The “National Salt Satyagraha Memorial,” located in Dandi, Gujarat, India, is designed as an experiential journey that recreates the spirit and energy of Mahatma Gandhi’s 1930 Dandi March. Visitors are guided step-by-step through the monument to help them visualize and comprehend the history of the famous Dandi March and the Satyagraha methodology, which ultimately resulted in India’s independence from British colonial rule.
The Salt Law, imposed by the British in 1857, right at the beginning of their rule in India, was one of the most exploitative and backbreaking rules in the context of the Indian masses. This was something that Gandhi realized as early as in 1891 when he was a law student in London. In some of his writings for the Vegetarian Society, he narrates the poverty of Indian people and their food habits. He mentions that a large section of the people of India could not afford even two meals a day. Even the single meal they had, was not accompanied with any vegetable or cereals. Salt was the only accompaniment and taste maker, ‘which was heavily taxed’. This engagement with the Salt Law went on till 1930, where before the Salt Satyagraha was to commence, Mahatma Gandhi wrote several letters to the Viceroy conveying his intent to start the movement and his willingness to give it up if the government was willing to withdraw. When all the appeals and requests failed, Gandhiji, with 80 hand-picked Satyagrahis started the historic 241-mile journey from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi and with a simple gesture, defied the mightiest kingdom; a simple act that shook the British empire.
Even after 80 years, hundreds of people continue to march from Ahmedabad to Dandi covering the distance of 241 miles that Gandhiji and his followers covered during the historical march. Many people including foreign nationals, undertake this journey from Sabarmati to Dandi. Family members of a British diplomat, a group of Non-Resident Indians, diplomats of the Pakistan Embassy in India and Tushar Gandhi, great grandson of Gandhi, had organised and participated in such marches. These are also initiated regularly by Gandhian Sarvodaya groups based in different parts of India.
‘National Salt Satyagraha Memorial’ is a project of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, advised by a High Level Dandi Memorial Committee (HLDMC), designed, coordinated and implemented by IIT Bombay in association with an International Design Team.
I am proud to be the part of the organization to give my contribution to this government project. I faced all challenges and learned so many things from this project.
– Sanman Mandlik
