Question

In 1930, Mahatma Gandhi’s demands were rejected by the British, as a result of which he launched the Civil Disobedience Movement. In this context, explain the following:

1. Name the famous march undertaken by Gandhiji. Where did he begin this march? State two of its features.
2. How was this Movement different from the Non-Cooperation Movement?
3. Explain briefly how did Mahatma Gandhi try to promote Hindu-Muslim unity from the Rowlatt Satyagraha to the Third Round Table Conference.

Answer 1

1. On March 12, 1930, Gandhiji started the Dandi March from Sabarmati Ashram to the village of Dandi on the Gujarat coast. He was joined by 78 people. Gandhiji reached Dandi on April 5 and on the morning of April 6, he broke the salt law by picking up salt from the seashore. This act was a way to show resistance against the British government’s laws.
   Key features of the Dandi March were:
   1. Breaking the Salt Laws.
   2. Boycotting liquor.
   3. Boycotting foreign cloth and other British goods.
   4. Refusing to pay taxes.
      This version simplifies the original text and makes it easier to understand.
2. The Civil Disobedience Movement was different from the Non-Cooperation Movement because, along with refusing to cooperate, people also stopped paying taxes, land revenue and broke various laws.
3. Mahatma Gandhi worked to promote Hindu-Muslim unity from the time of the Rowlatt Satyagraha to the Third Round Table Conference in the following ways:
   1. Rowlatt Satyagraha: Gandhi emphasised Hindu-Muslim unity during the Rowlatt Satyagraha. He believed India belonged to people of all religions and wanted Hindus and Muslims to support each other in just causes.
   2. Khilafat Movement: Gandhi saw the Khilafat Movement as a chance to bring Hindus and Muslims together. He said Hindu-Muslim unity would be meaningless if Hindus didn’t support Muslims when their important interests were at stake.
   3. Non-Cooperation Movement: This movement strengthened Hindu-Muslim unity, especially through the combination of the Khilafat issue with the national movement. It helped bring urban Muslims into the struggle for freedom, showing that the nation cared about their problems too.