View source for Civil Disobedience Movement

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|title=Civil Disobedience Movement – Indian Freedom Struggle
|description=The Civil Disobedience Movement, led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1930, was a major campaign of nonviolent resistance against British colonial rule in India, marked by the historic Salt March.
|keywords=Civil Disobedience Movement, Mahatma Gandhi, Salt March, Indian Independence, 1930 movement, British Raj, Satyagraha, Dandi March, Indian freedom struggle
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|og:title=Civil Disobedience Movement – History, Leaders & Impact
|og:description=Learn about the Civil Disobedience Movement of 1930, its origins, leaders, key events, and impact on India's independence struggle.
|og:image=https://knowlepedia.org/images/Civil_Disobedience_Movement.jpg
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}}'''Civil Disobedience Movement''' was a significant phase in India's freedom struggle, launched by [[Mahatma Gandhi]] in 1930. It aimed to defy British laws peacefully and assert the demand for '''Purna Swaraj''' (complete independence). The movement witnessed mass participation across India, with millions breaking unjust colonial laws, especially the salt laws, as a form of protest against British rule.

== Background ==
The movement emerged after the British government ignored Indian demands for greater autonomy, especially following the rejection of the Simon Commission and failure of constitutional reforms. At the 1929 Lahore Session of the [[Indian National Congress]], it was declared that India would henceforth fight for full independence (Purna Swaraj), not just dominion status. As a symbolic gesture, 26 January 1930 was observed as India’s first Independence Day, setting the stage for a more assertive mass movement.

== Launch and the Salt March ==
The Civil Disobedience Movement formally began on 12 March 1930, with the historic '''Salt March'''. Gandhi and 78 followers marched 240 miles from the Sabarmati Ashram to the coastal village of Dandi in [[Gujarat]], where Gandhi broke the British monopoly by making salt from seawater. This act of defiance ignited a nationwide movement, inspiring ordinary Indians to challenge British authority by making salt, boycotting British goods, refusing to pay taxes, and resigning from colonial administrative posts.

== Spread and Participation ==
The movement rapidly spread across India and witnessed participation from various sections of society. Women, led by figures such as Sarojini Naidu, stepped into leadership roles and courted arrest. Students boycotted schools and colleges, and workers left their jobs in protest. Tribal communities and farmers also joined the cause, making it a truly pan-Indian mass struggle. The British responded with a heavy hand, arresting over 90,000 people, including Gandhi himself.

== Government Response and Gandhi-Irwin Pact ==
Faced with growing unrest and international attention, the British administration opened talks with Gandhi. This led to the '''Gandhi-Irwin Pact''' in March 1931. The agreement led to the release of political prisoners and promised to allow Indians to make salt for domestic use. In return, the Congress suspended the movement, and Gandhi agreed to attend the Second Round Table Conference in London. However, the conference ended in disappointment, and the movement was resumed in 1932 but was soon suppressed by the colonial government.

== Impact ==
The Civil Disobedience Movement had a profound impact on the freedom struggle. It demonstrated the power of non-violent mass protest and united Indians in an unprecedented manner. The movement shook the foundations of British rule and highlighted the Indian people’s determination for self-governance. It also exposed the colonial state's repressive mechanisms and made the world take note of India’s fight for justice and equality.

== Legacy ==
The movement marked a turning point in India's nationalist history. It prepared the ground for future struggles, particularly the [[Quit India Movement]] of 1942. Gandhi emerged as the undisputed leader of the Indian masses, and his method of '''Satyagraha''' became globally recognized. The movement also laid the ideological and political foundation for an independent India based on democratic and non-violent principles.

== See Also ==
* Salt March
* [[Mahatma Gandhi]]
* [[Indian National Congress]]
* [[Quit India Movement]]
* Purna Swaraj
* [[British Raj]]

== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:Indian Independence Movement]]
[[Category:Gandhian Movements]]
[[Category:Nonviolent Resistance]]