Self Rule and the Salt March, 1929
Gandhi used a term, 'Swaraj', to represent his view that India should be free from the influence of foreign powers, and that it should be governed by those who lived there, and understood it best. Thus began his long campaign against the British Presence in his country. In 1930, from March 12 to April 6, Gandhi protested the newly introduced tax on salt by walking 240 miles to the sea to get his own salt. He was followed by many thousands of people, who had obviously recognized the incredible gesture that Gandhi was able to perform using his unique style of protest, all the while avoiding violent confrontation that would have left his movement paralyzed under the brute force of British Imperialism.
Salt March
Swaraj
"If my letter makes no appeal to your heart, on the eleventh day of this month I shall proceed with such co-workers of the Ashram as I can take, to disregard the provisions of the Salt Laws. I regard this tax to be the most iniquitous of all from the poor man's standpoint. As the Independence movement is essentially for the poorest in the land, the beginning will be made with this evil."
-Gandhi, in a letter to Lord Irwin Subjective Question: What if Gandhi had taken more violent measures in his protest? How would this have helped/hindered the quest for India Independence?
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