The British response to the Civil Disobedience Movement, which was launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1930, was severe and multifaceted:
- Mass arrests: The British authorities arrested tens of thousands of protesters, including prominent leaders like Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and other Congress members. By December 1930, nearly 60,000 people had been imprisoned.
- Violent suppression: Police often used brutal force to break up peaceful protests, including lathi (baton) charges against non-violent demonstrators. Notable instances included violence against protesters at Dharasana Salt Works.
- Emergency powers: The government enacted emergency ordinances that gave them extraordinary powers to suppress the movement, including the ability to ban public gatherings, censor the press, and detain people without trial.
- Confiscation of property: The British confiscated the property and assets of those participating in the movement, particularly targeting the Indian National Congress.
- Political negotiations: Eventually recognizing they couldn’t simply crush the movement through force, the British engaged in negotiations. This led to the Gandhi-Irwin Pact of 1931, where Gandhi agreed to suspend the movement in exchange for the release of prisoners and allowing salt production for personal consumption.
- Divide and rule tactics: The British attempted to divide the movement by holding separate conferences for different religious and social groups, culminating in the Second Round Table Conference in London.
The British response demonstrated their determination to maintain control while also revealing the limits of their power in the face of widespread non-violent resistance, which ultimately strengthened the Indian independence movement.