Key Facts and Data Points
- Period: 12 March 1930 – 6 April 1930
- Distance covered: ~240 miles (≈386 km) from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, Gujarat
- Initial participants: 78 volunteers, later swelling to thousands
- Salt Act: British Salt Act of 1882 imposed a monopoly and tax on salt
- Milestone act: Gandhi picked up natural salt at Dandi on 6 April 1930, breaking the law
- Arrests: Gandhi arrested on 5 May 1930; Sarojini Naidu led Dharasana raid on 21 May 1930
- Parallel movements: C. Rajagopalachari’s Vedaranyam march, K. Kelappan’s Kerala salt marches
Background and Context
- Salt was a daily necessity; the tax disproportionately affected the poor.
- Gandhi chose salt to make the protest relatable to every Indian.
- The march was a strategic act of Satyagraha, aiming to undermine British economic control.
Significance for India, Governance & Policy
- Demonstrated the power of non‑violent mass mobilisation.
- Forced the British to confront the moral legitimacy of their rule, leading to international criticism.
- Inspired future civil‑rights leaders (e.g., Martin Luther King Jr.) and reinforced the principle of self‑reliance (Atmanirbhar) in post‑independence policies.
- Set a precedent for non‑violent protest as a tool for policy change, relevant to contemporary movements.
Related Constitutional / Legal Provisions
- Article 19(1)(a) – Freedom of Speech & Expression (later used to justify peaceful protest).
- Article 21 – Right to Life & Personal Liberty (interpreted to include the right to peaceful assembly).
- The Salt Act of 1882 (now repealed) exemplifies colonial legislation that conflicted with fundamental rights.