Civil Disobedience Movement

Civil Disobedience Movement: Civil Disobedience movement was an important moment in the nationalist movement of India. The civil disobedience movement helped in achieving freedom for India in numerous ways. The movement reached the cities and saw the involvement of the public, especially women and also people of lower castes. The civil disobedience movement started with Gandhiji’s well-known- Dandi March on 12 March 1930. The legendary Salt March Dandi March to Gujarat along the seaside of Dandi, for violating the salt law.

Civil Disobedience Movement

Date of Civil Disobedience Movement

The Civil Disobedience Movement began with Gandhiji well- received Dandi March. The dandi march was started from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad on 12 March, 1930 along with 78 other members of the Ashram for Dandi, a village which is situated at the western coast of about 385 kilometers from Ahmedabad. On 6th April, 1930 they arrived in Dandi.

What is Civil Disobedience Movement?

On January 31, 1930, Mahatma Gandhi issued a letter to Viceroy Irwin stating and enforcing eleven demands. The most exciting of all the requests was to repeal the salt tax, which is eaten by both the affluent and the poor. The demands had to be satisfied by March 11th, or Congress will commence a campaign of civil disobedience.

Gandhi’s Dandi March launched the Civil Disobedience Movement to oppose the British government. On March 12, 1930, Gandhi set off on foot from the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmadabad with 78 other Ashram members for Dandi, a village on India’s western seacoast some 385 kilometers from Ahmedabad. They reached Dandi on April 6, 1930. Gandhi had breached the salt law there.

Demands of Civil Disobedience Movement

Essential Aspects of Salt Satyagraha Movement

Salt Satyagraha which was led by Mahatma Gandhi was in response to the salt tax imposed by British government and on March 12th of 1930, Gandhi had led a large group of people from Sabramati Ashram to Dandi, for breaking the salt law by manufacturing salt in Dandi sea coast. Some important facts of the same are:

1. On 12th March 1930, Salt March has began and ended on 6th April in 1930.
2. Salt march has marked start of widespread resistance movement which was against British oppression and had barred Indians for collection or sell of salt at the time.
3. Gandhi breached the salt law by illegally manufacturing salt and millions of other Indians disregarded salt restrictions by production of salt. Salt movement started with 80 people but expanded to 50,000 people.

Limitations of Salt Satyagraha

Some of the important limitations of salt satyagraha are as follows:

1. Participation of Dalit were limited.
2. Dominating role Played by hindus of higher caste
3. Different aspirations of the followers
4. Clash between Political Leaders
5. No Muslim Participation

Causes of Civil Disobedience Movement

Some of the main reasons for the Civil Disobedience movement are as follows:

1. Formation of the Simon Commission
2. Rejection for the demand for Dominion Status
3. Demonstrations which were against the detention of social revolutionaries and so forth.

The British were not interested to grant the status of Dominion Status to nationalist leaders. In December 1929, an emergency meeting of INC was held in Lahore under Jawaharlal Nehru, who announced Purna Swaraj or “Complete Independence”, as one of the main motives of Congress.

The Lahore Congress in 1929 authorised the Congress Working Committee (CWC) for starting a campaign of civil disobedience, which included not paying of taxes. At Sabarmati Ashram in 1930, Gandhiji was given the power by CWC for starting Civil Disobedience Movement wherever he wanted and it enabled Mahatma Gandhi for freedom movement to start as national campaign, wherever he wanted to.

Year of Civil Disobedience Movement

On 31st January 1930, Viceroy Irwin received a letter from Mahatma Gandhi, where outlined and demanded 11 demands. One of the requests was to get rid of salt tax, which is paid by both the rich and the poor alike. By 11th March, if demands came to be satisfied, or the Congress will start a campaign for civil disobedience. Salt march was hence started by Mahatma Gandhi along with 78 of his dependable volunteers on 12th March. They landed on Dandi in April 6 and breached the law on salt imposed by British by scalding it.

Phases of Civil Disobedience Movement

The Civil Disobedience Movement grew across the country as a result of the disobedience of the salt legislation. During the initial phase of the civil disobedience campaign, salt manufacturing extended across the country and became a symbol of the people’s rejection of the government.

This was the first countrywide movement; earlier ones had been limited to cities. Rural residents might also register to participate. The event attracted a considerable number of female attendees. Women like Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay,  Kasturba Gandhi, Avantikabai Gokhale, Lilavati Munshi, and Hansaben Mehta spearheaded the satyagraha campaign. The movement’s motto was nonviolence. This movement continued despite continual British suppression.

Following Gandhi’s ceremony in Dandi, resistance to salt prohibitions spread throughout the country. Massive protests erupted in Madras, Calcutta, and Karachi following Nehru’s detention in April 1930 for breaching the salt legislation. On May 4, 1930, Gandhi was imprisoned after claiming that he would lead a raid on the Dharasana Salt Works on India’s west coast. Following Gandhi’s arrest, there were enormous protests in Bombay, Delhi, Calcutta, and Sholapur, where the reaction was ferocious.

The CDM engaged students, women, tribals, businessmen and minor traders, workers, and peasants from all walks of life. Salt prohibitions were also flouted with varied degrees of success in a number of regions.

C Rajagopalachari led the Tamil Nadu Salt Satyagraha, K Kelappan led the Malabar Salt Satyagraha, and Sarojini Naidu and Manilal Gandhi led the Dharasana Salt Works Satyagraha (Gujarat). The nonviolent resistance at the Dharasana salt factory was significant for its magnitude, with a group of 2000 volunteers giving peaceful opposition in the face of a massive police force equipped with steel-tipped lathis, which struck non-resisting Satyagrahis (protestors) until they fell down.

Impact of the Civil Disobedience Movement

1. The civil disobedience movement had a far-reaching influence. It created suspicion in the British administration and laid the framework for the liberation fight, as well as popularizing new propaganda methods such as the Prabhat, pheris, leaflets, and so on.
2. Following forest law resistance in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Central Province, as well as refusal to pay the rural ‘Chaukidari tax’ in Eastern India, the government removed the oppressive salt tax. Foreign imports of apparel and tobacco were slashed in half. Government earnings from land tax and liquor excise also decreased.
3. Women and students joined in great numbers in the movement, which was a liberating experience for Indian women who were accessing public space in such large numbers for the first time. 
4. The campaign sparked a wave of nationalist sentiment across the country, putting the British authorities on edge. In June 1934, the government lifted the prohibition on Congress. The halting of the Movement did not mean that the aim of political freedom had been abandoned.
5. The Civil Disobedience Movement broadened the independence struggle’s base. The leaders of civil disobedience mobilized a vast range of socioeconomic groupings, including merchants and shopkeepers, peasants, tribals, and even workers. This aided the integration of these classes into the nationalist mainstream in the long run.
6. The Civil Disobedience Movement helped people recognize the significance of the nonviolent philosophy. It demonstrated that Indians could withstand aggression with patience and bravery.

British Response to Civil Disobedience Movement

On November 1930, British government had called for first round table conference which was to discuss the reforms proposed by the Simon Commission. But, the Indian National Congress boycotted it and the Indian princes, Muslim League, the Hindu Mahasabha and few others attended the meeting. However, the outcome was nothing. The British came to the conclusion that without the Congress’s involvement, no important constitutional changes can be made.

In the second round table conference, British tried to persuade the INC to join. Gandhi and Irwin came to an agreement in which the government had promised to free all political prisoners who were not accused of any violence and the Congress promised to end the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Gandhiji Chose Salt as a Weapon

Salt was considered to be a basic unit and right for every Indian citizen, it was chosen for representation for beginning of civil disobedience movement. Salt had made a connection between swaraj ideal and also with rural poor. Similarly, Khadi also made psychological connect and self help force for poor and gave the urban believers chance for symbolic relate.

Limitation of Civil Disobedience Movement

The important limitations of the civil disobedience movement are:

1. The movement came to ignore the untouchables.
2. As the Muslim political organisations did not participate, the gap between the Hindu- Muslim came to be widened.
3. Dispute between Congress and Muslims as Muslims demanded special seats.
4. Large number of Muslims turned away from conflict as they thought they would become minority.

Related Links

1. Dandi March 
2. Non-Cooperation Movement
3. Constructive Programmes of Mahatma Gandhi During Non-Cooperation Movement and Civil Disobedience Movement
4. Khilafat and Non Cooperation Movement
5. Difference Between Non Cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movements
6. The First World War, Khilafat and Non-Cooperation
7. Different Forms of Non-cooperation Movement
8. Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
9. Role of Mahatma Gandhi in Freedom Struggle

FAQs on Civil Disobedience Movement 

What is civil disobedience movement in India?

The civil disobedience movement in India refers to the resistance to British rule in India with the help of nonviolent means which is used deliberately for disobeying the British imposed laws, which were unjust.

In which year Civil Disobedience Movement started?

The civil disobedience movement was started on 12 March, 1930.

How many people participated in Dandi March?

Along with Gandhi, 78 other ashram members set off on foot for Dandi from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmadabad.

What is the civil disobedience movement of 1930 known as?

Mahatma Gandhi led the nonviolent civil disobedience movement known as the Salt March, also referred to as the Salt Satyagraha, the Dandi March, and the Dandi Satyagraha, in colonial India.

What is the concept of the civil disobedience movement? or What was the Civil Disobedience Movement’s primary goal?

The Civil Disobedience Movement attempted to completely refuse British collaboration and obstruct government operations. It also intended to boycott government institutions and foreign products by refusing to pay taxes.

Who started the civil disobedience movement?

Civil Disobedience Movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1930. 

What effect did the movement have on the economy?

The economic consequences of the Non-cooperation Movement Between 1921 and 1922, the value of imported foreign fabric fell by half, from 102 crores to 57 crores. Foreign goods were boycotted, liquor stores were picketed, and foreign clothing was burned in massive bonfires.

What are the driving forces behind the Civil Disobedience Movement’s influence?

These were the forces or factors behind the civil disobedience movement: 

• The Simon Commission issue was one of the causes of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
• Irwin’s vague promise to grant India Dominion Status at some undetermined point in the future.
• Salt Law
• The British ignored eleven demands of Gandhiji .