The Salt Satyagraha, also known as the Dandi March, was a pivotal campaign of non-violent resistance (Satyagraha) led by Mahatma Gandhi against the British salt monopoly in colonial India. Launched on March 12, 1930, Gandhi and 78 trusted volunteers marched 240 miles from Sabarmati Ashram to the coastal village of Dandi. The march was a protest against the 1882 Salt Act, which made it illegal for Indians to collect or sell salt. On April 6, 1930, Gandhi defied the law by picking up a lump of natural salt. This simple act electrified the nation, leading to the Civil Disobedience Movement, mass arrests, and the brutal raid on the Dharasana Salt Works, which turned world opinion against British rule.| Feature | Details |
| Start Date | March 12, 1930 |
| End Date | April 6, 1930 |
| Starting Point | Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad |
| Destination | Dandi, Navsari District, Gujarat |
| Distance Covered | ~240 miles (385 km) |
| Number of Marchers | 78 (Original) to Thousands (Final) |
| Key Leaders | Mahatma Gandhi, Sarojini Naidu, Abbas Tyabji |
| Impact | Launch of Civil Disobedience Movement |
The Genius of Salt
Why salt? In 1930, the Indian National Congress was debating complex issues like “Dominion Status” vs. “Purna Swaraj.” But Gandhi knew that abstract political concepts meant little to the starving peasant. He needed a symbol that touched every life, Hindu or Muslim, rich or poor.
Salt was that symbol. Under the Salt Act of 1882, the British had a monopoly on the manufacture and sale of salt. They taxed it so heavily that the poor, who needed salt the most for manual labor in the heat, were suffering. Gandhi declared, “Next to air and water, salt is perhaps the greatest necessity of life.” By targeting this tax, he turned a daily struggle into a moral crusade.
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The Long Walk to Freedom
On the morning of March 12, 1930, at 6:30 AM, Gandhi stepped out of Sabarmati Ashram with 78 hand-picked volunteers. He was 61 years old, yet he walked faster than many of the younger men. The destination was Dandi, a small coastal village 240 miles away.
The British administration, led by Viceroy Lord Irwin, initially dismissed the march. They thought Gandhi would collapse or the public would lose interest. But as the days passed, the march turned into a pilgrimage. Villagers sprinkled water on the dusty roads to cool Gandhi’s feet and showered the marchers with flowers. By the time the group reached Surat, the crowd had swelled to thousands. Journalists from around the world, including the American reporter Webb Miller, began to cover the event, broadcasting Gandhi’s message to a global audience.
The Pinch Heard Around the World
On April 5, the marchers reached Dandi. The following morning, on April 6, 1930—a date chosen to coincide with the start of the 1919 National Week (Jallianwala Bagh massacre commemoration)—Gandhi walked into the sea for a ceremonial bath.
At 8:30 AM, he bent down and picked up a small lump of natural salt from the mud. With this simple gesture, he technically became a criminal. He declared, “With this, I am shaking the foundations of the British Empire.”
Across India, the signal was received. Millions began making illegal salt in pans on their rooftops. Foreign cloth was boycotted, liquor shops were picketed, and peasants refused to pay the Chowkidari tax. The British Raj was stunned by the scale of the defiance.
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The Horror at Dharasana
The true test of non-violence came after Gandhi’s arrest on May 4. He had planned a non-violent raid on the Dharasana Salt Works. In his absence, Sarojini Naidu and Imam Saheb led the volunteers.
On May 21, 2,500 satyagrahis marched towards the salt pans. They were met by police wielding steel-tipped lathis. The volunteers did not fight back; they didn’t even raise their arms to ward off the blows. Wave after wave walked forward, only to be beaten down until their skulls cracked.
Webb Miller, witnessing the scene, wrote a dispatch that shocked the West:
“In eighteen years of reporting in twenty-two countries, I have never witnessed such harrowing scenes as at Dharasana… The police rushed upon the advancing marchers and rained blows on their heads… Not one of the marchers even raised an arm to fend off the blows.”
This moral victory stripped the British Empire of its claim to “civilized rule.”
The Role of Women
The Salt Satyagraha 1930 was a turning point for Indian women. Initially, Gandhi had hesitated to let women join the march, fearing it would be branded as “hiding behind women.” But women like Sarojini Naidu, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, and thousands of ordinary housewives insisted on participating. They picketed shops, made salt, and went to jail in record numbers, breaking the social chains that had kept them domestic.
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Quick Comparison Table: Non-Cooperation vs. Civil Disobedience
| Feature | Non-Cooperation (1920) | Civil Disobedience (1930) |
| Trigger | Jallianwala Bagh & Khilafat | Salt Tax & Purna Swaraj |
| Strategy | Refusal to cooperate (Passive) | Breaking specific laws (Active) |
| Geographic Reach | Mostly Urban/Towns | Urban + Deep Rural Reach |
| Women’s Role | Limited participation | Massive, active participation |
| Outcome | Called off abruptly (Chauri Chaura) | Led to Round Table Conferences |
Curious Indian: Fast Facts
- The Stick: The bamboo stick (lathi) Gandhi used during the march became famous. It was 54 inches long and had a small lantern hanging from it during night walks.
- The Auction: The first packet of illegal salt picked up by Gandhi was auctioned for 1,600 Rupees (a fortune in those days) to a supporter, with the money going to the movement.
- The “Tea” Joke: When Gandhi was later invited to tea with Lord Irwin in London, he famously took a pinch of illegal salt out of his shawl and joked, “I will put a little of this into my tea to remind us of the famous Boston Tea Party.”
- The 79th Marcher: While 78 volunteers started with Gandhi, a 79th marcher, a student named Thevarthundiyil Titus, joined on the first day.
Conclusion
The Salt Satyagraha 1930 was not just about tax; it was about dignity. It taught a frightened nation to stand straight and look the oppressor in the eye. While it didn’t win independence immediately, it won the moral argument. As the world watched unarmed Indians falling under British batons without striking back, the sun began to set on the British Empire.
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If you think you have remembered everything about this topic take this QUIZ
Results
#1. On which date did Mahatma Gandhi officially break the salt law by picking up a lump of natural salt?
#2. How many trusted volunteers initially started the march with Mahatma Gandhi from Sabarmati Ashram?
#3. Who led the non-violent raid on the Dharasana Salt Works after Gandhi’s arrest?
#4. The Dandi March was a protest against which specific British law?
#5. Which American reporter covered the brutality at Dharasana and broadcasted the story to the world?
#6. What was the approximate distance covered by the marchers from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi?
#7. The first packet of illegal salt picked up by Gandhi was auctioned for how much money?
#8. When invited to tea with Lord Irwin, Gandhi jokingly compared his pinch of illegal salt to which historical event?
Why did Gandhi choose salt for the protest?
Gandhi chose salt because it was a basic necessity used by everyone, regardless of religion or caste. Taxing it was seen as deeply unjust, making it a perfect symbol to unite the masses.
How long was the Dandi March?
The march covered approximately 240 miles (385 km) and lasted for 24 days.
Who led the raid on Dharasana Salt Works?
After Gandhi’s arrest, the raid was led by Sarojini Naidu, Imam Saheb, and Gandhi’s son Manilal Gandhi.
Did the Dandi March achieve independence?
No, it did not lead to immediate independence, but it led to the Gandhi-Irwin Pact and the Second Round Table Conference, marking the first time the British treated the Congress as equals.
Who was the first woman arrested in the Salt Satyagraha?
Rukmini Lakshmipathi was the first woman to be arrested for breaking the salt law.
