Who was the Viceroy of India at the time of Gandhiji's Dandi march?
Lord Irwin
Identifying the Viceroy During the Dandi March
The question asks about the Viceroy of India who was in power when Mahatma Gandhi undertook the famous Dandi March. This event was a crucial part of India's struggle for independence and a key moment in the Civil Disobedience Movement.
The Dandi March, also known as the Salt March or Salt Satyagraha, began on March 12, 1930, and concluded on April 6, 1930. During this period, Mahatma Gandhi and his followers marched from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi on the Arabian Sea coast to protest the British salt tax by making salt from seawater.
To answer the question, we need to know who was the Viceroy of India during this specific time frame in 1930.
Let's look at the options provided and the periods they served as Viceroy:
- Lord Irwin: Served as Viceroy of India from 1926 to 1931.
- Lord Linlithgow: Served as Viceroy of India from 1936 to 1943.
- Lord Reading: Served as Viceroy of India from 1921 to 1926.
- Lord Willingdon: Served as Viceroy of India from 1931 to 1936.
Comparing the tenure of these Viceroys with the timeline of the Dandi March (March-April 1930), it is clear that Lord Irwin was the Viceroy of India during this significant event.
Lord Irwin's period as Viceroy coincided with important developments in the Indian independence movement, including the Simon Commission, the Nehru Report, the declaration of Purna Swaraj (complete independence) by the Indian National Congress in 1929, and the launch of the Civil Disobedience Movement which started with the Dandi March.
Analysis of Viceroy Tenures and Key Events
| Viceroy of India | Tenure | Significant Events during Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Lord Reading | 1921 - 1926 | Chauri Chaura incident, withdrawal of Non-Cooperation Movement, formation of Swaraj Party. |
| Lord Irwin | 1926 - 1931 | Simon Commission, Nehru Report, declaration of Purna Swaraj, Dandi March, Civil Disobedience Movement, Gandhi-Irwin Pact. |
| Lord Willingdon | 1931 - 1936 | Second Round Table Conference (Gandhi attended), Communal Award, Poona Pact, continuation of Civil Disobedience. |
| Lord Linlithgow | 1936 - 1943 | Government of India Act 1935 (implemented), outbreak of World War II, August Offer, Cripps Mission, Quit India Movement. |
Based on the timelines, Lord Irwin was the Viceroy during the entire duration of the Dandi March and the beginning of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Revision Table: Indian Viceroys and Movements
| Movement/Event | Approximate Period | Viceroy of India |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Cooperation Movement (Withdrawal) | 1922 | Lord Reading |
| Simon Commission Arrival | 1928 | Lord Irwin |
| Declaration of Purna Swaraj | 1929 | Lord Irwin |
| Dandi March & Civil Disobedience Movement | 1930-1931 | Lord Irwin |
| Gandhi-Irwin Pact | 1931 | Lord Irwin |
| Quit India Movement | 1942 | Lord Linlithgow |
Additional Information: The Significance of Dandi March
The Dandi March was a pivotal event for several reasons:
- It marked the formal launch of the Civil Disobedience Movement across India.
- It was a non-violent protest against an unfair and widely resented tax on salt, a basic necessity.
- It garnered significant international attention and brought the Indian independence movement to the global stage.
- It mobilized large sections of the Indian population, including women, in the freedom struggle.
- It demonstrated Mahatma Gandhi's leadership and the power of Satyagraha (truth force or soul force) as a method of resistance.
The Viceroy at the time, Lord Irwin, eventually engaged in negotiations with Mahatma Gandhi, leading to the Gandhi-Irwin Pact in 1931, which temporarily suspended the Civil Disobedience Movement and allowed the Congress to participate in the Second Round Table Conference.
Similar Questions
Which one among the following American newsmagazines was highly sceptical of Gandhiji's Dandi march initially but within a week completely changes its opinion and saluted him as a Saint and Statesman?
What is the common element among Ram Prasad Bismill, Roshan Singh, and Rajendra Lahiri?
Consider the following historical events :
1. Gandhi-Irwin Pact
2. Second Round Table Conference
3. Peasant Movement in Bardoli
4. Peasant Movement in Kheda
Which one of the following is the correct chronological order (starting from the earliest) of the above events?
In the year 1928, a committee of Congress leaders drafted a Constitution for India. The Committee was headed by
Consider the following events:
1. Launch of Non-Cooperation Movement
2. All-India Khilafat Conference in Delhi
3. Passing of the Rowlatt Act
4. Jallianwala Bagh incident
Which one of the following is the correct chronological order of the given events (earliest to latest)?
Which of the following statements with regards to the Civil Disobedience movement is/are correct?
1) The movement received massive response from business groups and peasantry
2) The movement coincided with large scale labour upsurge in Maharashtra
3) The movement was marked by the mass participation of lawyers and students
Select the correct answer using the code given below:When and where was the demand for "Purna Swaraj" or complete independence made by the Indian National Congress?
Which of the following statements about Gandhiji's Hind Swaraj written in 1909 is/are true?
1. Hind Swaraj offers a civilizational concept of the Indian nation.
2. Hind Swaraj states that Parliamentary democracy was necessary for the amelioration of the sufferings of Indians.
3. Hind Swaraj argues that Industrial capitalism was responsible for the immorality of society.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:Where did Gandhiji initially forge the techniques of Satyagraha?
Which one of the following statements about Khilafat Movement is NOT correct?
Important Questions from National movement (1919 - 1939)
Chauri Chaura incident occurred in which year ______.
In which year did Motilal Nehru (Chairman) and eight other Congress leaders draft a constitution for India?
C. Rajagopalachari led the Salt Satyagraha in which of the following states?
Match the following events of 1920 with their dates before the Non- Co-operation Movement.
a. Political Conference of Raipur i. April 1920 b. Anti Rowlatt Act Black
Day in Bilaspurii. September 1920 c. First Labour Movement started
in Rajnandgaoniii. 17 March 1920 d. Meeting of leaders of Dhamtari
in Kandel Villageiv. 20 March 1920 Consider the following statements :
1. The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 recommended granting voting rights to all the women above the age of 21.
2. The Government of India Act of 1935 gave women reserved seats in legislature.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
