Civil Disobedience Movement

Civil Disobedience Movement was a non-violent movement which began in 1930 and was led by Mahatma Gandhi. Movement began to express mass dissent against the British colonial rule and their oppressive regime. It started with the Dandi March where salt was made by people to break the unfair salt law which gave complete control over salt production to the British Government. This movement then spread across the country where large number of masses participated to disobey unfair laws and not cooperate with the government rule. This brought the British administration to a halt and even led to loss of revenue for them. This was unprecedented as British could not, despite lathi charges and firing on innocent people, stop the movement. Eventually, the British agreed to Round Table Conference to discuss constitutional reforms to satisfy the demands of the Indian people.

The British East India Company came to India first in 1600s. Slowly their trading motive turned to the desire to rule the resource rich Indian subcontinent. The British Crown first began directly ruling India in 1858. With a purely profit motive, their rule was highly exploitative. A mass Indian movement was brewing which was organised under the Indian National Congress from the start of the 20th century.

The Civil Disobedience Movement started with the Dandi March to break the salt law. This spread rapidly across the country when there was boycott of British goods, taxes were not paid, Boycott of courts and government jobs etc. The idea was to not cooperate with the Government machinery and demand self governance for the Indians by the Indians.

What led to the Civil Disobedience Movement: At the end of December 1929, the Congress in its Annual Session in Lahore declared that its goal was to get ‘Purna Swaraj’ or complete Independence for India. Following this, on 26 January 1930 ‘Independence Day’ was observed symbolically and the national flag was hoisted in many places.

Mahatma Gandhi gave specific instructions for how this day should be celebrated:

• A meeting at the same time in all areas to make a declaration of Independence.
• It should be a celebration with drums
• Do constructive work e.g. welfare of untouchables, uniting Hindus & Muslims
• A pledge to recognise that people have a right to abolish an oppressive government.

Aim of the movement was to protest against the oppressive British regime specifically the State monopoly on the creation of salt. Civil Disobedience Movement was also promoting self-reliance and unity among Indians. And the ultimate goal was to seek ‘purna swaraj’ and independence through reforming the laws of the country.

Dandi March: On 12 March 1930, the movement began with the Dandi March from Sabarmati Ashram. When Gandhiji reached Dandi, he broke the salt law by making salt from the seawater.

• This symbolic act marked the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
• Gandhiji also issued an advance notice of “Salt March” to Viceroy Lord Irwin, who did not take this movement very seriously before it began.
• At the same time, parallel movements were being done across the country.
• People were encouraged to break the salt law at home also.

Gandhiji’s Tactical Genius:

• Breaking the salt law was a smart move because salt is used in every Indian household, but there was a ban on making it even for mere domestic consumption. Gandhi hoped to mobilise wider discontent against the British rule with this move.
• The opposition to State monopoly over salt united all people in India irrespective of their religion and class.

Leaders of the Civil Disobedience Movement: Gandhiji was arrested in May 1930 which was followed by massive protests across the country. Various leaders were leading the movement in other parts of the country.

• Non-violent means were used like boycott of British goods, refusal to pay taxes, peaceful protests, picketing of shops, boycott of law courts, boycott of foreign goods, resignation from government service, boycott of Legislative Assemblies etc.
• Across India, peasants broke the hated colonial forest laws that kept them and their cattle out of the woods in which they used to roam freely since ancient times.
• Gandhiji called on everyone to leave government employment and join the Civil Disobedience Movement.
• Gandhiji gave speeches where he said that true swaraj will be achieved by welfare of untouchables and unity of all people from different religions. He told the caste Hindus that Swaraj means they will also have to make amends for the wrongs which have been done to the untouchables. These speeches were attended by many people across the route.
• There was mass participation from women, students, merchants, tribals, workers and peasants.
• However, Muslim participation was low as Muslim leaders were being lured by the British Government. Still, Muslims in North West Frontier Province and Muslim weavers in Dacca were active.

• Civil Disobedience Movement’s importance is evident from the fact that merely 17 years after it India achieved Independence. It set the stage for mass struggle in India and imbibed the practice ofnon-violence in the people.
• It brought the British Colonial government to a halt and they suffered massive losses. Imports of foreign cloth fell and government suffered losses due to non-payment of taxes and land revenue. Legislative Assemblies were boycotted.
• Government suffered an erosion of power and brutal retaliation (lathi charge and firing) over peaceful protestors also led to loss of face for the Government. Ordinances were used to ban civil liberties and the press was censored. They also detained dissenters.

Round Table Conferences: The Britishers realised that the only effective way to stop Civil Disobedience Movement was to agree to give some powers to Indians.

• For this, the first “Round Table Conference” was held in London in November 1930, but it was not attended by eminent Indian leaders who were participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement. Gandhiji was released in January 1931 and undertook long discussions with Viceroy Irwin.

The Gandhi Irwin Pact: In March 1931, the Gandhi- Irwin Pact or the Delhi Pact was signed. This was significant as it put the Congress on an equal footing with the government. Following was agreed to by the British Government-

1. Immediate release of all political prisoners, not convicted of violence
2. Remission of all fines not collected
3. Return of all land seized by the government, and not yet sold to a third party
4. Leniency for the government servants who had resigned
5. Right to make salt for consumption, not for sale.
6. Right topeaceful picketing
7. Withdrawal of emergency ordinances.

Congress agreed to suspension of the Civil Disobedience Movement and to participate in the Round Table Conference. While these were significant achievements, one main goal could not be achieved which is the commutation of death sentences of Bhagat Singh and his comrades.

Second Round Table Conference and Eventual Devolution of Power: The Second Round Table Conference was inconclusive.

• Gandhiji returned to India and resumed the Civil Disobedience Movement.
• Eventually, the Government of India Act, 1935 was passed which allowed representative form of government.
• In 1937, elections were held where some people were given the right to vote and in 8 out of 11 provinces in British India, Congress won. In these provinces there was a Congress “Prime Minister” working under the British Governor.

The mass scale of Civil Disobedience Movement is evident from just the number of people who were arrested which were around 60,000 during the Dandi March itself. Civil Disobedience Movement became a turning point for India’s Independence. Under Gandhiji’s inspiring leadership, Indian’s shifted their demands from asking for benevolent governance to demanding self-rule. This brought the British government to its knees and led to the Round Table Conference, becoming a key step towards India’s eventual independence.

The legacy of the non-violent resistance of Civil Disobedience Movement inspired Indians and also the freedom struggles around the world. The Civil Disobedience Movement is a reminder that even the most powerful empires can be brought down by the determination of a people united in their cause. It is a testament to the power of non-violent resistance, and it is a source of hope for people who are fighting for justice and freedom around the world.