Indian history · Freedom struggle · Gandhian movements

The Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–1934): Simon Commission, Purna Swaraj, the Dandi March, Spread of Salt Satyagraha, Round Table Conferences, Gandhi–Irwin Pact and Poona Pact — Exam Notes

In 1930 Gandhi chose an unlikely symbol — salt — to challenge British rule, and his 24-day march to Dandi captured the world's attention. The Civil Disobedience Movement that followed drew in more women, merchants and peasants than any earlier struggle. This guide covers the background, the march, its spread across India and the negotiations that followed.

By PunjabExams Editorial Team · Updated 29 October 2026 · 7 min read · How we prepare guides

Background

The Simon Commission (1927–28)

The Indian Statutory Commission, headed by Sir John Simon, was appointed in November 1927 to review the 1919 reforms. All seven members were British — no Indian was included (one member was Clement Attlee). It arrived in Bombay on 3 February 1928 and was met with black flags and "Simon, Go Back". At Lahore, Lala Lajpat Rai was injured in a lathi charge while leading a protest (30 October 1928) and died on 17 November. At Lucknow, Jawaharlal Nehru and G. B. Pant were beaten.

The Nehru Report (1928)

In response to Secretary of State Lord Birkenhead's challenge that Indians could not agree on a constitution, an All Parties Conference committee headed by Motilal Nehru produced the Nehru Report (August 1928). It demanded dominion status, a list of fundamental rights, joint electorates with reserved seats for minorities, and linguistic provinces. Jinnah responded with his Fourteen Points (1929). Younger leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Bose wanted complete independence.

Lahore session and Purna Swaraj (1929)

At the Lahore session in December 1929, presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru:

• the Congress adopted Purna Swaraj (complete independence) as its goal;
• the tricolour was hoisted on the bank of the Ravi at midnight on 31 December 1929;
• 26 January 1930 was celebrated as Independence Day across the country (which is why the Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950);
• the Working Committee was authorised to launch civil disobedience.

Gandhi's eleven demands

In January 1930, Gandhi placed eleven demands before Viceroy Lord Irwin, including reduction of land revenue, abolition of the salt tax, cuts in military spending and officials' salaries, release of political prisoners, protective tariffs on foreign cloth and a reduced rupee–sterling ratio. When Irwin ignored them, Gandhi chose the salt tax as the issue for civil disobedience.

Why salt?

Salt was used by everyone, rich and poor; the government had a monopoly on its manufacture and taxed it heavily. Breaking the salt law was a simple, non-violent act that anyone could join.

The Dandi March (12 March – 6 April 1930)

Gandhi said, "With this I am shaking the foundations of the British Empire." The National Salt Satyagraha Memorial at Dandi was opened in 2019.

Spread across India

Features

• Women took part in very large numbers — picketing liquor and cloth shops, making salt.
• Merchants and industrialists supported the boycott of foreign goods.
• No-tax and no-revenue campaigns in some areas.
• Gandhi was arrested on 4–5 May 1930; about 90,000 people were jailed during the movement.

Round Table Conferences

Gandhi–Irwin Pact (5 March 1931)

Also called the Delhi Pact. The government agreed to release political prisoners not convicted of violence, return confiscated properties, permit the collection of salt for personal use in coastal villages and allow peaceful picketing. The Congress agreed to suspend civil disobedience and attend the Second Round Table Conference. The Karachi session (March 1931, under Vallabhbhai Patel) endorsed the pact and passed the resolution on Fundamental Rights and Economic Policy.

Second phase and end

After the failure of the Second Round Table Conference, Gandhi resumed civil disobedience in January 1932. Under Viceroy Lord Willingdon, the government crushed it with ordinances and mass arrests. The movement was formally withdrawn in April 1934.

Communal Award and Poona Pact (1932)

• On 16 August 1932, British PM Ramsay MacDonald announced the Communal Award, giving separate electorates to the Depressed Classes as well as minorities.
• Gandhi, in Yerwada jail, began a fast unto death on 20 September 1932 against separate electorates for Depressed Classes.
• Dr B. R. Ambedkar and Gandhi's representatives agreed on the Poona Pact on 24 September 1932: joint electorates were kept, but the number of reserved seats for Depressed Classes in provincial legislatures was raised from 71 to 148.
• Gandhi then started the Harijan Sevak Sangh (1932) and the weekly Harijan (1933).

Key points to remember

• Simon Commission (1927–28, no Indian); Nehru Report (1928).
• Lahore session 1929 — Purna Swaraj; 26 January 1930 Independence Day.
• Dandi March: 12 March – 6 April 1930, 78 marchers, ~385 km.
• Rajagopalachari (Vedaranyam), Ghaffar Khan (Khudai Khidmatgars), Sarojini Naidu (Dharasana).
• Gandhi–Irwin Pact 5 March 1931; Second RTC (Gandhi).
• Communal Award (August 1932) → Poona Pact (24 September 1932).

Practice questions

1. Q1. How many followers accompanied Gandhi on the Dandi March?

   • (a) 72
   • (b) 78
   • (c) 85
   • (d) 100
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) 78 — Gandhi set out with 78 followers from Sabarmati.

2. Q2. Gandhi broke the salt law at Dandi on:

   • (a) 12 March 1930
   • (b) 26 January 1930
   • (c) 6 April 1930
   • (d) 5 March 1931
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) 6 April 1930 — He picked up salt at Dandi on 6 April 1930.

3. Q3. Who led the salt march from Trichinopoly to Vedaranyam?

   • (a) K. Kelappan
   • (b) C. Rajagopalachari
   • (c) Sarojini Naidu
   • (d) T. Prakasam
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) C. Rajagopalachari — C. Rajagopalachari led the march in Tamil Nadu.

4. Q4. The Khudai Khidmatgars were organised by:

   • (a) Maulana Azad
   • (b) Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan
   • (c) Hakim Ajmal Khan
   • (d) M. A. Ansari
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan — Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, the Frontier Gandhi, founded them.

5. Q5. The Congress attended only the Second Round Table Conference, represented by:

   • (a) Jawaharlal Nehru
   • (b) Motilal Nehru
   • (c) Mahatma Gandhi
   • (d) Sardar Patel
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) Mahatma Gandhi — Gandhi was the Congress's sole representative in 1931.

6. Q6. The Poona Pact of 1932 was signed between Gandhi and:

   • (a) M. A. Jinnah
   • (b) B. R. Ambedkar
   • (c) Ramsay MacDonald
   • (d) Lord Willingdon
   Show answer

   Answer: (b) B. R. Ambedkar — It replaced separate electorates for Depressed Classes with reserved seats in joint electorates.

Frequently asked questions

Why did Gandhi choose salt for civil disobedience?

Salt was used by everyone, its tax burdened the poor, and breaking the government's salt monopoly was a simple, non-violent act anyone could join.

What was agreed in the Gandhi–Irwin Pact?

Release of non-violent political prisoners and salt collection in coastal villages, in return for suspending civil disobedience and joining the Second Round Table Conference.

Why was 26 January chosen as Republic Day?

Because on 26 January 1930 the Congress celebrated Purna Swaraj (Independence) Day.

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