Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-34) - Background, Dandi March, Salt Satyagraha, Phases, Gandhi-Irwin Pact, Significance, and Failure

Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–34) – Background, Dandi March, Salt Satyagraha, Phases, Gandhi–Irwin Pact, Significance, and Failure

The Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) was one of the most decisive mass movements in India's freedom struggle. It transformed nationalism from a limited political demand into a people's moral challenge to colonial laws and authority. For UPSC, CDM is important because it connects political strategy (mass struggle + negotiation), constitutional developments (Round Table Conferences), and social change (wider participation of women, peasants, and youth).

1) Meaning of "Civil Disobedience" and Why It Was Different

"Civil disobedience" means deliberately breaking a law in a non-violent way to prove that the law is unjust. The aim is not disorder, but moral pressure and public awakening.

2) Background to the Movement

2.1 Political and Economic Context After 1922

• Withdrawal of Non-Cooperation (1922) after the Chauri Chaura incident created a phase of debate: mass struggle vs constitutional methods.
• In the 1920s, Indian nationalism matured through constructive work, local satyagrahas, and wider political organization.
• Economic distress increased due to agrarian problems, tax burdens, and later the global economic slowdown (late 1920s–early 1930s).

2.2 Triggering Political Developments

• Simon Commission (1927): Appointed without any Indian member, leading to widespread protests and boycott.
• Nehru Report (1928): Proposed dominion status and constitutional reforms; it became a reference point in political negotiations.
• Lahore Session of INC (December 1929): Congress adopted the goal of Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence).
• 26 January 1930 was observed as Independence Day, preparing public mood for a major confrontation.

2.3 Why Gandhi Wanted a "People's Issue"

Gandhi believed the movement needed an issue that:

• touched every Indian, rich or poor,
• exposed colonial injustice clearly, and
• could be acted upon by ordinary people without special resources.

3) Why Salt? The Logic Behind Salt Satyagraha

Salt was chosen as the central symbol because:

• Salt is a basic necessity for everyone, including the poorest.
• The British imposed a salt tax and controlled salt production, making even a natural resource a source of revenue.
• Breaking the salt law was simple, non-violent, and mass-friendly: people could make salt from seawater or defy the salt rules in many ways.
• It created a powerful message: if a government taxes your daily life, it controls your freedom.

4) Gandhi's Ultimatum to the Viceroy: Demands Before the March

Before launching civil disobedience, Gandhi informed Viceroy Lord Irwin with a set of demands (often summarized as an 11-point program). The demands broadly targeted:

• reduction of land revenue and rent burden,
• abolition or reduction of salt tax,
• cut in military expenditure and high administrative costs,
• protection for Indian industries and relief for the poor,
• release of political prisoners and civil liberties.

When the government did not accept these demands, Gandhi proceeded with the Dandi March.

5) Dandi March (12 March – 6 April 1930): The Turning Point

5.1 What Was the Dandi March?

The Dandi March (also called the Salt March) was a carefully planned, symbolic march from Sabarmati Ashram to the coastal village of Dandi in Gujarat. Gandhi began with a small group of chosen volunteers and walked for several days, holding prayer meetings and speeches in villages, building momentum step-by-step.

5.2 Why the March Was Strategically Brilliant

• Slow build-up: It gave time for the message to spread, unlike a sudden call.
• Village connect: Gandhi used the route to connect nationalism with everyday rural life.
• Media impact: The march created national and international attention, turning a "salt law" into a global symbol of freedom.
• Mass imitation: The method could be copied across India in local forms.

5.3 The Act at Dandi

On 6 April 1930, Gandhi symbolically broke the salt law by making salt. This was not merely a local event; it was the official beginning of a nationwide Civil Disobedience Movement.

6) Salt Satyagraha (1930): How the Movement Spread Across India

6.1 Main Forms of Protest

• Breaking the salt law: Making salt, selling illegal salt, or defying salt regulations.
• Boycott: Foreign cloth, liquor, and sometimes British institutions.
• Picketing: Especially of liquor shops and cloth shops; women played a major role.
• No-tax and no-revenue campaigns: In selected regions under Congress influence.
• Forest law violations: Protests by tribal communities against restrictions on forest use.

6.2 Notable Regional Highlights (Illustrative Examples)

• Dharasana Salt Works: After Gandhi's arrest, satyagrahis attempted a non-violent raid; the brutal police action became widely known and strengthened sympathy for the movement.
• Tamil Nadu (Vedaranyam March): A parallel salt march showed how the "Dandi model" could be replicated regionally.
• North-West Frontier Province (NWFP): Strong participation under local leadership and disciplined volunteer groups; repression here drew attention to the movement's spread beyond "traditional" Congress areas.
• Women's participation: Women entered public protest in large numbers through picketing, marches, and leadership at many local satyagrahas.

6.3 British Response: Repression and Arrests

The colonial government reacted strongly because CDM directly challenged the authority of law. Typical methods used by the government included:

• arrests of leaders and activists,
• lathi-charge and violence against peaceful gatherings,
• censorship and restrictions on public meetings,
• confiscation of property and heavy fines.

7) Phases of the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–34)

8) Gandhi–Irwin Pact (5 March 1931): Terms and Debate

8.1 Why Was the Pact Signed?

By early 1931, both sides had reasons to negotiate:

• The government wanted stability and a political settlement before the next constitutional discussions.
• Congress wanted release of prisoners, civil liberties, and recognition as the main political representative.
• The movement had created strong pressure, but sustaining peak intensity indefinitely was difficult under repression.

8.2 Main Provisions of the Pact

8.3 Why the Pact Was Criticized

• It did not include a clear promise of independence or dominion status.
• Many felt the government gave only limited concessions compared to the sacrifices made.
• Revolutionary prisoners and those convicted of violence were not covered, which disappointed a section of nationalists.

8.4 Why the Pact Still Mattered

Even with criticism, the pact mattered because it showed that:

• the British had to negotiate with Congress as a central political force,
• mass struggle could be converted into political dialogue,
• the movement had achieved moral and political legitimacy at a global level.

9) Round Table Conferences and Why Talks Failed

9.1 Second Round Table Conference (1931)

Gandhi attended the Second Round Table Conference as the representative of Congress. However, the talks failed to produce a settlement because:

• the British focused heavily on communal and minority representation, dividing political attention,
• Congress demanded that it be recognized as the main representative of India's political will, which the British resisted,
• there was no consensus on the immediate transfer of power.

9.2 Return and Renewed Confrontation (1932)

After Gandhi returned, repression resumed. Congress was again pushed into launching civil disobedience, but under more difficult conditions.

10) Participation and Social Base: Who Joined and How CDM Became "Mass"

10.1 Women

Women participated in unprecedented numbers. Many stepped into public life through:

• picketing shops selling liquor and foreign cloth,
• joining marches and satyagraha groups,
• organizing local networks and fund-raising.

10.2 Peasants and Rural India

Peasant participation was significant, especially where local grievances matched the national call. No-tax campaigns and anti-revenue protests connected freedom with daily survival.

10.3 Workers, Students, and Urban Middle Class

• Students often supported boycott and protest campaigns.
• Workers participated in some centres, though the movement was not uniformly worker-led across India.
• The urban middle class provided organization, volunteers, and publicity.

10.4 Business Groups

Sections of Indian business supported Congress morally and financially at times, especially where boycott of foreign goods matched economic interests. But business support was not always consistent because prolonged disruption also created uncertainty.

11) Significance of the Civil Disobedience Movement

11.1 Political Significance

• Legitimacy crisis for colonial rule: When ordinary people openly broke laws peacefully, the moral authority of British rule weakened.
• Congress emerged as the key negotiator: The Gandhi–Irwin Pact symbolized British acceptance of Congress as a central force.
• From elite politics to mass politics: CDM expanded participation beyond city elites into villages and small towns.

11.2 Social Significance

• Women's political entry became more normal and visible in nationalist activity.
• Different social groups experienced nationalism through simple, repeatable acts (salt-making, picketing, boycott).
• It strengthened the culture of non-violent collective action as a national method.

11.3 Economic Significance

• Boycott of foreign cloth encouraged swadeshi sentiment and supported indigenous production.
• Protests highlighted how colonial economic policies affected the poorest through everyday taxation and monopolies.

11.4 International Significance

The Dandi March and non-violent resistance attracted global attention. This increased moral pressure on the British and helped place India's freedom struggle prominently in world opinion.

12) Why the Movement Weakened and Was Withdrawn (Failure / Limitations)

The Civil Disobedience Movement did not fail in the sense of becoming meaningless. However, it did not achieve immediate independence and could not sustain the same intensity up to 1934. Key reasons include:

12.1 Severe Repression

• Large-scale arrests removed leadership from the field.
• Brutal police action created fear and disrupted organization.
• Constant bans and restrictions made mass mobilization difficult.

12.2 Negotiation Breakdown and Political Complications

• Failure of the Round Table talks reduced hope of a near-term settlement.
• British strategy increasingly focused on dividing political representation through communal and minority politics.

12.3 Uneven Participation and Regional Variations

• Participation was not equally strong in all regions at all times.
• Some areas saw intense activity, while others faced quicker decline due to local constraints.

12.4 Economic and Social Pressures on Protesters

• Long movements require money, time, and safety; many poor families could not sustain prolonged sacrifice.
• Loss of livelihood due to arrests, fines, and confiscations weakened continued participation.

12.5 Strategic Shift by Congress

By 1933–34, Congress increasingly shifted focus towards:

• organizational rebuilding,
• constructive work, and
• preparing for future political opportunities under evolving constitutional reforms.

Finally, the movement was withdrawn in 1934.

13) Overall Assessment: Was CDM a "Success" or "Failure"?

A balanced UPSC answer should avoid extremes.

• Not an immediate success: Independence was not achieved; many demands were not accepted; repression was heavy.
• Not a real failure: CDM changed the nature of the freedom struggle. It proved that the British could not rule without facing continuous moral and political resistance.
• Biggest achievement: It made common people feel ownership of the freedom movement through simple actions and mass unity.

14) Exam-Ready Timeline (Quick Revision)

15) UPSC Mains Notes: How to Write a High-Quality Answer

• Start with the objective: challenge colonial legitimacy through non-violent law-breaking.
• Use Dandi March + salt as the central narrative spine.
• Bring in the strategy angle: mass struggle + negotiation (Gandhi–Irwin Pact).
• Add assessment: achievements + limitations; avoid one-sided judgment.
• Close with legacy: CDM deepened mass politics and prepared ground for future phases of the freedom struggle.

16) Previous Year Questions (PYQs) with Model Answers

17) Practice MCQs (with Explanations)

1. Which statement best describes Civil Disobedience?

   • A) Violent overthrow of the state
   • B) Peaceful refusal to obey unjust laws with willingness to accept punishment
   • C) Participation in British councils
   • D) Only boycott of foreign goods

   Answer: B. Explanation: Civil disobedience is defined by peaceful law-breaking and acceptance of penalty to expose injustice.

2. The Dandi March is directly associated with the protest against:

   • A) Land revenue settlement
   • B) Salt law and salt tax
   • C) Rowlett Act
   • D) Partition of Bengal

   Answer: B. Explanation: The march aimed to break the colonial monopoly and law on salt.

3. Which was a key reason for choosing salt as the issue?

   • A) It was relevant only to urban Indians
   • B) It affected everyone and could be acted upon easily
   • C) It was a secret commodity controlled by Indian rulers
   • D) It had no economic importance

   Answer: B. Explanation: Salt is universal; the act of defiance was simple and mass-friendly.

4. The Gandhi–Irwin Pact led to:

   • A) Immediate independence
   • B) Congress participation in the Second Round Table Conference
   • C) Abolition of all British taxes
   • D) Permanent end of British rule

   Answer: B. Explanation: The pact included suspension of CDM and Gandhi's participation in constitutional talks.

5. Which of the following is the correct sequence?

   • A) Gandhi–Irwin Pact → Dandi March → Lahore Session
   • B) Lahore Session → Dandi March → Gandhi–Irwin Pact
   • C) Dandi March → Lahore Session → Gandhi–Irwin Pact
   • D) Lahore Session → Gandhi–Irwin Pact → Dandi March

   Answer: B. Explanation: Purna Swaraj at Lahore (1929) preceded Dandi (1930); pact came in 1931.

6. A key limitation of the Gandhi–Irwin Pact, as criticized by many nationalists, was:

   • A) It promised immediate Purna Swaraj
   • B) It did not give a clear commitment to independence
   • C) It banned picketing forever
   • D) It forced Congress to accept separate electorates

   Answer: B. Explanation: The pact was seen as short of the political goal, even though it had important concessions.

7. Which best explains why CDM was harder to sustain in 1932–34?

   • A) No arrests happened in this period
   • B) Repression increased and leadership was repeatedly jailed
   • C) Salt law was never broken
   • D) Congress supported British war efforts

   Answer: B. Explanation: Harsher repression and disruption of organization reduced sustained mass intensity.

8. One major contribution of CDM to Indian society was:

   • A) Withdrawal of women from public life
   • B) Expansion of women's participation in political action
   • C) End of all social divisions instantly
   • D) Permanent end to political negotiations

   Answer: B. Explanation: CDM widened the entry of women into mass politics through picketing and marches.

9. Which of the following is NOT a typical method used in CDM?

   • A) Peaceful law-breaking
   • B) Boycott of foreign cloth
   • C) Picketing liquor shops
   • D) Secret armed rebellion as the official Congress strategy

   Answer: D. Explanation: Congress-led CDM was explicitly non-violent and not an armed rebellion strategy.

10. The best balanced conclusion about CDM is:

    • A) It was totally useless because independence did not come immediately
    • B) It was a total success because it ended British rule in 1931
    • C) It did not achieve immediate independence but transformed mass politics and colonial legitimacy
    • D) It had no impact on negotiations with the British

    Answer: C. Explanation: UPSC expects balanced evaluation: gains were major, but immediate political goal was not achieved then.

18) Final Takeaway (One-Paragraph Revision)

The Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–34) began with Gandhi's Dandi March and the Salt Satyagraha, turning the freedom struggle into a mass, moral challenge to colonial laws. It spread through boycotts, picketing, and selective no-tax protests, forced negotiations leading to the Gandhi–Irwin Pact (1931), and resumed in 1932 after talks failed. Though it did not bring immediate independence and weakened under repression by 1934, it decisively expanded mass participation, strengthened non-violent politics, and deepened the legitimacy crisis of British rule—making it a major milestone on India's road to freedom.