Salt March
How can someone lead a nation in a march and gather followers through speeches and sermons, just to break away and gain independence from the British law? India, March 12, 1930, a man named Mohandas Gandhi started a movement to gain independence for India from British law. British government made a law which taxed all salt and prohibited the Indian people from collecting and selling salt, which was a huge part in everyone's meals. Therefore the British couldn't go wrong with taxing salt for the Indian civilians.
Gandhi along with several dozen followers trekked 240 miles to the coastal town of Dandi on the Arabian Sea. (“Salt March”). Throughout their journey Gandhi made stops daily addressing large crowds as people would start joining the salt satyagraha, “a policy of passive political resistance.” (“Salt March”). Gandhi was a very religious man and he used the word of God to help draw the attention of his audience and followers. When he arrived to his crowds not only did he speak to his followers but also lead them in prayer. With gaining people throughout his journey, once they arrived to the sea Gandhi and his followers tried to go around the British law on salt by producing their own salt from the sea’s water. Gandhi’s plan was to go down on the coast to work the flats of the beach during every high tide to collect salt, but the police tried to stop Gandhi by crushing the salt deposits into the ground. (“Salt March”). Gandhi proceeded to reach down into the mud and pull a small lump of natural salt out of the mud, it was then that the British law was defied. (“Salt March”).
Throughout history and even in everyday life today, if you break the law you will face the consequences. But when you break the laws and try to go around British rules you’re just asking for trouble. For Gandhi and his followers the days ahead trying to extract salt from the sea only left him and his followers asking to be arrested. When Gandhi and his followers arrived to the city of Dandi thousands of more people joined the march. The trek continued to keep on pushing through coastal cities. Bombay, which is now called Mumbai, along with the city of Karachi was two of the coastal cities that followers came together and joined the movement. Now is hard to imagine that having all these people together marching 240 miles throughout cities wouldn’t get the attention of British officials. With having that many people in a large group trying to gain freedom from the law that people started to get out of hand in the cities. According to history.com the british government arrested more than 60,000 people. (“Salt March”). One of those 60,000 individuals was Gandhi who was arrested on May 5th, 1930. (“Salt March”).
With Gandhi being in jail could the satyagraha continue on? Who would lead the movement from here on out? Sarojini Naidu, a poet, took charge and led them in peace marching were still beaten, attacked, and arrested by British police. (Pletcher 1). Throughout the journey it was very tough and hard to not only make the journey but also endure the treatment from the British police and policy.
After almost nine months in jail Gandhi was finally released from jail in January 1931. (Pletcher 1). First thing that Gandhi did when he got out was start talking to and meeting with Lord Irwin. Irwin, who was the viceroy of India, agreed to end the satyagraha for equal
negotiating at the London conference for the future of India. (“Salt March”). When August of 1931 came along Gandhi who was the representative of the Indian National Congress. (“Salt March”). When the meeting was finally over it seemed like the journey that Gandhi made to the conference was rather less a disappointment for Gandhi. Although Gandhi felt that the trip was a disappointment it really made the British leaders acknowledge Gandhi as a force to be reckoned with, one that could not ignore or look over with ease. (“Salt March”).
Years went by as Gandhi and company continued to pursue independence from the British law. Finally in August of 1947 India was granted independence from the British law. (“Salt March”). Through all of Gandhi’s hard work and what he had to go through to help lead India to its independence from British law, Gandhi didn’t get to live much of it. Just six months after India was gained independence, Gandhi was assassinated by a Hindu extremist on January 30, 1948. (“Salt March”).
What Gandhi did with the salt march was truly remarkable. Not only was he an older man when he started the march but he also was very religious, which is why some think it helped him overcome the obstacles that were thrown his way. Even though Gandhi didn’t get to enjoy what he accomplished for long before he was killed, if it wasn’t for his trek, speeches, and persuading people to follow him in the march over 240 miles.
Gandhi is basically the Martin Luther King Jr. of India, except for the fact that Dr. King was marching to end segregation unlike Gandhi who was marching for Independence from the British law. These two men both share amazing characteristics. Both were successful in their marches for what they believed in, they both lead people in marching and leading them. They both were very religious and put the message of God in their speeches throughout the cities that they marched through. Both of these men helped to change the world and their countries just by standing for what they believed in.
The salt march wouldn’t have impacted India’s independence if it wasn’t for Gandhi taking charge and making a stand for his country’s independence. Gandhi’s work was absolutely unbelievable, it’s so hard to believe that a man of his age could lead a country to gain independence. Gandhi was a man that never quit until his task was done. Although throughout the journey there were hard times with law enforcement, and trying to keep his followers maintained. Without Gandhi’s hard work and determination who knows when India’s independence would’ve came. What do you think about Gandhi’s work to gain India’s independence? Could you lead a whole country marching hundreds of miles just to gain independence?
Works Cited
“Salt March.” History.com. A+E Networks. 2010. history.com/topics/salt-march. A+E Networks. Accessed 20, September, 2016.
Pletcher Kenneth. “Salt March.” Britannica.com/event/Salt-March. 14, December, 2015. Accessed 20, September, 2016.