Gandhi gave his speech before starting out on the 'Salt March' on the banks of which river?
Sabarmati
Understanding Gandhi's Salt March Speech Location
The question asks about the river bank where Mahatma Gandhi delivered his speech before commencing the historic Salt March. This march, also known as the Dandi March, was a pivotal moment in India's struggle for independence.
The Salt March began on March 12, 1930. It was a non-violent protest against the British salt tax and monopoly. Gandhi and his followers walked from his ashram to the coastal village of Dandi, Gujarat, to produce salt from seawater, thereby defying the British law.
Before embarking on this significant journey, Gandhi resided at his Sabarmati Ashram, located on the banks of the Sabarmati river near Ahmedabad, Gujarat. It was from here that he addressed his followers and the nation, outlining the purpose and significance of the Salt March, before starting the march towards Dandi.
Analyzing the Options
- Ganga: The Ganga river is located in northern India and is far from Gujarat, where the Salt March originated.
- Sabarmati: The Sabarmati river flows near Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and the Sabarmati Ashram, Gandhi's residence and the starting point of the Salt March, is situated on its banks. This is the correct location.
- Narmada: The Narmada river also flows through Gujarat but is located south of Ahmedabad and the Sabarmati Ashram.
- Brahmaputra: The Brahmaputra river is located in northeastern India and is not connected to the location of the Salt March.
Therefore, the speech before starting the Salt March was given on the banks of the Sabarmati river.
Key Facts about the Salt March
- Date of Start: March 12, 1930
- Starting Point: Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
- Destination: Dandi, a coastal village in Gujarat
- Purpose: To protest the British salt tax and monopoly through non-violent civil disobedience.
- Distance Covered: Approximately 240 miles (386 km)
- Duration: 24 days
- Participants: Gandhi and 78 followers initially, with thousands joining along the way.
| River | Location Relevance to Salt March |
|---|---|
| Ganga | Not relevant to Salt March location in Gujarat. |
| Sabarmati | Sabarmati Ashram, the starting point, is on its banks. |
| Narmada | Flows through Gujarat but not near the starting point. |
| Brahmaputra | Not relevant to Salt March location in Gujarat. |
Revision Table: Gandhi and Indian Independence Movement
| Event | Significance | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Champaran Satyagraha | First major Satyagraha movement led by Gandhi in India. | 1917 |
| Non-Cooperation Movement | First nationwide mass movement against British rule. | 1920-1922 |
| Salt March (Dandi March) | Civil disobedience against salt tax. Led to widespread participation. | 1930 |
| Quit India Movement | Call for immediate end to British rule during WWII. | 1942 |
Additional Information: Sabarmati Ashram and Gandhi
Sabarmati Ashram served as Gandhi's residence for many years and became a central place for the Indian independence movement. It was from here that many of his key campaigns and ideas originated. The ashram was not just a home but also a place for community living, focused on self-sufficiency, equality, and resistance through non-violence (Satyagraha). The decision to start the Salt March from Sabarmati Ashram underscored its importance as a symbol of Gandhi's philosophy and base of operations.
Important Questions from Mahatma Gandhi and the Nationalist Movement
Mahatma Gandhi tried to obtain for the peasants security of tenure and freedom to cultivate the crops of their choice in which of the following movements?
Match List - I with List - II.
List - I List - II (A) Shaukat Ali (IV) Khilafat Movement (B) Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay (I) Salt Satyagraha (C) Jayaprakash Narayan (II) Socialist member of Congress (D) Annie Besant (III) Theosophical Society Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Arrange the following movements in order of their occurrence:
(A) Kheda Satyagraha
(B) Bardoli Satyagraha
(C) Rowlatt Satyagraha
(D) Quit India Movement
(E) Champaran Satyagraha
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Arrange the following events chronologically:
(A) Lahore Session and the demand for Purna Swaraj
(B) On 26 January, Gandhiji promoted celebrating Independence Day in a traditional way
(C) The Salt March begins
(D) Salt was made by Gandhiji and the salt law was broken at Dandi
(E) Gandhi-Irwin Pact signed
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
How did Gandhiji broaden the basis of nationalism?
(A) New branches of Congress were set up in various parts of India
(B) A series of ‘Praja Mandals’ were established to promote nationalist creed in the princely states
(C) Gandhiji encouraged communication of the nationalist message in the mother tongue
(D) Gandhiji was not able to gather support from Indian entrepreneurs and industrialists
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
