Role of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in the Dandi march of 1930. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Role of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in the Dandi march of 1930

On accasion of the 89^th anniversary of the iconic Dandi March, PM Modi published a blog titled ‘when a handful of salt shook an empire’ paying tributes to the contributions made by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to the movement.

Sardar vallabhbhai patel

Dandi March:

• On March 12, 1963, Gandhi along with 80 satyagrahis started out from Sabarmati Ashram and marched over 390 km to reach the coastal village of Dandi.
• The march, a protest against the coercive salt tax imposed by the British, was most significant organized challenge to British authority after the Non-Cooperation Movement of the early 1920s.
• The march sparked a series of acts of civil disobedience across India against the salt laws.
• Over 60,000 people were arrested across the country. Soon after, the Congress planned a Satyagraha at the Dharasana Salt Works, 25 miles south of Dandi.
• However, the plan was shelved after Gandhi was arrested days before the beginning of the movement.

Role of Sardar Patel:                     

• Sardar Patel indeed play a very significant role in mobilizing people for the Dandi March.
• However, when Gandhi proposed the idea of a salt march, the working committee of the Congress was not convinced of the impact it would have.
• However, once the decision was taken, Patel threw his entire weight behind it and the Congress movement its initial momentum.
• It is believed Patel chose Dandi, and even planned the route Gandhi would take.
• As Patel went about mobilizing people for the march, the district administration of Surat realized it was necessary to get him out of the way.
• Consequently, on March 7, five before the march was schedule, Patel was arrested.