Gandhi's Campaigns 1930-1932

Gandhi's Campaigns 1930-1932

1. December 1929

   • Purna Swaraj
     • Made an official aim of Congress (J. Nehru Congress President)

2. Salt March - March 1930

   • Aim: Boycott the salt tax
     • Tax made by the British on an essential part of Indian's diet due to hot climate
     • Walked 400km with 78 supporters from his ashram (small religious community) to the sea at Dandi Beach
       • Gandhi had a gathering before the march which attracted 75,000 people
     • British Response
       • Salt Production Works at Dharasana - 2000 demonstrators were attacked by police using lathis (steel-tipped cane)
         • 2 people were killed and 320 were injured

3. Mass Civil Disobedience

   • 20,000 people arrested including Gandhi

4. 1st Round Table Conference - 12th November 1930

   • Failure: Gandhi and Congress didn't attend
     • Shows Gandhi's Importance
   • 16 Princes, 57 representatives: Muslims, Sikhs and Untouchables attended,
   • Agreed on being reserved seats and heading towards dominion status

5. Gandhi-Irwin Pact - March 1931

   • Gandhi's Side
     • Civil Disobedience movement would be halted
       • Civil Disobedience scared the British. Pushed them into negotiation!
         • Suggests Gandhi is of a similar status to the Viceroy!!
     • Congress would participate in round table conferences
   • Irwin's Side
     • Police brutality inquiry would held
     • Political prisoners not guilty of violent crime would be released
     • Fines cancelled, other restrictions lifted, banned organisations would be unbanned
     • Gov.t promised that all future changes would be in the interests of India itself

6. 2nd Round Table Conference September 1931

   • Congress demanded and instructed Purna Swaraj
   • Gandhi says he is speaking for ALL Indians
     • No need for reserved seats
       • Angered Muslims, Untouchables, Sikhs and Princes
   • Ended in disagreement

7. Gandhi re-arrested and Civil Disobedience restarts

   • Brutality had continued in Bengal after the 2nd Round Table Conference
     • Viceroy Willingdon saw this as an opportunity to strengthen the weak position of Lord Irwin therefore Gandhi was arrested.
   • Shows British didn't think much of pact
     • Took what they wanted (Gandhi being arrested) and then broke it