Dandi Salt March
Summary:
Gandhiji started Dandi Salt March on March 12, 1930 with 78 members of Ashram. Their identities were published in Young India for the benefit of police. Gandhiji leaned on a lacquered bamboo staff one inch thick and 54 inches long and with an iron tip. They walked 200 miles (390 km) in 24 days. peasants sprinkled the roads and strewed leave on them. From miles around peasants gathered to kneel by roadside as the pilgrims passed. Several times they halted for a meeting where Gandhiji exhorted people to wear khadi, abjure alcohol and drugs, abandon child marriage, keep clean and live purely and break the salt law when the signal came.
 |
| Dandi-salt-march-1930 |
Gandhiji had no trouble in walking. Less than twelve miles a day in two stages and not much luggage he said, child's play. Several became fatigued and foot sore and had to ride on bullock carts but Gandhi never used the cart or a horse. He was 61.
Over 300 village headmen gave up their government posts. The inhabitants of one village accompanied Gandhi to the next village and and so on. When they reached Dandi on 5th April their small Ashram band had grown into several thousand nonviolent army.
The entire night of 5th April they prayed and early in the morning reached to the sea. Gandhiji dipped into the sea and picked up some salt left by the waves.
Mrs. Sarojini Naidu standing by his side said. Hail, Deliverer! Gandhiji who had not used salt for 6 years called it a nefarious monopoly. Salt, he said is as essential as air and water for men and beasts specially in a tropical country like India.
Had Gandhiji gone by train or car to make salt, the effect would have been considerable but to walk for 24 days and draw the attention of all India required imagination, dignity and sense of showmanship of a grand artist. It appealed to everyone. Even his fierce opponent Subhash Chandra Bose praised it by comparing it with Napoleon's journey to Paris from Elba.
Questions and Answers:
Q.1 On which day the Dandi Salt March commence?
Ans. The Dandi Salt March commenced on 12th March 1930.
Q.2 How many members of the Sabarmati Ashram accompanied Gandhi on his March?
Ans. Seventy eight male and female members of the Sabarmati Ashram accompanied Gandhi on his March.
Q.3 In which magazine were the names of the marchers published?
Ans. The name of marchers were published in his weekly magazine Young India.
Q.4 What was the length of the staff which Gandhiji on this occasion carried?
Ans. The length of the staff which Gandhiji on his occasion carried was 54 inches.
Q.5 How many days did it take the satyagrahis to reach Dandi?
Ans. It take twenty four days to the satyagrahis to reach Dandi.
Q.6 What did Gandhi exhort people to do when he addressed them on the way to Dandi?
Ans. On the way Gandhi exhorted people to wear khadi, abjure alcohol, and drugs, abandon child marriage, keep clean and live purely and break the salt law when the signal came.
Q.7 What was considered child's play by Gandhi?
Ans. Walking less than 12 miles a day in two stages with not much luggage was considered child's play by Gandhi.
Q.8 On which date did Gandhi and his followers reach Dandi?
Ans. Gandhi and his followers reached Dandi on 5th of April 1930.
Q.9 How many people reached Dandi when Gandhi finally reached there?
Ans. When Gandhi finally reached there his small ashram band had grown into several thousand nonviolent army.
Q.10 What were the words of Mrs. Sarojini Naidu when Gandhi broke the salt law?
Ans. "Hail deliverer" were the words of Mrs. Sarojini Naidu when Gandhi broke the salt law.
Q.11 What required imagination, dignity and the sense of showmanship of a grand artist?
Ans. Instead of going by train or car, Gandhiji walked for 24 days and drew the attention of whole country. It required imagination, dignity and the sense of showmanship of a grand artist.
Q.12 What was the reaction of Subhash Chandra Bose to his breaking of the salt law?
Ans. Subhash Chandra Bose praised his journey by comparing it with Napoleon's march to Paris on his return from Elba.
Comments
Post a Comment