What was the impact of salt march
Answers
Salt is an everyday necessity and it used to be taxed during the British era. Poor are the ones who got affected mostly [think of it like both a rich person and a poor person paying same tax — poor has to give way a greater percent of his/her income as a result — which majority of Indians were in the colonial era]. So, expensive salt is something that every indian can correspond himself to.
India was plagued by heavy illiteracy at that time. So, Gandhiji—a unique social scientist— found unique ways to connect to the people — in his ability to tell the vast illiterate population in ways they can understand and correlate to. Also, his social experiments were both an employment generator for the vast sections of population[Charakha for instance] and also exposing and hurting british interests. Hence the Salt Satyagraha.
Also, Gandhiji has understood the vast capabilities of the people to stand against wrongs[which his South African episode taught him], and Non-Violence instruments if adopted — there would be lesser repression by the British compared to usage of violence[as British were ruling india based on prestige, their own versions of White Man’s burden, Rule of Law though distorting facts to their liking], and hence more people can participate in the process. It is also because of Gandhiji’s ideal of Humanism— he was against the use of violence.
Hence, Salt Satyagraha —- where they made salt[multiple marches were conducted throughout India at a similar time, Gandhi’s own referred to as Dandi March], against the then existing monopoly salt manufacturing industries.
The satyagraha was quite successful interms of vast turnout of various sections of population. It also finally culminated in Gandhi Irwin Pact and Round Table conference. Gandhi Irwin Pact was a psychological boost to Indians because an Indian and a Britisher were standing on an equal footing for signing a pact, but as expected Round Table talks were a failure, as the British were adamant on not losing their most precious fruit—India and the concessions given were not to Gandhis liking.
And even though Civil Disobedience movement died out afterwards, worldwide opinion increasingly began to recognize the sovereignty of india. And it is part of a broader Gandhiji’s strategy —- S-T-S[Struggle-Truce-Struggle]— so that the masses can get rejuvenated, as unlike activists and leaders who have unlimited potential for immense sacrifice, general masses enthusiasm and potential for sacrifices die down which require leaders efforts to rejuvenate them again for the next mass struggle. That is the inherent characteristic of any Non-violent mass movement which Gandhiji has instrumented. During the Truce time, various social movements were conducted by Gandhiji[Harijan Programme for instance, Popularising Charkha] —so that the political atmosphere doesn’t die out, and preparing masses for the next mass movement.
Various Impacts occurred from March.
Since this event was in newspapers in different countries British were embarrassed.
It impacted the British due to loss of Dharasana Saltworks Factory.
Short-term targets that were fulfilled were actions of other Indians.
Before March not everyone believed that Gandhi is doing right thing using Non-Violence.
After March various changed their minds and different Muslims started having closer bond with Indians after March.
There was one Muslim in beginning and at the end 80 were there.