Celebrating 91 years of ‘Dandi’ march by Mahatma Gandhi

Friday marks the 91st anniversary of  the famous ‘Dandi march’ by Mahatma Gandhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch a  21-day long Dandi March from a ground beside the Abhay Ghat to observe the event. 

Part of Gandhi‘s non-violent protest, Dandi march was against the British monopoly on salt production. Gandhi led 78 people in a 24-day march on March 12 and reached Dandi on April 5, 1930, according to Indian Express. He made salt in Dandi and  headed to Dharasana Salt Works, 40 km south. He was, however, arrested on May 5.

The march saw Gandhi and others stop at a different village after each day with hundreds of people joining the core group as the march continued. 

Gandhi’s detention had triggered thousands of people to join the ‘Satyagraha’ movement. Poet Sarojini Naidu led a march on the saltworks on May 21 that saw many of the 2,500 peaceful marchers being beaten by the police, according to Britannica. 

Following Gandhi’s release from jail in January 1931, he began negotiations with Lord Irwin and a truce subsequently was declared that was formalised in the Gandhi-Irwin Pact, signed on March 5.