In 1930 Gandhi chose the salt tax, which hit the poorest hardest, as the issue to defy. From 12 March to 6 April he and 78 followers walked about 385 km in 24 days from his ashram to the coastal village of Dandi, where he picked up salt and broke the law. Millions followed, over 60,000 were jailed, and the Civil Disobedience Movement had begun, weeks after the Congress had declared Purna Swaraj.
Key facts
- 12 March to 6 April 1930; about 385 km in 24 days with 78 marchers; salt made at Dandi on 6 April.
- Over 60,000 people were jailed; Gandhi was arrested in May 1930 before the Dharasana raid.
- A parallel march was led on the east coast in Tamil Nadu; the campaign ended with the Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931).
- Time magazine named Gandhi its Man of the Year for 1930; a memorial at Dandi opened in 2019.
Why exams ask about it
The starting point, the dates, the distance, Dharasana and the pact that ended it are the usual questions.