Salt SatyagrahaSalt Satyagraha

BackgroundBackground

Gandhi moved a Gandhi moved a resolution that if resolution that if independence had not independence had not been granted by 31 been granted by 31 December 1929, the December 1929, the Congress would revive Congress would revive non-violent non-non-violent non-cooperationcooperationThe Salt Acts dictated The Salt Acts dictated that the people of India that the people of India could not produce their could not produce their own salt from sea waterown salt from sea waterThe government held a The government held a monopoly on the monopoly on the production of salt – the production of salt – the salt monopoly produced salt monopoly produced an annual revenue of an annual revenue of $25,000,000 out of the $25,000,000 out of the total revenue of total revenue of $800,000,000$800,000,000

Satyagraha in actionSatyagraha in action Gandhi walked to the beach Gandhi walked to the beach

at Dandi and collected salt – at Dandi and collected salt – he was arrested and put in he was arrested and put in prisonprison

Gandhi’s followers continued Gandhi’s followers continued to produce and sell ‘illegal’ to produce and sell ‘illegal’ saltsalt

Government responded Government responded brutallybrutally

Followers engaged in non-Followers engaged in non-violent protest at Dharasana violent protest at Dharasana salt works, British responded salt works, British responded violentlyviolently

ResultsResults Gandhi-Irwin pact signed 5 March 1931 Gandhi-Irwin pact signed 5 March 1931

by Gandhi and Lord Irwin (Viceroy)by Gandhi and Lord Irwin (Viceroy) Agreed to end civil disobedienceAgreed to end civil disobedience No changes to the Salt Acts except that No changes to the Salt Acts except that

some villagers were allowed to produce salt some villagers were allowed to produce salt for their own uses and for sale in villages for their own uses and for sale in villages onlyonly

News spread throughout Europe, and the News spread throughout Europe, and the British lost moral superiorityBritish lost moral superiority