Mahatma Gandhi 48 – Gandhiji’s Fearless Salt March

A march of the century, bold and fearless,
A march with a goal, the objective of liberation,
A march to lift India from clouds of ignorance,
A march to retrieve India from the dark hole of bondage,
A march to lead India into the light of freedom!

That was the Salt March that happened
On 12th March 1930 in Gujarat-
A fearless march – never to be forgotten!
At dawn, Kasturba applied an auspicious ‘Tilak’ and
And garlanded Gandhiji before he set out on this gallant walk!

The march began from Sabarmati ashram,
Followed by his nearly eighty faithful followers.
Gandhiji led the way with his son Manilal,
His grandson Kanti, Harilal’s twenty year old son and
Valji Desai, who had translated many of his writings!

Gandhiji held in his hand a bamboo staff
Handed to him by Kalelkar before leaving the Ashram.
It was a heart-warming sight to see the music teacher-
Pandit Narayan Khare too walking,
Holding a tambura in his hand!

Gandhiji proclaimed that Salt is nature’s gift.
Like air and water, salt is an essential condiment,
A vital part of food for the poor and rich in content!
By taxing the manufacture and sale of salt,
The Government was injuring and starving millions!

Like a flash of lightning,
The idea to defy and to launch an assault
Over salt law, enveloped Gandhiji strongly!
Gandhiji scrupulously planned a march to the sea
With his followers along the coastline with salt beds!

Gandhiji was prepared for an arrest by the British,
Yet, he was defiant and adamant to have his way.
He had demanded the removal of salt tax
This was a right way to exert maximum pressure
On the British rule but all done with no violence at all!

The march was not an easy one.
Gandhiji walked two hundred and twenty miles.
He was sixty one years old and the oldest among the walkers,
Yet, fatigue and blisters on legs did not deter him
He walked bravely, with quick strides, ahead of all!

A huge population lined the roads of Gujarat
To watch Gandhiji walking through towns and villages.
Gandhiji marched and marched untiringly, valiantly,
In the name of God,
On behalf of the hungry, naked and unemployed!

After twenty four days of walking,
Gandhiji reached Dandi, without being arrested.
After bathing in the ocean, Gandhiji walked up to the salt area,
Scooped it up with his fingers, raised his hands to show
The sea of people that had gathered, the triumph of his deed.

Perhaps, at that point of time,
It was declared as an unlawful deed,
But the Dandi march proved to be a great Satyagraha!
Hundreds and thousands of people emulated Gandhiji,
It was the victory of the right over the might!

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru at the Ashram wrote:
“Today the pilgrim marches onward on his long trek.
Staff in hand, he goes along the dusty roads of Gujarat,
Clear eyed and firm of step,
With his faithful band trudging along with him!

Many a journey he has undertaken in the past,
Many a weary road traversed.
But longer than any that have gone before
Is this last journey of his, and
Many are the obstacles in his way.

But the fire of great resolve is in him,
And surpassing love of
His miserable countrymen!
And love of truth that scorches,
And love of freedom that inspires.”

The salt march awakened India out of its long slumber,
It was a march that shook and stunned the British rule,
India with its diversified states, languages and religions
Experienced a new wave of unity and cordiality,
And a strength of a powerful union that led to freedom!