Personalities Associated With The Civil Disobedience Movement

Gandhiji began the Civil Disobedience Movement on April 6, 1930. The historic Dandi March ended with him taking a pinch of salt in his palms and officially launching this movement into motion. From Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, the Dandi March began. Finally, the government’s salt legislation has been breached by this development. Gandhiji was the driving force behind this movement, exerting the most influence. As well as the affluent peasant communities, the zamindars, and the businesses, he also requested and motivated them to participate actively in the campaign for liberation.

Eleven demands made by Gandhi before the Civil Disobedience Movement

To strengthen the nationalist movement, use of salt tax was what Gandhiji wanted to make it a powerful weapon and hence wanted all the Indians to come forward together as a whole to stand up against the British government.

A letter was written on 31st January 1930, to Lord Irwin by Gandhiji, who was then the viceroy of India. The letter clearly mentioned the eleven demands made by Gandhiji. The demands were as follows:-

• The rate of land revenue should be reduced
• Salt tax should be abolished
• There should be minimal changes in the exchange texture of rupees and sterling
• All political prisoners should be released
• Expenses in civil administration should be reduced
• Military expenditures should be reduced
• Intoxicants should be prohibited
• Postal Reservation Bill should be accepted
• CID department should be abolished
• The licenses of arms should be issued to the citizens for their self-protection
• Customs should be levied on Foreign cloth

Soon after these eleven demands were being issued, there came again some issues of general interest. These are again as follows-

• Expenditures on the military and civil administration should be reduced by 50 percent
• Total prohibition should be introduced
• Reforms should be carried out in CID

Personalities associated with Civil Disobedience Movement during British India

The main factor behind pressurizing that led to the Civil Disobedience Movement was Gandhiji. The other personalities associated with him that came forward to stood by him against the Britishers were as follows-

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

On April 6, 1930, the Civil Disobedience Movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi who picked up some amount of salt in his hands soon after the Dandi March was completed. Hence, he broke the salt law that had been implemented by the government earlier. He too inspired the other Indians to come forward and cooperate with him against the struggle for freedom.

Rajagopalachari

A salt march was led by him from Trichinopoly to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore coast in Tamil Nadu, in support of the Civil Disobedience Movement. And on April 30, 1930 he was arrested.

K.Kelappan

A Nair Congress leader, he launched the Vaikom Satyagraha. In defiance of salt laws, he marched from Calicut to Payoneer. A radical agrarian programme was formulated by him and the Constituent Assembly was formed as the primary political slogan.

P.Krishna Pillai

 The national flag was defended by him. The lathi charge on the Calicut beach was also resisted by him on 11 November,1930. The Kerala Communist Movement was later founded by him.

Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan

A clan of non-violent revolutionaries were formed by him known as the Khudai Khidmatgars, who performed an important role in the movement.

Sarojini Naidu

The first Indian woman who became the president of the Congress was also involved.

Surya Sen, Imam Saheb, and others were also involved in the Civil Disobedience Movement. As a result, Gandhiji was an active participant in the movement alongside these great figures. In Indian history, the Civil Disobedience Movement had a significant impact.

Impact of the Movement

The British public has lost trust in the government. The battle for liberation was therefore given a social foundation thanks to it. The prabhat pheris, booklets, and other forms of propaganda were promoted.

The British government’s extortionate salt policy was repealed. In Maharashtra, Karnataka, and other places, people began to rebel. Eastern India declined to pay the “Chaukidari tax” for rural areas.

Conclusion

Civil disobedience began when the British refused to respond to Gandhi’s eleven requests. As a result, Gandhiji joined forces with a group of young activists to stage a protest known as the Civil Disobedience Movement. During his anti-British demonstrations, Gandhi urged all Indians to join him. Women and leaders like Sarojini Naidu and Abdul Gaffar Khan lived alongside zamindars, wealthy business people, and rural populations.