Background:The British had imposed a Salt Act on the citizens of India that prohibited them from selling and collecting salt, which was a main part of their diet. They also introduced a salt tax that meant salt was a lot more expense to buy for the indians, an expense that many of them couldn't afford to pay. Gandhi Decided that a good way to defy the British law nonviolently, would be to take a walk....
Gandhi began his Salt March at his religious retreat in Sabermanti on March 12, 1930. He preached to crowds of indians through his travels, with each passing day gaining more and more followers. After a trek of 386km, they reached the coastal town of Dandi where he was the head of a crowd of tens of thousands. It was here that he famously picked up a handful of natural salt that was on the sand, an act of defiance against the British empire. It was this act that caused the civil disobedience all around India.
Ghandi was arrested along with 60,000 others but the movement continued without him. On May 21, poet Sarojini Naidu led 2,500 protesters to the salt works at Dharasana where they were met by British police and beaten viciously. Fortunately for them the event was recorded by American Journalist Webb Miller, and the article he published caused a global outcry to the situation in India.
Footage from the salt march
I have used this footage to help show viewers what the Salt March looked like during the time and a bit of context of what I talked about above. The video shows Gandhi's views on the problems of the time and what he thought of them. He mentions in the video that he opposed child marriage, drinking as well as the salt act which he expressed that he would not return to his home till it had been repealed. The video shows his perserverance and will to carry on through these hard times.