Salt Satyagraha 1930 & beginning of Civil Disobedience Movement

Salt Satyagraha 1930

Mahatma Gandhi was authorized by the Congress Working Committee to determine the time, place and issue on which the Civil Disobedience was to be launched. He took the decision to break the salt law first, on which the British had imposed a duty, affecting the poorest of the poor.

Salt Satyagraha began with the Dandi March on March 12, 1930 and was the part of the first phase of the Civil Disobedience Movement. Gandhi led the Dandi march from Sabarmati Ashram to the sea coast near the village of Dandi. In this journey of 24 days and covering a distance of 390 kilometer, thousands of people joined him. He reached Dandi on April 6, 1930, and broke the salt law.

This triggered the Civil Disobedience Movement and millions of Indians jumped in the tumult.

Beginning of Civil Disobedience Movement

Breaking of the salt law was the formal inauguration of the Civil Disobedience Movement. A programme was outlined, which included the following:

1. Violation of the laws such as Salt Law
2. Non payment of Land Revenue, Taxes and Rent
3. Boycott of courts of law, legislatures, elections, Government functionaries, Schools and Colleges.
4. Peaceful picketing of shops that sold foreign goods.
5. Mass strikes and processions.
6. Picketing of shops that sold liquor.
7. Boycott of Civil Services, Military and Police services.

The Government came into action by putting the law breakers in jails and suppressing them by police firings, lathicharge and other means. 60 Thousand people were arrested in less than one year. Those who dis not pay taxes, the properties were confiscated. Gandhi and all important leaders were arrested and placed behind the bars.