6 Major Movements Led by Mahatma Gandhi

6. Civil Disobedience Movement: Dandi March and Gandhi-Irwin Pact

The Civil disobedience movement was a vital part of Indian freedom struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi against the ruling colonial government. While addressing the nation in a newspaper, Young India, in March 1930, Gandhi expressed his willingness to suspend the movement if his eleven demands get accepted by the government. But Lord Irwin’s government did not respond back to him. As a result, he initiated the movement in full vigor. The movement began with the Dandi March which was led by Gandhi on 12th March 1930 from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi in Gujarat. After reaching Dandi, Gandhi and his followers violated the salt laws by making salt from the salted sea water. After this, breaking the British laws became the widespread phenomena in India. People started the sale of the restricted political pamphlets violating Section 144. Gandhiji urged Indian women to start spinning and soon people started protesting in the front of the government offices and shops selling foreign goods.

Women of India have started taking part in the Indian freedom struggle. Sarojini Naidu came to the leading edge during this movement. In the north-west, the most popular leader was Abdul Gaffar Khan, often called “Frontier Gandhi”. The Lord Irwin’s government called for a round Table conference in 1930 in London and the Indian National Congress refused to be a part of it. Just to make sure that Congress attend the second roundtable conference, Lord Irwin signed a pact with the Gandhi in 1931. It was called the Gandhi-Irwin Pact. The pact talked about the releasing of all the political prisoners and cancellation of all the oppressive laws.