how did salt march become an effective tool of resistance against Brit...
The Salt March, also known as the Dandi March, was a significant event in India's struggle for independence against British colonial powers. Led by Mahatma Gandhi, this nonviolent protest became an effective tool in mobilizing the masses and challenging British authority. Let's explore how the Salt March achieved its objectives:
1. Background and context:
- The British Raj imposed a monopoly on salt production, prohibiting Indians from producing or selling salt independently.
- Salt was a vital commodity used by every Indian household, making it a symbol of the oppressive British rule.
2. Objectives of the Salt March:
- To defy the Salt Act and challenge the British monopoly on salt production.
- To mobilize and unite the Indian population in the struggle for independence.
- To highlight the power of nonviolent resistance as a means to achieve political goals.
3. Gandhi's leadership:
- Mahatma Gandhi, known for his philosophy of nonviolence and civil disobedience, led the Salt March.
- His moral authority and impeccable reputation attracted millions of Indians to join the movement.
4. Mobilizing the masses:
- Gandhi embarked on a 240-mile journey from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, Gujarat, along with a group of followers.
- Along the route, he addressed crowds, spreading his message of independence and self-reliance.
- The march gained widespread media coverage, both nationally and internationally, amplifying its impact.
5. Symbolism of salt:
- Gandhi and his followers reached the coast, where they produced salt by evaporating seawater.
- This act of defiance symbolized the breaking of an unjust law and the assertion of Indian self-rule.
- Indians across the country were inspired to follow suit, engaging in acts of civil disobedience by making salt themselves.
6. Repression by the British:
- The British authorities responded with violence, arresting thousands of Indians, including Gandhi.
- The harsh response by the colonial powers exposed their brutality and further fueled public anger against British rule.
7. Widespread civil disobedience:
- The Salt March inspired a wave of civil disobedience across India, with Indians boycotting British goods, institutions, and taxes.
- The movement gained momentum, drawing millions into the struggle for independence.
8. International support and attention:
- The Salt March caught the attention of the global community, garnering sympathy and support for the Indian cause.
- The international condemnation of British repression put pressure on the colonial powers to negotiate with Indian leaders.
In conclusion, the Salt March became an effective tool of resistance against British colonial powers by mobilizing the masses, challenging the unjust salt law, and drawing international attention to the Indian independence movement. Gandhi's leadership and the symbolism behind the production of salt played significant roles in uniting and inspiring the Indian population in their struggle for freedom.
how did salt march become an effective tool of resistance against Brit...
Salt march was an effective tool of resistance against colonialsim becasuse:- salt was consumed by everyone and was considered an essential food item. By levying tax on salt and establishing monopoly over its production,the british government revealed the most cruel side of their rule. So Gandhiji started his salt march from sabarmati ashram towards dandi,a coastal town in gujarat along with his 78 followers covering 440 miles. He reached dandi on 6th April 1930 and violated Salt law by manufacturing salt from sea water by boiling it. This marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement. Breaking the salt law was a direct challenge to the British rule in India. People were not only asked to refuse cooperation with the British,but to break the unjustified colonial laws. Thousands of people from difderent parts of the country broke the salt law,manufactured it and demonstrated infront of the government salt factories. With the spread of the movement,foreign clothes were boycotted, liquor shops were picketed, peasants refused to pay revenue and other various types of chaukidari taxes, vilage officials resigned, forest people violated the forest laws by collecting wood and by grazing their cattles in the reserved forests of the government. In this way, salt march inspired poeple from different parts of our society and became an effective tool of resistance against the colonial powers.
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