Summary: The Story of Dandi March | New English Ferry: Book Solutions, Notes & Worksheets - Class 5 PDF Download

Summary

In 1857, Indians fought bravely for their independence from the British but were defeated. Nearly 75 years later, Mahatma Gandhi led a different kind of battle, and this time, they won. The British had imposed unfair laws, including a salt tax, which Gandhiji decided to challenge.

Gandhiji wrote a letter to the Viceroy, Lord Irwin, pointing out the unjust actions of the British, especially regarding salt. The British controlled all salt production, and Indians were forced to buy salt from them, along with paying a salt tax. Gandhiji proposed 11 demands to Lord Irwin and warned that if not accepted, he would break the salt law.

On March 12, 1930, Gandhiji and 78 followers began the Dandi March, walking 384 kilometers from Sabarmati ashram to Dandi. The goal was to reach the Arabian Sea, where salt naturally formed. The British government thought it was a joke and didn't stop Gandhiji, expecting him to collapse before reaching Dandi.

Throughout the march, Gandhiji kept a hectic schedule, offering advice, writing letters, and spinning. The march gained widespread attention, with reporters updating the progress daily. Even when faced with challenges like crossing the Mahi River, the marchers persevered.

On April 5, 1930, the marchers reached Dandi. After morning rituals, Gandhiji walked into the Arabian Sea, picked up a lump of salt, and broke the salt law. This peaceful protest inspired the nation.

Nearly a year later, on March 5, 1931, the Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed, and the British gave in to many Indian demands. Most importantly, there would be no more tax on salt, allowing Indians to make their own salt. Gandhiji's simple yet powerful act showed the effective way to challenge British power, and the people of India responded bravely and unitedly.

List of Difficult Words and Meanings

• Unjust: not fair or reasonable
• Satyagraha: a policy of passive political resistance, especially that advocated by Mahatma Gandhi against British rule in India.
• Viceroy: a ruler exercising authority in a colony on behalf of a sovereign.
• Jhola: a traditional Indian cloth bag
• Hectic: characterized by intense, frenetic activity
• Persevered: continued in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success
• Pact: a formal agreement
• Waded: walked through water
• Slush: mud or partially melted snow
• Abridged: shortened version