Dandi March: On March 12, 1930, Mahatma Gandhi began one of the most remarkable acts of peaceful protest in modern history — the Dandi March, also known as the Salt March. Starting from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gandhi and 78 carefully selected volunteers set out on a 390-kilometre journey to the coastal village of Dandi. The march lasted 24 days and ended on April 6, when Gandhi symbolically broke the British salt law by picking up a handful of salt from the seashore.
At the time, the British colonial government had imposed a strict monopoly on salt production and levied heavy taxes on it. Indians were not allowed to produce or sell their own salt, even though it was an essential item used by every household. Gandhi deliberately chose salt as the symbol of protest because it affected both the rich and the poor alike. By challenging the salt law, he aimed to unite Indians against colonial economic injustice.
As the march progressed through villages, thousands of people gathered along the route to support the movement. The act soon sparked a nationwide wave of civil disobedience. Indians across the country began making salt illegally, boycotting British goods, and participating in protests against colonial policies. Prominent leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Sarojini Naidu and C. Rajagopalachari played significant roles in expanding the movement. Eventually, tens of thousands of people, including Gandhi himself, were arrested by the British authorities.
The Salt March became a turning point in India’s freedom struggle, drawing international attention to the cause of Indian independence and demonstrating the strength of non-violent resistance.
More than nine decades later, the legacy of the Dandi March continues to resonate. In a world still grappling with social injustice, environmental crises and economic inequality, Gandhi’s strategy reminds us that peaceful collective action and moral courage can challenge even the most powerful systems. The march was not merely about salt — it was about dignity, rights and the power of ordinary people to demand change.