Question

Explain the primary objectives of Gandhiji’s ‘Salt Satyagraha’. How did this Satyagraha mobilize public opinion against British rule? Explain.

Hint:

The Salt Satyagraha used a simple issue—salt—to highlight colonial exploitation, making it a powerful tool for mass mobilization and civil resistance.

Answer 1

The Salt Satyagraha, also known as the Dandi March, was launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1930 as part of the Civil Disobedience Movement. It had both symbolic and practical significance.
Primary Objectives:

• To protest against the British monopoly on salt and the salt tax, which burdened the common people, especially the poor.
• To launch a non-violent civil disobedience movement against unjust colonial laws.
• To unite Indians across regions and classes by focusing on a basic and essential commodity like salt.

Mobilization of Public Opinion:

• Gandhi’s 240-mile march from Sabarmati to Dandi attracted massive attention and participation.
• People from all walks of life joined the movement—men, women, and even children defied the salt law by making salt illegally.
• The movement gained international recognition and sympathy, showcasing British oppression and Indian resolve.
• It gave a clear moral dimension to India’s freedom struggle, portraying British rule as unjust and exploitative.