MPPSC 2021 Prelims Paper-I · Question 54 of 100

Correct — A, Sabarmati (Ahmedabad). Gandhi began the Salt Satyagraha (Dandi March) from Sabarmati Ashram on 12 March 1930, walking about 240 miles over 24 days with a band of followers to the coastal village of Dandi, where he broke the salt law on 6 April 1930.

• (b)Pavnar — Vinoba Bhave's ashram near Wardha — associated with Bhave's later work, not the 1930 Dandi March.
• (c)Sewagram — Gandhi's own later ashram near Wardha, but he moved there only from 1936 — years after the 1930 Dandi March, which started from Sabarmati.
• (d)Ramanandiya — Not the ashram linked to the Dandi March.

The Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha) was the opening act of the Civil Disobedience Movement. Gandhi and a band of followers walked from Sabarmati Ashram (Ahmedabad) to the coastal village of Dandi to make salt in defiance of the British salt tax and monopoly, launching a nationwide campaign of civil disobedience.

Distinguish Gandhi's ashrams by period: Sabarmati (Ahmedabad, his base from 1917 until 1930) versus Sewagram (Wardha, from 1936 onward) — the Dandi March belongs to the earlier Sabarmati phase, well before the later move.

• Started: 12 March 1930, from Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad
• Destination: Dandi (Gujarat coast) — the salt law was broken there on 6 April 1930
• Marked the start of the Civil Disobedience Movement
• Gandhi shifted his ashram base to Sewagram (Wardha) only from 1936

• Confusing the Dandi March's starting ashram (Sabarmati) with Gandhi's later Wardha-period ashrams (Sewagram/Paunar)
• Mixing up the march's start date (12 March) with the salt-breaking date at Dandi (6 April)

Frequently tested as direct recall of the start point or date, or as chronological ordering of the Dandi March against other freedom-struggle events.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  On which date did Mahatma Gandhi break the salt law at Dandi?

  • (a)12 March 1930
  • (b)6 April 1930
  • (c)26 January 1930
  • (d)8 August 1942

  Answer(b) 6 April 1930 — he had started from Sabarmati on 12 March.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  The Dandi March marked the beginning of which movement?

  • (a)Non-Cooperation Movement
  • (b)Civil Disobedience Movement
  • (c)Quit India Movement
  • (d)Khilafat Movement

  Answer(b) Civil Disobedience Movement.