Written by Sarya Gulec
The Salt March was a major nonviolent protest held by Mathama Gandhi between May-April, 1930. The march protested the British salt monopoly, despite being a natural source. Even if some people considered it would be ineffective back then, Gandhi thought it was a strong idea. This simple yet powerful act of civil disobedience is still considered one of the most pivotal events in India’s struggle for independence.
Before The Salt March
The protest was against the British monopoly in the salt industry, which forced Indian customers to buy high-priced, low-quality salt. India was a major market for British manufactured goods, such as iron and steel products, locomotives, machine tools, and cloth. In addition, India was also implemented high taxes, which made everyday products, like salt, very expensive. Salt was not just important for diary use but also for preserving food in the tropical climate.
In 1885, The Indian National Congress was founded to fight against British Rule, and Gandhi joined the congress in 1915. He quickly rose to positions like leadership and became the Congress president in 1924. By that time, he was already well-known for his nonviolent philosophy called satyagraha.
The Salt March
On March 12, 1930, Gandhi set out from Sabarmati Ashram with 78 followers on a 240-mile march to the coast of the Arabian Sea to a place called Dandi. The march lasted 24 days, during which, en route, he spoke at public meetings, repeating his message of passive resistance and self-sufficiency. Thousands of Indians joined the march as it trundled along, and its visibility as a united act of defiance against British rule became more and more spectacular. When he reached Dandi on April 6, Gandhi dramatically lifted a lump of natural salt, thus symbolically breaching the ban imposed on salt. This act of disobedience led the whole nation to manufacture salt and challenge the highly objectionable colonial monopoly.
The Salt March gave birth to a general movement of civil disobedience throughout the nation. 2500 protesters were attacked by the police, and 60,000 people were arrested by the end of the year including Gandhi himself. Gandhi's example was followed in many parts of the country: Indians were manufacturing illegal salt and selling it, boycotted British goods, and held demonstrations against colonial policies. British responded with heavy repression: tens of thousands were arrested, including Gandhi himself. Yet, the movement was gaining momentum, a testimony to collective action and the strength of nonviolence to challenge colonial authority.
Gandhi’s Philosophy
The Salt March embodied Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolent action, Satyagraha, often translated as “truth force” or “soul force.” Gandhi supports that violence only perpetuates cycles of harm, whereas nonviolence could make lasting change. Central to Satyagraha was the principle of Ahimsa (non-harm), which extended to thoughts, words, and actions. Gandhi used Satyagraha not only as a strategy against British rule but also as a method to awaken the moral conscience of the oppressors and unite the oppressed.
The Salt March attracted extensive international media coverage, drawing attention to the plight of Indians under British rule and Gandhi’s leadership. Foreign journalists and sympathizers were captivated by Gandhi’s nonviolent approach, comparing his actions to historical struggles for freedom, such as the American Revolution. This global attention not only strengthened India’s independence movement but also elevated Gandhi’s status as an international symbol of resistance and moral leadership.
The Salt March showed not only the practicality of Satyagraha but also its mobilizing capacity across social and economic lines. It was a case that pointed out the belief of Gandhi in the power of collective nonviolence in challenging systemic oppression. The march drew wide international attention, inspired similar movements around the world, and marked Gandhi as a leader of ethical resistance. Its legacy continues to influence movements for justice and equality around the world.
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References:
Gandhi's Salt March was the tax protest that changed Indian history. (n.d.). Sky HISTORY TV channel. https://www.history.co.uk/article/gandhis-salt-march-the-tax-protest-that-changed-indian-history
Indian independence movement. (2024, August 12). Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Indian-Independence-Movement
Salt March. (2010, June 10). HISTORY. https://www.history.com/topics/asian-history/salt-march
Salt March. (2010, March 4). Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Salt-March
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