THE DANDI SALT MARCH AND MOHANDAS KARAMCHAND GANDHI
A LETTER PREDATING HIS ARREST IN MAY 1930
£320
Rare Books, Maps, Manuscripts & Photographs
Auction: 19 June 2019 at 12:00 BST
Description
typed letter from the East Godavari District Magistrate's Office, Cocanda, dated 3rd May 1930, with the recipient's name and sender's signature in manuscript, reading: "My Dear Blake, According to present arrangements Gandhi will be arrested and interned by the Bombay Government on Sunday" and requesting that the recipient be available on the 4th and 5th of May to quell any possible civil unrest, 170 x 215mm
Footnote
Note: On 6th April 1930, Mohandas Gandhi began the Dandi March as a peaceful protest against the British salt monopoly in India. It was the first use of Satyagraha - Gandhi's principle of non-violent protest, and was to culminate at Dharasana Salt Works, 25 miles south of Dandi. However, as this letter shows, the authorities were planning Gandhi's arrest, and detained him on the 5th May. The beatings of peaceful protesters in Dharasana by the British police in India came to the attention of the world, and drew international interest in the Indian Independence Movement.