Question

Why did the salt law was violated by Gandhiji?

Answer 1

Hint:
British oppression had put a limit on the usage of essential items of common Indian households, this led to the mass level protest which became a major nonviolent movement of the century. It had also prohibited Indians from collecting or selling salt, Britain’s Salt Act of 1882.
The protest lasted from 12 March 1930 to 6 April 1930 as a direct action campaign against the British regulation.
Female leaders like Sarojini Naidu and Matangini Hazra had also joined this mass protest.

Complete answer:
Salt March:

Gandhiji decided to break the salt law because in his opinion, taxing salt was sinful as it was an essential of food. It affected Indians irrespective of caste, class and gender barriers. So, he went to the sea-shore with his chosen followers and broke the salt rule by picking up salt left by the sea on the beach and gave a signal to all Indians to illegally produce salt.

It is also known as the Salt March, Salt Satyagraha, Dandi March and the Dandi Satyagraha.
Another explanation for this march was the need for a strong inauguration for the Civil Disobedience Movement that would enable more people to follow Gandhi’s example.

During the Dandi March, he also spread his message of Swaraj or self-rule through lectures to thousands of people and urged them to defy the British government. The Salt March became a successful opposition to colonialism in this way.

Note:
Thousands have been arrested and imprisoned during the protest, including Jawaharlal Nehru in April and Gandhi himself in early May after he told Lord Irwin (Viceroy of India) of his intention to march. Tens of thousands more were inspired to join the ‘Satyagraha’ by reports of Gandhi’s arrest.

The march on the salt works, led by Sarojini Naidu, continued as scheduled on May 21, and many of the peaceful marchers were assaulted and beaten by police. Some 60,000 people were in jail by the end of the year.

As soon as Gandhi was out of jail, he called for an interview with the Viceroy, Lord Irwin. He did not go in search of any favours. The meeting went on for several days and the talks eventually resulted in the Gandhi Irwin Pact, a treaty. In terms of equality, concessions reached by both parties. Irwin has agreed to free all political prisoners, and Gandhi has vowed to suspend civil disobedience and to send a representative of Congress to the Round Table Conference.