Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Dandi March of 1930?
(a) The march started from Sabarmati Ashram and ended at Dandi, covering a distance of 240 miles.
(b) The Dandi March led to the signing of the Poona Pact.

Correct option is B

The correct answer is (B) Only (a)

Explanation:

• Statement (a) is correct: The Dandi March began from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad on March 12, 1930, and ended at Dandi, a village on the Arabian Sea, covering a distance of approximately 240 miles. This march was a critical part of Mahatma Gandhi's campaign against the British salt tax and was aimed at breaking the colonial monopoly on salt production.

• Statement (b) is incorrect: The Poona Pact was not directly related to the Dandi March. The Poona Pact was signed between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in 1932, addressing the issue of separate electorates for the Dalits (Scheduled Castes) and ensuring political representation. The pact followed Gandhi's fast in prison to protest the Communal Award proposed by the British.

Information Booster:

• Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) was the leader of the Indian independence movement, widely known for his philosophy of non-violence (Ahimsa) and civil disobedience.

• The Dandi March was a significant event in Gandhi's strategy of non-violent resistance against British rule. The march symbolized a stand against the unjust colonial law that imposed a tax on salt, an essential commodity for every Indian.

• Gandhi's Salt March inspired widespread protests and was instrumental in gaining mass support for the Indian National Congress.

• Gandhi had led earlier movements like the Champaran Movement (1917) for the rights of indigo farmers and the Kheda Satyagraha (1918), both of which set the foundation for his principles of Satyagraha (truth-force) and non-violent resistance.

• The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22) and the Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-34) were also major milestones in the struggle for independence under Gandhi's leadership.

• The Quit India Movement (1942), led by Gandhi, marked the final phase of the Indian struggle for independence, calling for an immediate end to British rule.

• Gandhi's use of non-violence and mass protests led to significant global admiration and established him as a symbol of peaceful resistance.