8. Civil Disobedience Movement

(1) Chandrasingh Thakur was court martialled and severely punished.

• Khan Abdul Gafar Khan started a satyagraha at Peshawar on 23 April 1930.
• To control the movement, the British Government gave orders to the Garhwal regiment to carry out open firing on the Satyagrahis.
• However, Chandrasingh Thakur, an officer of the Garhwal Regiment, refused to open fire.
• For disobeying the orders, he was court martialled and given a severe punishment.

(2) The Government declared Martial Law at Solapur.

• On 6 May 1930, a hartal was observed in Solapur, and a huge procession was organised.
• The District Collector gave orders of firing on the procession, in which many volunteers died.
• As a result, the angry people started attacking police stations, railway stations, courts, and municipal buildings.
• To suppress this widespread agitation and regain control, the Government declared Martial Law.

(3) The deliberations in the First Round Table Conference proved to be meaningless.

• The First Round Table Conference was attended by representatives of England, various political parties in India, and rulers of Princely states.
• However, the Indian National Congress did not participate in it.
• Since the Indian National Congress was the primary body that represented the country, the deliberations in the conference proved to be meaningless without its participation.

(4) Gandhiji began fast unto death in the Yerwada jail.

• After the Second Round Table Conference, the British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald declared 'Communal Awards', granting separate electorates for the Dalits.
• Gandhiji protested against the granting of separate electorates on the basis of caste as it would divide the society.
• Hence, he went on a fast unto death at Yerwada jail to oppose this decision.

(1) Why did Gandhiji decide to break the Salt Act to begin the satyagraha all over the country?

• Salt is an important ingredient in the food of common people, making it unjust to impose a tax on such an essential commodity.
• Gandhiji's extensive objective behind breaking the salt act was to symbolically break the oppressive and unjust laws of the British Government through peace and Satyagraha.

(2) Why did the Indian National Congress withdraw the Civil Disobedience Movement?

• A pact was signed between Mahatma Gandhi and Viceroy Irwin, known as the 'Gandhi-Irwin Pact'.
• According to this pact, the British Government assured that the system of Responsible Government would be added in the proposed constitution of India.
• Consequently, the Indian National Congress withdrew the Civil Disobedience Movement and agreed to attend the Round Table Conference.