Civil Disobedience Movement

Civil Disobedience Movement is one of Mahatma Gandhi’s most major movements throughout India’s war for independence. It’s also known as the Salt Satyagraha, and it began as a protest against the British government’s salt tariff in India. In this article, we bring you in-depth details about the Civil Disobedience Movement.

When and how did the Civil Disobedience Movement begin?

In 1930, the Civil Disobedience Movement was founded under Gandhiji’s guidance. It all started with Gandhi’s legendary Dandi March. In Ahmadabad, Gandhi and 78 other members of the Sabarmati Ashram set out a 240 miles march on foot for Dandi on March 12, 1930, a village on India’s seacoast, around 385 kilometers west of Ahmadabad to disregard the salt law by making salt out of seawater.

On January 31, 1930, Mahatma Gandhi wrote Viceroy Irwin a letter outlining and enforcing eleven requests. The demand to abolish the salt tax, consumed by both the rich & the poor, was perhaps the most popular of all the demands. On the 6th of April, he arrived at Dandi and broke the law by boiling seawater to make salt. This movement is where the Civil Disobedience Movement began.

Following this effort, people challenged salt laws across the country. People’s opposition to the regime became symbolized by salt.

The Civil Disobedience Movement‘s Impact

The Civil Disobedience Movement had a far-reaching impact. The movement exploded across the country after Gandhi launched it.

• Sarojini Naidu staged a protest against slat depots in Gujarat.
• Rajagopalachari conducted a similar march in Tamil Nadu
• Kelappan marched from Calicut to Payannur in Malabar to protest the salt laws.
• The Manipuri’s joined the Civil Disobedience Movement in the northeast.
• The satyagraha movement was headed by several famous women, including Kasturba Gandhi, Lilavati Munshi, and Hansaben Mehta.
• Lakhs of people, including women, took part in the protests.

The Civil Disobedience Movement continued on the Non-Cooperation Movement’s unfinished business. It undermined people’s confidence in the British government and sowed the seeds of the freedom struggle on a social level. It also introduced new propaganda methods such as Prabhat pheris, pamphlets, and other publications.

The British Government’s Response

As usual, the British government replied with repressive measures. The Congress & its affiliated organizations were proclaimed illegal in June 1930, while Mahatma Gandhi & other Congress political leaders were imprisoned. 

The British government held the first round table conference in London in November 1930 to discuss the reforms proposed by the Simon committee. It was rejected by Congress, which was battling for the country’s independence. However, the representatives were a part of this conference. The conference, however, yielded no results. The British government realized that no conclusion on constitutional changes in India would be agreeable to Indians without the involvement of Congress.

Irwin attempted to convince Congress to attend the second round table session. Gandhi & Irwin came to an arrangement where the government agreed to release all political prisoners who had not been charged with violence in exchange for Congress suspending the civil disobedience movement.

The congress voted to endorse the agreement & to attend the second round table meeting. Gandhi was selected to lead the Congress in the September 1931 conference. 

End of Civil Disobedience Movement

Gandhi returned to India without reaching his goal after the second conference failed. The British wasted no time in initiating retaliatory actions after the Congress was ruled illegal, many prominent members of Congress were arrested. 

Despite the harsh repression, the Civil Disobedience Movement continued, and approximately 120,000 individuals were arrested in days. The British government’s brutal actions hindered the movement. As a result, the movement was put on hold for three months before finally ending in April 1934.

Conclusion

Although the Civil Disobedience Movement failed to produce any results, it did sow the seeds of the freedom struggle, uniting lakhs of Indians to fight for their rights.

FAQ’s