Rajagopalachari (Tamil Nadu), Kelappan (Malabar), and Gopabandhu Chaudhary (Orissa).
- Parallel movements across India: salt‑making in Bengal, Bombay, and the NWFP; anti‑chowkidari tax protests; boycott of foreign cloth and liquor.
- Violent confrontations in Central Provinces, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and a revolutionary episode in Chittagong led by Surjaya Sen.
Important Facts
- The 1882 Salt Act gave the colonial government exclusive rights, making salt a potent symbol of oppression.
- Gandhi’s 11‑point demand to Viceroy Irwin (31 Jan 1930) included total prohibition, reduction of land revenue by 50%, abolition of the salt tax, and release of political prisoners.
- The Gandhi‑Irwin Pact (5 March 1931) secured unconditional release of non‑violent prisoners, remission of fines, and Congress’s participation in the Second Round Table Conference.
- Core Gandhian principles driving the movement: Satyagraha, Ahimsa, Swadeshi, and Sarvodaya.
Exam Relevance
The Dandi Salt March is a staple topic in GS‑1 (Modern Indian History). Questions frequently appear on its causes, the role of Satyagraha, regional participation, and the outcomes of the Gandhi‑Irwin Pact. Understanding the 11‑point demands helps answer polity‑related questions on negotiations with the colonial state. The movement also illustrates the application of Ahimsa and Swadeshi, concepts that recur in ethics and economy papers.
Way Forward for Aspirants
- Memorise dates: 12 March 1930 – 5 April 1930 (Dandi March) and 5 March 1931 (Gandhi‑Irwin Pact).
- Link the march to broader themes: non‑violent protest, mass mobilisation, and constitutional negotiations.
- Prepare concise notes on the 11‑point demands and the pact’s clauses; they are often asked in MCQs.
- Study regional leaders and parallel movements to answer ‘who‑what‑where’ type questions.
- Relate Gandhian principles to contemporary policy debates (e.g., self‑reliance, non‑violent resistance) for essay writing.