Salt Taxes
The salt taxes were implemented upon the Indian salt by the British because Indian salt was of a much better quality. In order to tax it, they outlawed the collection and distribution of salt anywhere but at official salt depots, where the salt was taxed. The British earned more money due to the combination of quality and the tax. But taxing salt wasn't beneficial for the Indians. The tax at that time for salt was 2 ½ rupees per maund (82 pounds). The minimum family requirement of half a maund would have cost Rs 1 ¼. By 1878, this represented more than half a months’ income for an agricultural laborer With such a high level of tax, the temptation would have been to lower consumption . According to Dr R. Moore, who was a medical officer, "In the first place the poorer people cannot get salt. Many people have supposed that diseases arise in consequence of the deficiency." Gandhi believed that the salt tax was a cruel injustice to the poorest people, who had to pay for something that should have been free. Gandhi also saw the British taxing the salt as an example of the foreign government controlling the lives of people whose land they occupied, and decided to lead a protest to stop them because of this.
Letter to Viceroy
Gandhi wrote this letter to the British viceroy to tell him about the salt march before it actually happened.
The letter goes over reasons for the salt march, which include:
"But the British system seems to be designed to crush the very life out of him. Even the salt he must use to live is so taxed as to make the burden fall heaviest on him if only because of the heartless impartiality of its incidence. The tax shows itself still more burdensome on the poor man when it is remembered that salt is the one thing he must eat more than the rich man both individually and collectively."
"But if you cannot see your way to deal with these evils and my letter makes no appeal to your heart, on the 11th day of this month I shall proceed with such co-workers of the Ashram as I can take to disregard the provisions of Salt laws. I regard this tax to be the most iniquitous of all from the poor man's standpoint. As the Independence Movement is essentially for the poorest in the land, the beginning will be made with this evil. The wonder is, that we have submitted to the cruel monopoly for so long."
"I hope there will be tens of thousands ready in a disciplined manner to take up the work after me, and in the act of disobeying the Salt Act lay themselves open to the penalties of a law that should never have disfigured the Statute-book."
The letter goes over reasons for the salt march, which include:
"But the British system seems to be designed to crush the very life out of him. Even the salt he must use to live is so taxed as to make the burden fall heaviest on him if only because of the heartless impartiality of its incidence. The tax shows itself still more burdensome on the poor man when it is remembered that salt is the one thing he must eat more than the rich man both individually and collectively."
"But if you cannot see your way to deal with these evils and my letter makes no appeal to your heart, on the 11th day of this month I shall proceed with such co-workers of the Ashram as I can take to disregard the provisions of Salt laws. I regard this tax to be the most iniquitous of all from the poor man's standpoint. As the Independence Movement is essentially for the poorest in the land, the beginning will be made with this evil. The wonder is, that we have submitted to the cruel monopoly for so long."
"I hope there will be tens of thousands ready in a disciplined manner to take up the work after me, and in the act of disobeying the Salt Act lay themselves open to the penalties of a law that should never have disfigured the Statute-book."
Letter to Nehru
Gandhi sent a letter about the Salt March to Jawaharlal Nehru, a main leader of the Indian independence movement. It stated:
MARCH 11, 1930
MY DEAR JAWAHARLAL,
It is nearing 10 p.m. now. The air is thick with the rumour that I shall be arrested during the night. I have not wired to you especially because the correspondents submit their messages for approval and everybody is working at top speed. There was nothing special to wire about. Things are developing extraordinarily well. Offers of volunteers are pouring in. The column will proceed with the march even though I may be arrested. If I am not, you may expect wires from me, otherwise I am leaving instructions. I do not know that I have anything in particular to say. I have written enough. I gave a final message this evening to a vast crowd that gathered for prayer on the sands. May God keep you and give you strength to bear the burden.
With love to you all, Bapu
This shows that Gandhi didn't care about the consequences and he and his followers would proceed with the Salt March no matter what.... He truly believed in Satyagraha.
MARCH 11, 1930
MY DEAR JAWAHARLAL,
It is nearing 10 p.m. now. The air is thick with the rumour that I shall be arrested during the night. I have not wired to you especially because the correspondents submit their messages for approval and everybody is working at top speed. There was nothing special to wire about. Things are developing extraordinarily well. Offers of volunteers are pouring in. The column will proceed with the march even though I may be arrested. If I am not, you may expect wires from me, otherwise I am leaving instructions. I do not know that I have anything in particular to say. I have written enough. I gave a final message this evening to a vast crowd that gathered for prayer on the sands. May God keep you and give you strength to bear the burden.
With love to you all, Bapu
This shows that Gandhi didn't care about the consequences and he and his followers would proceed with the Salt March no matter what.... He truly believed in Satyagraha.