Question

Read the following source carefully and answer the questions that follow:

“Tomorrow we shall break the salt tax law” On 5 April 1930, Mahatma Gandhi spoke at Dandi: When I left Sabarmati with my companions for this seaside hamlet of Dandi, I was not certain in my mind that we would be allowed to reach this place. Even while I was at Sabarmati there was a rumour that I might be arrested. I had thought that the Government might perhaps let my party come as far as Dandi, but not me certainly. If someone says that this betrays imperfect faith on my part, I shall not deny the charge. That I have reached here is in no small measure due to the power of peace and non-violence: that power is universally felt. The Government may, if it wishes, congratulate itself on acting as it has done, for it could have arrested every one of us. In saying that it did not have the courage to arrest this army of peace, we praise it. It felt ashamed to arrest such an army. He is a civilized man who feels ashamed to do anything which his neighbours would disapprove. The Government deserves to be congratulated on not arresting us, even if it desisted only from fear of world opinion. Tomorrow we shall break the salt tax law. Whether the Government will tolerate that is a different question. It may not tolerate it, but it deserves congratulations on the patience and for bearance it has displayed in regard to this party.... What if I and all the eminent leaders in Gujarat and in the rest of the country are arrested? This movement is based on the faith that when a whole nation is roused and on the march no leader is necessary.

1. Examine the reactions of Indians towards the Salt Law. 2
2. Why was Gandhiji confident that the government would not arrest the Satyagrahis? Explain. 2
3. Examine the base of Dandi March. 2

Answer 1

1. Reactions of Indians towards the Salt Tax Law:
   1. There was wider discontentment against Salt Law.
   2. The state monopoly over Salt was deeply unpopular.
2. Gandhiji was confident on the non-arrest of Satyagrahis:
   1. He considered his protesters as the army of peace.
   2. Fear of world opinion on British.
3. Base of Dandi March:
   1. To break the most widely disliked law of British.
   2. To mobilize discontent against British Rule.
   3. To launch nationalist campaign against British.
   4. To unite all classes, communities, castes towards Swaraj.