“I will not change one law set down by my government.”
a. Who said this? Why did he speak of not changing laws?
– Lord Irwin said this. He spoke so because he did not want to cancel the unfair salt law.
Which government was the speaker loyal to?
– He was loyal to the British government.
“What guns and soldiers could not do, Gandhiji did, quietly and simply.”
a. What did Gandhiji do quietly and simply?
– He broke the salt law by picking up a lump of salt and showed the world that Indians could fight injustice without violence.
Who helped Gandhiji in this?
Thousands of Indians joined him and supported the movement.
Answer these questions
- How was the salt satyagraha ‘a different kind of battle’?
It was different because it was fought without weapons, violence, or war. It was a peaceful protest against injustice. - What was the salt tax and why was it unfair?
Indians had to pay extra money (tax) to buy salt from the British. It was unfair because salt comes from the sea and should be free for all. - Why did the British not try to stop Gandhiji from marching to Dandi?
They thought it was a joke and believed Gandhiji would collapse before reaching Dandi. - What problem did the marchers face halfway to Dandi?
They found the Mahi River too deep to cross, it was dark, and they had to struggle through knee-deep water and mud. - What was the Gandhi-Irwin Pact?
It was an agreement signed on March 5, 1931, where the British accepted many Indian demands, including removing the salt tax.
