Detailed Summary
The Salt March, led by Mahatma Gandhi from March to April 1930, was a transformative event that mobilized widespread Indian support against British rule. It commenced with a letter from Gandhi to Viceroy Irwin, outlining eleven demands, including the abolition of the unjust salt tax. Gandhi's choice of salt as a symbol was deliberate, as it represented a fundamental necessity for everyone, regardless of socio-economic status.
Gandhi started the march from Sabarmati Ashram, accompanied by 78 volunteers, covering over 240 miles on foot to the coastal village of Dandi, where they would make salt from seawater in defiance of colonial laws. This act of civil disobedience galvanized thousands of Indians, prompting widespread participation in the movement, where people began to manufacture salt, boycott British goods, and refuse to pay taxes.
As the movement gained momentum, the British responded with increasing repression, arresting leaders and resorting to violence, which only fueled public outrage. The Salt March thus marked a strategic shift from passive resistance to active defiance, inspiring future movements in India and symbolizing the collective will of the Indian people in their quest for freedom from colonial oppression.