Question

How did Gandhiji’s Salt March mobilize people across different strata against British rule? Explain with examples.

Answer 1

Mahatma Gandhi’s Salt March was a landmark movement that brought people from different social groups together in the fight against British rule.

1. Symbol of Unity: Gandhi selected salt as the issue because it was a basic necessity used by everyone, rich and poor. The unjust salt tax affected all sections of society, making it a powerful symbol of unity.
2. Mass Participation: On 12 March 1930, Gandhi set out from Sabarmati with 78 followers on a 240-mile march to Dandi. As the march progressed, thousands of people joined, showing widespread public support.
3. Peasants and Tribal Participation: Farmers and tribal communities actively violated the salt laws, refused to pay land revenue and chaukidari taxes, and challenged forest laws by grazing cattle and collecting wood from reserved forests.
4. Role of Women: Inspired by Gandhiji, women took part in picketing liquor shops, boycotting foreign cloth, and joining processions, which increased women’s participation in the freedom movement.
5. Industrial Workers and Urban Protest: In cities like Sholapur, industrial workers protested strongly, attacking police stations and government buildings following Gandhi’s arrest.
6. Government Repression: In Peshawar, demonstrations led by Abdul Ghaffar Khan were met with severe British repression, resulting in the killing of many unarmed protesters.
7. Outcome: The movement compelled the British government to enter negotiations, leading to the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931), highlighting the strength of mass civil disobedience.