Current Affairs

Issue

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a symbolic ‘Dandi March’ on March 12 to mark the celebrations for the 75th year of Independence. 

 

Background

The march is a part of celebrations known as ‘Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav’, which aims to celebrate 75th year of Independence.

 

Details

• The 2021 Dandi march will have 81 walkers follow the route in memory of the 78 who joined Mahatma Gandhi in 1930 from Ahmedabad to Dandi.

• Descendants of individuals who walked the Salt March (in 1930) will be honoured but they will not been invited to participate in the march due to their age.

• Events will be held in places associated with Gandhiji’s life. This includes Porbandar, Rajkot, Vadodara, Bardoli, Mandvi and Dandi.

• A similar movement was organised by the congress government in 2005 to commemorate the 75 years of the Dandi March.

 

Dandi March

• The Dandi March was part of Gandhiji’s non-violent protest against the British taxation on production of salt. 

• Gandhiji marched from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi and at the end of the journey made his own salt and broke the law.

• He then proceeded to Dharsana salt fields to address workers but was stopped and arrested by the British.

• The Dandi march was a symbolic gesture by Gandhiji to inspire Indians to protests against unilateral rules of the British.

• It aimed at challenging British imperialism regarding their laws that were unsympathetic as well as burdensome on public.