Question

How did the British administrators react against Civil Disobedience Movement?

Answer 1

1) The initial spark of the Civil Disobedience movement was Dandi or Salt March which broke the salt laws of British

2) Thousands in different parts of the country broke the salt law, manufactured salt and demonstrated in front of government salt factories

3) As the movement spread, foreign cloth was boycotted and liquor shops picketed. Peasants refused to pay revenue and taxes, village officials resigned and in many places forest people violated forest laws – going into reserved forests to collect wood and graze cattle

4) Worried by the developments the colonial government began arresting the Congress leaders one by one. This led to violent clashes in many places.

5) When Abdul Gaffar Khan, a devout disciple of Gandhiji was arrested in April 1930, angry crowds demonstrated in the streets of Peshawar, facing armoured cars and police firing. Many were killed

6) When Mahatma Gandhi was himself arrested, industrial workers of Sholapur attacked police posts, municipal buildings, law courts, railway stations – structures that symbolised British rule

7) British government was worried and frightened by these developments of the Movement and it followed a policy of brutal repression. Peaceful Satyagrahis were attacked, women and children were beaten, and about 100,000 people were arrested