On which of the following day, Gandhiji picked up a handful of salt and inaugurated the Civil Disobedience Movement?

The correct answer is 6th April, 1930.

Key Points

• On 6th April 1930, Mahatma Gandhi picked up a handful of salt at Dandi, marking the start of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
• This act was a direct action against the British salt tax and monopoly on salt production.
• The event is famously known as the Salt March or Dandi March, which began on 12th March 1930 from Sabarmati Ashram and ended on 6th April 1930 at Dandi.
• The Salt March covered a distance of approximately 240 miles (385 kilometers) and lasted 24 days.
• This movement was a pivotal moment in the Indian independence struggle, galvanizing widespread national and international support.

Additional Information

• Salt March (Dandi March):
  • It was a 24-day nonviolent march led by Mahatma Gandhi to produce salt from the seawater in defiance of British laws.
  • The march began on March 12, 1930, and ended on April 6, 1930.
  • The march was a direct action campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly.
  • Gandhi’s choice of salt as the protest symbol was significant because salt was used daily by every Indian, rich or poor.
• Civil Disobedience Movement:
  • The movement aimed to achieve complete independence from British rule through nonviolent means.
  • It involved the refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of the British government.
  • The movement included non-payment of taxes, especially the salt tax, and boycotting British goods.
• Impact of the Salt March:
  • The Salt March drew international attention to the Indian independence movement through extensive media coverage.
  • It inspired numerous Indians to join the freedom struggle, leading to mass civil disobedience activities across the country.
  • The movement paved the way for future campaigns and played a crucial role in India's path to independence.
• Mahatma Gandhi:
  • Gandhi was the leader of the Indian independence movement and a proponent of nonviolent civil disobedience.
  • He is known for his philosophy of Satyagraha, which is based on the principles of truth and nonviolence.
  • Gandhi's leadership and strategies significantly contributed to India's struggle for independence from British rule.