Civil Disobedience Movement Launch

The question asks about the specific event that marked the beginning of the widespread Civil Disobedience Movement in India in 1930. This movement was a pivotal moment in India's struggle for independence from British rule.

Analyzing the Options

Let's examine each option to understand its connection to the Civil Disobedience Movement:

• Simon Commission boycott: The Simon Commission arrived in India in 1928 and 1929. While its boycott was a significant political event and fueled nationalist sentiment, it predates the launch of the Civil Disobedience Movement and was not its starting point.
• Gandhi's call for the Quit India Movement: The Quit India Movement was a later phase of the independence struggle, launched by Mahatma Gandhi in August 1942, demanding the end of British rule during World War II. It is distinct from the 1930 movement.
• Dandi March to break the salt law: This event, also known as the Salt March, began on March 12, 1930. Mahatma Gandhi led a group of followers from Sabarmati Ashram to the coastal village of Dandi, where they symbolically broke the British salt tax law by making salt from seawater. This act of defiance directly initiated the Civil Disobedience Movement, encouraging widespread non-violent protests against various unjust laws across India.
• Poona Pact between Gandhi and Ambedkar: The Poona Pact was signed in September 1932. It addressed the issue of representation for the 'depressed classes' (now known as Dalits) in the legislative councils. While important, it occurred after the Civil Disobedience Movement had begun and dealt with a specific issue rather than initiating the broader movement.

Significance of the Dandi March

The Dandi March was a masterstroke of non-violent protest. Mahatma Gandhi chose the salt tax because it affected every Indian, rich or poor, making it a unifying issue. The act of making salt illegally resonated deeply with the masses and galvanized widespread participation in the Civil Disobedience Movement. People across India began violating other unpopular laws, engaging in boycotts, and demonstrating peacefully, thereby challenging British authority effectively.

Therefore, the Dandi March to break the salt law stands as the significant event that commenced the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1930.