Dandi March – Gandhiji picking up salt

Jawaharlal Nehru’s poignant words capture the essence of the historic march to Dandi led by Mahatma Gandhi, an event that holds immense significance in India’s struggle for independence. In December 1929, the Indian National Congress declared Purna Swaraj, marking January 26, 1930, as Independence Day nationwide. In response, Gandhi initiated the civil disobedience movement known as Salt Satyagraha.

Before commencing the movement, Gandhi addressed a historic letter to the Viceroy of India, expressing his grievances against the unjust salt laws. The Viceroy’s unsympathetic response prompted Gandhi’s famous remark: “On bended knees I asked for bread and I have received stone instead.”

Gandhi selected Dandi, a seaside village in Gujarat, as the symbolic site for his defiance of the salt laws. Setting out from his ashram on the banks of the Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad on March 12, 1930, Gandhi, despite his age of 61, led a group of 78 satyagrahis on a journey spanning approximately 385 kilometers (241 miles). Each day, Gandhi walked tirelessly, covering 16 kilometers (10 miles) or more, while adhering to the ashram routine of prayer, spinning, and diary writing.

The enthusiasm along the march route was unparalleled, with Gandhiji and his companions receiving warm receptions at every stop. The long trek concluded on April 5, 1930, with Gandhiji’s arrival in Dandi. On April 6, amidst a tense atmosphere, he performed the symbolic act of picking up a handful of salt, signaling the defiance of the unjust law. This act galvanized the nation, inspiring millions to join the movement and defy the salt laws, despite the risk of imprisonment.

Jawaharlal Nehru’s arrest on April 14 and Gandhi’s subsequent arrest on May 4 marked the culmination of the Dandi March. However, the march ignited a fervent spirit of resistance and unity across the nation, eventually leading to India’s independence.

To honor the significance of this historic event and pay homage to the Father of the Nation, the Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department issued a set of two se-tenant stamps depicting Gandhiji’s march to Dandi and his defiance of the salt laws. The first-day cover, designed by Charanjit Lal, featured Gandhiji’s message to the world alongside an artist’s impression of his marching feet against a backdrop symbolizing the nation’s solidarity with the Mahatma’s March. The first-day cancellation bore the profile of Mahatma Gandhi with inscriptions in Hindi and English.