HISTORY

TYPE I: READING INTO PRIMARY SOURCE

M.K. GANDHI’S FIRST LETTER TO LORD

SUBMITTED TO:
MR. HOTA AGNI KUMAR

SUBMITTED BY:
KANIKA CHOUHAN
ROLL NUMBER: 2022-5LLB-40
II SEMESTER

NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad

1
 Contents
INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................... 3
BACKGROUND...................................................................................................................... 4
WHY SALT?........................................................................................................................... 6
THE MARCH.......................................................................................................................... 7
ANALYSIS.............................................................................................................................. 9
CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................... 11

2
 INTRODUCTION

The Indian populace was subjected to oppression at the hands of the British administration in
the 1930 so at the Congress session held in Lahore in 1929 “complete independence” or
“poorna swaraj” was made the organization's primary objective. Jawaharlal Nehru provided
the following explanation when he was questioned on the meaning of independence:
"Independence for us implies entire liberation from British rule and British imperialism." 1
The Working Committee of Congress announced on January 2, 1930 that January 26 would
be celebrated as Independence Day and issued a request that the holiday be observed on that
day and every day afterwards. The commemoration of Independence Day on January 26,
1930, was seen as the "first symbolic step" in the development of the Civil Disobedience
movement.
The British government had a monopoly on the collection of salt taxes for many years.
Because of the repressive tax and control system that was in place at that time, "Mahatma"
Gandhi rose to the position of leader of the Salt March. This protest was conducted in a
peaceful and non-violent way, and it was an important turning point in the campaign of civil
disobedience that eventually resulted in India's achievement of its independence. However,
before the march began, Gandhi addressed a letter to Edward Wood, who was the Viceroy of
India at the time and was known as Lord Irwin. In the letter, Gandhi pleaded with Edward
Wood to lift the salt restrictions before the march took place. In contrast to the majority of
other great revolutionaries of the twentieth century, who were devoted to silence as much as
they were to violence, Gandhi intended to weaken his opponents by revealing his goals. After
coming to the conclusion that he would begin the Salt Satyagraha in 1930, he did something
that was fairly unprecedented: he sent a letter to the viceroy and detailed the particular acts
that he intended to take if the British government refused to communicate with the Congress.
M. K. Gandhi addressed the condition of Indians living under British control in the letter that
was dated March 2nd, and he revealed his intentions to initiate a Satyagraha against the
country's harsh salt regulations. Mahatma Gandhi was quite detailed in his demands to the
government, which he laid out in eleven points. However, the government did not respond in
any way to the petitions. The Congress Working Committee thereupon went ahead and took
1
Suchitra. (1995). What Moves Masses: Dandi March as Communication Strategy. Economic and Political
Weekly, 30(14), 743–746. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4402595

3
the courageous decision to launch the Civil Disobedience Movement. After a long journey of
around 200 miles from his Sabarmati Ashram, Gandhiji and a large number of Satyagrahis
arrived at Dandi on April 6, 1930, when they broke the Salt Law that had been enacted by the
British Government. This act of defiance formally started the campaign. The Salt Satyagraha
Movement, sometimes referred to as the Civil Disobedience Movement, was something that
residents of India took part in all around the country. Every location where salt was produced
from sea water or other unrefined sources was in violation of the Salt Laws. The
imprisonment of Mahatma Gandhi on May 5, 1930 provided a significant boost to the
momentum of the Movement. This event resulted in picketing and, subsequently, a boycott of
ganja, alcohol, and foreign goods. The presence and engagement of women was an essential
component of this movement.

BACKGROUND

There is a fascinating story about where the word "satyagraha" in “Salt Satyagrah” came
from. When Gandhi was just getting his campaign started in South Africa, he coined the term
"passive resistance" for the first time. As the conflict progressed, Gandhi realized that the
term "passive resistance" was insufficient to adequately convey the core of his movement. In
addition, the fact that the Indian uprising was solely referred to by its English name struck
him as being somewhat of a "shame." As a result, it was stated in Indian Opinion that there
would be a modest reward available for the reader who came up with the most creative name
for the new conflict. The phrase "sadagraha," which means "steadfastness in a righteous
cause," was proposed by Maganlal Gandhi. Gandhi loved the phrase, but he felt that it did not
adequately express the concept, so he decided to alter it to satyagraha, which translates to
"the power that is generated out of honesty and affection or non-violence."2
On March 12, Mahatma Gandhi, the head of the Indian struggle for freedom,
formally initiated a campaign as the preliminary move toward the pledged objective of his
civil disobedience movement. His primary goal was to preach to the folks of the regions via
which he was to cross the necessity of refraining from paying the significant salt tax that the

2
D G Tendulkar, Mahatma: Life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, 8 Vols (Bombay, 1951), i, p 103.

4
government had imposed. He began his journey on foot from his seminary out beyond
Ahmedabad, toward the shore. He was accompanied by seventy-nine other people. The
beginning of the expedition was foreshadowed by a letter that he exchanged with the office of
the Viceroy. During the process of this communication, the Indian leader outlined his
objectives and provided the Viceroy's office with information of his intended course of
action.
In December 1929, when the Congress announced "purna swaraj" as its objective, several
suggestions were made on the shape that civil disobedience had to take. Patel recommended
either a parade to Delhi or, otherwise, a widespread violation of land rules throughout the
nation. Nehru and Bose also supported the establishment of a parallel administration during
this discussion. Gandhi did not take any of these ideas into consideration because "he had the
view of a long-drawn-out campaign in which the majority of the population had to be
galvanized, the British would seize on things like a march upon Delhi and parallel
governance instantly." Therefore, it is clear that notions such as these were not really the
foundation upon which mass uprisings were built. Gandhi took a unique approach to the
resolution of the issue. Freedom meant more to him than only being free from political
oppression to him. Therefore, civil disobedience referred to a revolution that would struggle
for sovereignty while also raising public awareness, which would ultimately result in the
rejuvenation of societal, financial, and ethical systems. And before to making a decision on
how this was going to be accomplished, he examined his target demographic. His primary
target market, Indian population, was a fragmented society that was composed up of a variety
of different groupings. The second significant objective was public sentiment, both in Britain
and elsewhere, which had a history of being unsupportive of Indian nationalist ambitions.
Only if India's hostile groupings were able to combine in force and if liberal British and
global views supported the Congress' demands could pressure be brought to bear on the
British Raj. Gandhi was not immediately capable of coming up with a plan that would meet
all of these requirements. Instead, he concentrated on simplifying the idea of swaraj so that it
could be understood by a wider audience. He started out by writing a statement, which was
then read out during the very first celebrations of Independence Day on January 26th, 1930. It
offered a concise argument against British control, in which the unfairness of the salt tax was
brought up for the very first time. After that, Gandhi sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin in which
he laid forth his eleven requests on his ideal kind of swaraj government. The desire to do
away with the salt tax came up at number four on this list of requests, which also included a
complete ban on the commodity as well as a protective tariff on imported textiles. Midway

5
through the month of February was when he first focused on the salt tax and made the
decision that his act of civil disobedience should take the shape of a statewide violation of the
salt regulations.
As a topic for political discourse, the unreasonableness of the salt regulations was not a fresh
idea. In 1844, the first riots in opposition to this levy took place in the district of Surat. This is
also the location where the Salt Satyagraha took place about a century and a half later. During
the first session of the Congress in 1885, the tax was criticized, and throughout the course of
the following years, Dadabhoy Naoroji and Gokhale were among those who harshly opposed
it. Even the concept of using salt as part of a campaign to mobilize a large number of people
was considered at one point. During the time of the Swadeshi movement, Surendra Nath
Banerjee went on a tour of the rural areas in order to encourage villagers to refrain from
purchasing Manchester fabric and Liverpool salt. In point of fact, even Gandhi had already
voiced his opposition to the tariff. It is essential to recognize that the decision to concentrate
attention on salt was not a "original" notion. What made Gandhi's use of it as a political
weapon as he innovative was the method in which he was able to make it into a formidable
instrument. with the purpose of interacting with the people of India, the government of
Britain, and the viewers from across the world. It wasn't the novelty of the concept that led to
his success; rather, it was the skill with which he executed the concept that made the
difference.

WHY SALT?

Salt, being a product that was used by almost everyone, was able to bridge the gap between
different classes, castes, and religions. It provided Hindus and Muslims with a stage for a
combined battle on an economic problem; nevertheless, for the underprivileged, it
represented exploitation. A battle against the salt regulations provided a chance for the
wealthy to symbolically identify with the hardship of the general population. Salt has the
potential to evoke a profound range of feelings due to the fact that it was an element needed
for human survival. The campaign has the potential to move further than the political
dimension and acquire on ethical and moral aspects, which has the potential to gain
compassion from the popular sentiment of countries all over the globe. One further thing that
worked in their favour was the fact that there had been a long-standing history of hostility to
the salt tax in the west as well, and this tradition dated back to the time of the French

6
Revolution. However, Gandhi's ace in the hole was the cultural significance of salt in Indian
society. As may be observed in the many idioms that are linked with salt, in both Indian and
western culture, the mineral serves as a metaphor of all that is essential to human existence
and elevated in human contact. As a result of this, the topic of salt exposes itself to verbal and
metaphorical usage, which is a trait that expert communicators are aware is quite useful in a
mass campaign. Gandhi was able to achieve a significant deal of success by using this trait,
and subsequent research has focused on this facet. In spite of the fact that Gandhi had arrived
at his decision about salt after much thought, he was aware that people would not necessarily
support him. It was imperative that he provide a compelling argument. Therefore, he made
the decision to organize a march. A march would provide him with the chance to incite the
people he encountered in the rural as he travelled through it. It would be a real spectacle that
would generate exposure in the media in India as well as throughout the globe. On the
contrary side, if he were to just board a train to some location on the seaside and get there the
following day, the activity would be too brief and would not have any value for persuasion.

THE MARCH

In Indian culture, the march has a position of its own, just the same as salt does. It was
considered a kind of penance for pilgrims to go to sacred sites on foot, and those who did so
were held in high esteem. Marches are often connected with steadfastness, righteousness, and
the willingness to make sacrifices for a cause in western and Indian mythology. The Bible
tells the story of how Moses led his men to the land of opportunity, how Jesus led his
disciples to Jerusalem, how Rama left home to keep his father's oath, and how Gautama gave
up his family in order to seek wisdom. Gandhi was able to achieve a lot via these affiliations.
After evaluating several other options that were located closer to Ahmedabad, it was decided
that the endpoint of the march would be in Dandi, which is located in the city of Surat. It was
Gandhi's coworker Kalyanji Mehta, who had a good knowledge of the Advertising value of
the event, who came up with the concept. Gandhi was not the person who came up with the
idea. He believed that if Gandhi disobeyed the law in Dandi, the extended duration of the
march would provide a chance to rouse the populace across the entirety of Gujarat and
provide more time for the effect to extend to the nation as a whole. He chose the location in
such a manner that it would be possible for Gandhi to visit it on April 6 and breach the law

7
there. This was significant since that particular day commemorated the start of what was
referred to as "national week, “which honored the Rowlact Satyagraha and the murders at
Jallianwala Bagh and was celebrated by resistance fighters from the year 1921 forward. This
idea was well received by Gandhi, and as a result, Dandi, a hitherto unidentified seaside tiny
village in Gujarat, was able to secure a spot on the historical map of the country. However,
having strong concepts and icons is not enough to guarantee that a campaign will be
successful on its own. It must be strong both strategically and practically in order for it to be
successful. The attorney in Gandhi had observed that the punitive provisions of the statute
were not as harsh, which meant that a greater number of people might be convinced to take
part without worrying about being subjected to heavy penalty. Numerous breaches of the
laws are possible, including the production of salt and the possession of salt that was
produced unlawfully, selling it, purchasing it, as well as encouraging others to purchase and
sell salt of this kind was against the law. Because of this, there was plenty of room for
everyone to participate to the best of their abilities. There was no clause in the legislation that
banned the march from occurring, provided that it was carried out in a peaceful manner.
Similar to breaching the salt prohibition, marching did not need any specialized talents or
unusual bravery, which ensured that regular people were able to take part in it. Additionally,
it was a platform that was capable of being efficiently copied in many other regions of the
nation, which was done. Additionally, Dandi was tactically suitable due to the fact that Surat
district had huge system of Congress workers.
Aftermath of the march: The salt march had repercussions that were experienced all
throughout India. Thousands of individuals either produced their own salt or purchased salt
illegally. This period of time is to be regarded the peak of Gandhi's political popularity since
the march galvanised many new supporters from all aspects of Indian society and brought the
march to the attention of people all over the globe. Gandhi was released from jail, and he
immediately resumed his efforts to bring about the independence of India, which was finally
accomplished in August of 1947. Dandi was an important factor in the conflict that took
place.

8
 ANALYSIS

Gandhi makes his argument in a manner that is intended to convince Lord Irwin to repeal the
Salt Act so that he does not have to march and put the safety of those who are marching with
him in danger. Gandhi accomplishes this by demonstrating that India and Britain are not all
that unlike to one another, and that the Indian citizens will simply sever all links with Britain
when they are not dealt better in the future. In his letter, Gandhi strikes a delicate balance
between the dread of losing a resource and the ideas of earning a friend. He writes to Lord
Irwin in the hopes that he would overturn the statute after reading his letter.
In order to persuade Lord Irwin that he should not impose the law on the Indian people,
Gandhi creates a fair connection between Britain and India. If Lord Irwin would not apply the
law to his own citizens, then Gandhi argues, he should not apply it to the Indian citizens.
Gandhi is attempting to persuade Lord Irwin that India is not a lesser power than Britain and
that India should not be mistreated as if it were. The following is an excerpt from a speech
given by Gandhi: "Conversion of a nation that has consciously or unconsciously preyed upon
another, far more numerous, far more ancient, and no less cultured than itself.. 3 (lines 5-8).
Gandhi draws parallels between the past of the British Empire and that of India using an
example. The argument that Gandhi is trying to make is not only that both countries are on an
equal footing, but that India is really more advanced than Britain in terms of its history,
population, and culture. Due to the fact that India has been there for even longer than Britain,
the two countries are at least on par with one another on the international stage and need to be
recognized as such. In his discourse, Gandhi argues that all countries, as well as individuals,
are on an equal footing. In lines 13-18, Gandhi uses the term "serve" in a number of different
contexts. The usage of the term "serve" many times in this sentence is meant to convey that
the measures Gandhi is doing are designed to be of assistance to both the British and the
Indian populace. Gandhi's main argument is that all people and countries should be treated
with the same degree of respect, and his acts are designed to be of assistance to people of
both nations. Both countries and their residents should be treated with the same degree of
equality because of this equality. If Lord Irwin was unwilling to impose the Salt Act on the
people of the United Kingdom, then he should not do it on the people of India either.
Gandhi often repeats the term "evil" in his speeches. He does not want to insult Lord Irwin
with the use of the term "evil" in his letter; rather, he wants to bring to Lord Irwin's attention
how the citizens of India feel about the activities of Britain. India wants to demonstrate that
3
M.K. Gandhi’s first letter to Lord Irwin.

9
they will not give up to the evil they are fighting by utilizing civil disobedience as a tool in
their battle against it. Gandhi wants the term "friendly" to be included in the dialogue, in
addition to the word "evil."  By using the word "friendly," he hopes to draw a contrast
between the measures that Britain has taken, which have been unfair to India, and the steps
that India is prepared to do in order to engage with Britain. Both India and Gandhi hope that
their relationship with Britain would improve and become more cordial in the future. The
choice of words that Gandhi makes results in a more powerful meaning, which has the
potential to influence and alter Lord Irwin's perspective, and ultimately to convince him.
The tone of the letter as a whole is one of commitment. Gandhi is resolute in his pursuit of
Lord Irwin for the sole purpose of obtaining the one and only correct response, which is the
negotiation of India's liberation. We observe the shift from his previous paragraph in lines 46-
50, which involves reasoning from seeking freedom to the assertion that he would not accept
no as a reply. Gandhi warns that ongoing resistance from India will take place if they are
unable to get their freedom from Britain. At the conclusion of the paragraph, Gandhi penned
the following: "this letter is not in any way meant as a threat, but rather a simple and
sacred duty..."4 Gandhi is driven to achieve independence for India by the conviction that he
must fulfil a divine obligation to the Indian people.

4
M.K. Gandhi’s first letter to Lord Irwin.

10
 CONCLUSION

The main purpose of Gandhi’s letter was to convince the British for "The negotiation of
India's freedom but he was determined to not take no as an answer." He was polite but firm
in his tone. Gandhi's letter was "not intended to further disconnect Britain and India but
maintain a future relationship while India is an independent country."

Although this letter couldn’t convince Lord Irwin and fulfill it’s intended purpose, this letter
turned out to be a major turning point in India’s history as the salt march marked the
beginning of a nationwide satyagraha by the masses across various religions and gender.
Though the immediate effect of this letter was not independence but this was one major step
towards it.

11