Question

Why did Gandhiji take up salt as a reason for launching CDM?

Answer 1

Dear student,

1) Salt was considered by Gandhiji as a powerful symbol that could unite the nation. It was a part of Civil Disobedience movement as it was considered as the most essential item of food and was consumed by rich and poor alike

2) The tax on salt and the government monopoly over its production revealed the most oppressive face of British rule.

3) As Viceroy Irwin was unwilling to negotiate the demands of Gandhiji, he launched civil disobedience campaign with famous salt march accompanied by 78 of his trusted volunteers.

4) The march was over 240 miles, from Gandhiji’s ashram in Sabarmati to the Gujarat coastal town of Dandi. The volunteers walked for 24 days about 10 miles a day.

5) Thousands came to hear Mahatma Gandhi wherever he stopped and he told them what he meant by Swaraj and urged them to peacefully defy the British

6) On April 6^th, he reached Dandi and ceremonially violated the law manufacturing salt by boiling sea water

7) Thousands in different parts of the country broke the salt law, manufactured salt and demonstrated in front of government salt factories. As the movement spread, foreign cloth was boycotted and liquor shops were picketed.

Regards