Civil Disobedience Movement: UPSC SSC History Explained

Origins and Objectives

The Civil Disobedience Movement began in 1930. It followed the Lahore Session of the Indian National Congress in December 1929. During this session, the Congress declared 'Purna Swaraj' (complete independence) as its main goal. Mahatma Gandhi was given the authority to launch a civil disobedience movement. The main objective was to defy unjust British laws and demand self-rule. The movement aimed to involve a wider section of the Indian population, including women and peasants, in the freedom struggle. It sought to put moral pressure on the British government through non-violent means.

Gandhi presented eleven demands to Viceroy Lord Irwin in January 1930. These demands covered various aspects, including reduction of military expenditure, changes in the rupee-sterling exchange ratio, total prohibition, and abolition of the salt tax. The British government, however, did not respond positively to these demands. This non-response paved the way for the launch of the movement. The salt tax was chosen as the initial point of protest because it affected all sections of society, rich and poor alike.

The Salt Satyagraha

The Civil Disobedience Movement officially began with the Dandi March. Mahatma Gandhi started this march on March 12, 1930, from his Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. He was accompanied by 78 of his trusted followers. The march covered a distance of approximately 240 miles to the coastal village of Dandi in Gujarat. On April 6, 1930, Gandhi symbolically broke the salt law by picking up a lump of natural salt from the seashore. This act marked the beginning of widespread civil disobedience across India.

The Salt Satyagraha inspired millions. People across the country started manufacturing salt illegally. This included prominent leaders like C. Rajagopalachari, who led a similar march from Tiruchirappalli to Vedaranyam in Tamil Nadu. The movement saw widespread boycotts of foreign cloth and liquor. Peasants refused to pay land revenue and chaukidari taxes. Women participated in large numbers, picketing liquor shops and opium dens. The British government responded with severe repression, arresting thousands of protestors, including Gandhi and other major leaders.

Spread and Impact

The Civil Disobedience Movement spread rapidly throughout India. In the North-West Frontier Province, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, also known as 'Frontier Gandhi,' organized the 'Khudai Khidmatgars' (Servants of God). They were known as 'Red Shirts' and actively participated in the movement. In Peshawar, the Garhwali soldiers refused to fire on unarmed crowds, demonstrating a significant act of defiance against British orders. In various parts of the country, forest laws were violated, and tribal communities participated by cutting down trees and grazing cattle in reserved forests.

The movement had a profound impact on the Indian political landscape. It demonstrated the power of non-violent resistance and the widespread desire for independence. It also brought women into the public sphere of political action in unprecedented numbers. The British government realized the need to negotiate with Indian leaders. This led to the Gandhi-Irwin Pact in 1931, which temporarily suspended the movement and allowed Gandhi to attend the Second Round Table Conference in London.

Gandhi-Irwin Pact and Aftermath

The Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed on March 5, 1931. Under this pact, the British government agreed to release all political prisoners not convicted of violence. It also allowed the manufacture of salt for personal consumption along the coast. In return, Mahatma Gandhi agreed to suspend the Civil Disobedience Movement and participate in the Second Round Table Conference. Gandhi attended the conference in London in September 1931, but it failed to achieve any significant constitutional reforms for India.

Upon his return, Gandhi revived the Civil Disobedience Movement in January 1932. However, the British government was better prepared this time. They adopted a more repressive policy, arresting Gandhi and other leaders, and imposing strict ordinances. The movement gradually lost its momentum due to severe repression and the lack of a new program. It was officially called off in April 1934. Despite its formal end, the movement had significantly strengthened the nationalist sentiment and laid the groundwork for future struggles, including the Quit India Movement.

Important Keywords Explained

Purna Swarajconcept

Purna Swaraj means 'complete self-rule' or 'complete independence'. It was declared as the main goal of the Indian National Congress at its Lahore Session in December 1929. This declaration marked a significant shift from the earlier demand for dominion status and provided the ideological basis for the Civil Disobedience Movement. It signified the Congress's unwavering commitment to achieving full independence from British colonial rule.

Dandi Marchevent

The Dandi March, also known as the Salt Satyagraha, was a non-violent protest led by Mahatma Gandhi against the British salt tax. It began on March 12, 1930, from Sabarmati Ashram and concluded on April 6, 1930, at Dandi. Gandhi and his followers walked 240 miles to make salt from seawater, symbolically defying the oppressive British salt law. This event marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Gandhi-Irwin Pactact

The Gandhi-Irwin Pact was a political agreement signed on March 5, 1931, between Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin, the then Viceroy of India. It temporarily halted the Civil Disobedience Movement. Key provisions included the release of political prisoners, permission for coastal villagers to make salt for personal use, and Gandhi's agreement to attend the Second Round Table Conference in London. The pact was a significant moment of negotiation between the British and Indian nationalists.

Khudai Khidmatgarsorganization

The Khudai Khidmatgars, meaning 'Servants of God,' was a non-violent Pashtun movement against British rule in the North-West Frontier Province of British India. It was led by Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, also known as 'Frontier Gandhi.' Members wore red shirts and were committed to non-violence, playing a crucial role in the Civil Disobedience Movement, particularly in defying British authority in their region.

Additional Facts & Context

• The Dandi March lasted for 24 days.
• 78 volunteers accompanied Gandhi on the initial Dandi March.
• The Lahore Session of 1929 was presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru.
• Over 90,000 people were arrested during the movement by 1930-31.
• The Second Round Table Conference was held in September-December 1931.