Question

“Gandhiji initiated the Civil Disobedience Movement to challenge British laws.” Examine the statement.

Answer 1

The Civil Disobedience Movement, launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1930, was a critical phase in India's struggle for independence. It was aimed at directly challenging and breaking the unjust laws of British colonial rule through nonviolent means.

• Salt March (Dandi March): Gandhiji walked 240 miles to Dandi to make salt, defying the British monopoly on salt production—symbolizing defiance of oppressive laws.
• Mass Participation: The movement saw widespread participation by students, women, farmers, and workers, making it a pan-Indian protest.
• Boycott of British Institutions: Indians boycotted foreign goods, law courts, schools, and titles to reject colonial authority.
• Demands: The movement demanded complete independence (Purna Swaraj), release of political prisoners, and rollback of repressive policies.
• Repression by the British: Brutal suppression, lathi charges, and mass arrests occurred, including Gandhiji's imprisonment, showcasing the impact of civil resistance.

The movement marked a new phase where breaking British laws became a legitimate and moral form of protest.