Civil Disobedience Movement 1930-1934

The Salt Satyagraha was a non-violent civil disobedience movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1930, which challenged the British government's monopoly on salt production and its heavy taxes on salt in India.

Gandhi chose salt as the symbol of protest because it was a vital daily necessity, consumed by everyone, but heavily taxed by the British.

Gandhi believed the British government had no right to control the production of a natural resource like salt, which was crucial for the livelihood of Indians. This exposed the injustice of the salt tax.

The Dandi March was a 240-mile walk led by Gandhi from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi on the coast, where he and his followers made their own salt from seawater.

Gandhi and 78 of his followers started the march on March 12, 1930. As they walked through villages, more people joined the movement, demonstrating widespread support.

The Salt Act of 1882 established a British government monopoly over the production, gathering, storing, and selling of salt in India. Indians were forced to buy salt at high prices from the government.

On April 6, 1930, Gandhi and his followers made salt from seawater in Dandi, openly defying the British law and showing the world that they would not be oppressed.

The Salt Satyagraha was a powerful symbol of India's resistance against British rule. It awakened the Indian people to their own strength and inspired them to fight for independence.

The British government's response to the Civil Disobedience Movement, involving harsh measures to suppress the movement.

The action of suspending or ending the Civil Disobedience Movement by Mahatma Gandhi in 1933, followed by a complete withdrawal in 1934.

A key moment in the Civil Disobedience Movement where Gandhi and other leaders were arrested, the Congress was declared illegal, and government authority increased.

The use of special ordinances, bypassing normal legal procedures, to control the population and suppress dissent during the Civil Disobedience Movement.

The decline in support for the Civil Disobedience Movement, especially among traders and rich peasants, caused by increased violence and government confiscations.

The reason for suspending the Civil Disobedience Movement, attributed to growing violence, waning support among urban traders, and confiscations by the government.

The legacy of the Civil Disobedience Movement, despite its temporary suspension, in raising the political awareness of the masses and deepening the social roots of the freedom struggle.

The meeting between Gandhi and the Viceroy (Lord Irwin) in 1931, leading to a pact that promised limited reforms and the suspension of the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Gandhiji's campaign of non-violent resistance against British rule, focused on defying the salt tax, and encompassed various forms of civil disobedience.

Mahatma Gandhi's letter to Viceroy Irwin outlining 11 demands, leading to the launch of the Civil Disobedience Movement.

The symbolic act of defying the British salt tax by producing salt from seawater. This sparked the widespread movement, including parallel marches across India.

A key leader of the Salt March in the Tanjore region, showcasing the movement's widespread participation.

The government's forceful measures to suppress the Civil Disobedience Movement, including mass arrests, banning Congress, and severe press censorship.

The withdrawal of the Civil Disobedience Movement due to the government's repressive tactics and a shift towards political negotiations.

The significant participation of women in the Civil Disobedience Movement, demonstrating their commitment to the fight for independence.

Despite the call for a unified struggle, lower participation of Muslims compared to the Non-Cooperation Movement, highlighting potential religious and political complexities.

The Non-Cooperation Movement (NCM) took place in India from 1920 to 1922 and aimed at achieving Swaraj (self-rule) by refusing to cooperate with the British government. It involved boycotts of British goods, institutions, and legal systems.

The Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-1934) aimed to break colonial laws and achieve independence through widespread civil disobedience and non-violent resistance. It included acts like the Salt Satyagraha and the Quit India Movement.

During the NCM, there was significant participation from Muslims, who participated in the movement through boycotts, rallies, and other forms of protest. However, their participation was less widespread compared to the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Women played a crucial role in the NCM, actively participating in picketing shops selling foreign cloth and liquor, along with other forms of protest. Their participation was even more significant in the Civil Disobedience Movement.

During the NCM, peasants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar joined the movement, protesting against British policies and demanding better rights. Their participation was higher in the Civil Disobedience Movement.

The Civil Disobedience Movement witnessed a massive number of arrests, exceeding 90,000 people. This was significantly higher compared to the number of arrests during the NCM.

The NCM and the Civil Disobedience Movement were two major campaigns in the Indian independence movement, both using non-violent methods of protest. They involved widespread participation, demonstrating the growing strength of the Indian independence movement.

The NCM and the Civil Disobedience Movement were both successful in mobilizing the Indian population and putting pressure on the British government. They significantly contributed to the eventual achievement of Indian independence in 1947.

A resolution passed at the 1931 Karachi session of the Indian National Congress, outlining fundamental rights and a national economic plan for India. It was drafted by Jawaharlal Nehru and revised by Mahatma Gandhi.

A series of conferences held in London between 1930 and 1932, involving Indian leaders and British government representatives to discuss India's future.

A declaration by British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald in 1932, which granted separate electorates for the Depressed Classes (Dalits) in India, separating them from the general Hindu electorate.

A pact signed in Poona, India, in 1932, between Mahatma Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar, which replaced the Communal Award's separate electorates for the Depressed Classes with reserved seats within the general Hindu electorate.

A method of non-violent protest where a person refuses to eat until a demand is met. Gandhi used this tactic multiple times, including during the fight against the Communal Award.

The leader of the Indian National Congress who joined the Second Round Table Conference after signing the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.

The agreement that led to the participation of the Indian National Congress in the Second Round Table Conference

A political statement issued in November 1929, demanding that the British government grant India Dominion Status. It was a key moment in the Indian independence movement.

An agreement reached in March 1931, where the Indian National Congress (INC) suspended the Civil Disobedience Movement and agreed to participate in the Second Round Table Conference. It was a significant step towards negotiating a path to independence.

A conference held in London from September to December 1931, aiming to discuss constitutional reforms for India. The Second Round Table Conference was a crucial platform for Indian leaders to voice their demands for self-governance.

The disagreement on the representation of the Congress at the Second Round Table Conference. The Muslim League, Princes, and B.R. Ambedkar questioned the Congress's claim to represent all of India, leading to conflict about representation.

The demand for separate electorates for distinct religious and social groups, including Muslims, depressed classes, Christians, and Anglo-Indians. This was a major issue at the Second Round Table Conference, leading to a deadlock over the method of representation.

Gandhi's opposition to the idea of separate electorates for the Depressed Classes, which he believed would further marginalize them. This stand reflected his commitment to social equality and unity.

The Second Round Table Conference, despite disagreements and a lack of concrete progress, made recommendations on essential aspects of India's future, such as the composition of the Indian federation and the federal judiciary.

The conference provided a platform for diverse interests in India to voice their demands for representation and self-governance. While it did not lead to immediate resolutions, it highlighted the complex challenges and tensions surrounding India's future.