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Exhibition on Dandi March in Bhopal

Staff Correspondent

To mark 75 years of the historic Namak Satyagrah

BHOPAL: An exhibition of documents, reference material and photographs linked with Mahatma Gandhi's famous Dandi March began at Swaraj Bhawan here on Sunday evening as part of the year long celebrations to mark 75 years of the historic Namak Satyagrah (Salt campaign).

The exhibition has been organised in the State capital by the Madhya Pradesh Directorate of Archeology,

Archives and Museum with the support of National Archives.

Some early visitors to the exhibition were heard saying that children should be encouraged to visit the

exhibition as it vividly narrates Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy and recaptures all that went into building

the protest against the Indian Salt Act of 1882 into a people's movement.

One of the exhibits— an article written by Mahatma Gandhi before he had launched the Salt Movement— stands

testimony and explains how the Salt Tax was an illuminating monograph of the exploitative nature of the Tax imposed under the Indian Salt Act 1882 that gave powers of stoppage, search, seizure and arrest.

Another exhibit showed how the British had tried to make light of the Dandi March. A high British functionary at that point of time had even gone to the extent of referring to the Dandi March and pointing out in an official communication that he was unable to comprehend what objective would be achieved by non-violence. This correspondence has been put up prominently on display.

Mahatma Gandhi launched the Namak Satyagrah by marching 400 kilometers to Dandi in Gujarat in March

1930. He began the march with 81 satyagrahis but was soon joined by thousands of citizens ready to defy the

Salt Act and produce their own salt. This campaign was a major turning point in the Freedom struggle, an

official organiser told The Hindu emphasising the importance of the Dandi March and the significance of

the exhibition.

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Exhibition on Dandi March in Bhopal

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