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Q46 (IAS/2015) History & Culture › National Movement (1857–1947) › Gandhian mass movements Official Key

Who of the following organized a march on the Tanjore coast to break the Salt Law in April 1930?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: B
Explanation

In April 1930, C. Rajagopalachari organised a march from Thiruchirapalli (Trichinopoly) to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore (or Thanjavur) coast to break the salt law.[1] This march was part of the larger Civil Disobedience Movement that followed Gandhi's historic Dandi March. Rajaji had just been elected president of the Tamil Nadu Congress, and the march started on April 13 and reached Vedaranyam on April 28, 1930.[2] He was arrested on April 30, 1930.[3] This was a significant regional manifestation of the national movement against the British salt monopoly, and demonstrated the spread of Gandhian methods of non-violent protest across India. The Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha became an important chapter in Tamil Nadu's contribution to the freedom struggle.

Sources
  1. [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 19: Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences > Satyagraha at Different Places > p. 373
  2. [2] History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 4: Advent of Gandhi and Mass Mobilisation > Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha > p. 51
  3. [3] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Civil Disobedience Movement > p. 810
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Q. Who of the following organized a march on the Tanjore coast to break the Salt Law in April 1930? [A] V. O. Chidambaram Pillai [B] C. Ra…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 2.5/10 · 7.5/10

This is a textbook 'Sitter' found verbatim in Spectrum and NCERT. It tests the 'Regional Spread' of the Civil Disobedience Movement. If you missed this, your static core (Modern History) has dangerous gaps. No current affairs linkage required.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Did V. O. Chidambaram Pillai organize a march on the Tanjore coast to break the Salt Law in April 1930?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"In April 1930, Rajagopalachari organised a march on the Tanjore coast to protest the salt law."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly names C. Rajagopalachari as the organiser of the April 1930 Tanjore coast salt-law protest.
  • Presents that event as a corrective to the multiple-choice option that included V. O. Chidambaram Pillai.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"C. Rajagopalachari organized a march from Trichinopoly to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore coast to break the salt law in April 1930."
Why this source?
  • States that C. Rajagopalachari organized the march from Trichinopoly to Vedaranniyam to break the salt law in April 1930.
  • Directly attributes the Tanjore-coast salt action to Rajagopalachari, not to V. O. Chidambaram Pillai.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"He was arrested in April 1930 for leading a salt march from Trichinopoly to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore coast."
Why this source?
  • Notes the answer as C. Rajagopalachari and records he was arrested in April 1930 for leading that salt march.
  • Links the Trichinopoly-to-Vedaranniyam march and the April 1930 timing to Rajagopalachari rather than V. O. Chidambaram Pillai.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 19: Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences > Satyagraha at Different Places > p. 373
Strength: 5/5
“A brief survey of the nature of Civil Disobedience Movement in different parts of the subcontinent is given below. ● Tamil Nadu In April 1930, C. Rajagopalachari organised a march from Thiruchirapalli (Trichinapoly as it was called by the British) to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore (or Thanjavur) coast to break the salt law. The event was followed by widespread picketing of foreign cloth shops; the anti-liquor campaign gathered forceful support in interior regions of Coimbatore, Madura, Virdhanagar, etc. Although, Rajaji tried to keep the movement non-violent, violent eruptions of masses and the violent repressions of the police began. To break the Choolai mills strike, police force was used.”
Why relevant

Explicitly states that C. Rajagopalachari organised a march from Trichinopoly to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore coast in April 1930 to break the salt law (Tamil Nadu example).

How to extend

A student could use this as a regional attribution pattern (Rajaji as organiser) and check lists of regional leaders to see if VOC is named instead.

History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 4: Advent of Gandhi and Mass Mobilisation > Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha > p. 51
Strength: 5/5
“In Tamil Nadu, a salt march was led by Rajaji to Vedaranyam. Vedaranyam, situated 150 miles from Tiruchirapalli, where the march started, was an obscure coastal village in Thanjavur district. Rajaji had just been elected president of the Tamil Nadu Congress. The march started on April 13 and reached Vedaranyam on April 28, 1930. The Thajavur collector J.A Thorne had warned the public of severe action if the marchers were harboured. But the Satyagrahis were warmly welcomed and provided with food and shelter. Those who dared to offer food and”
Why relevant

Gives precise route and dates for the Tamil Nadu salt march (started April 13, reached Vedaranniyam April 28) and identifies Rajaji as leader.

How to extend

Compare these specific dates/route with any claims about VOC organising a Tanjore coast march in April 1930—if VOC is not linked to these dates/route, the claim is less likely.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Civil Disobedience Movement > p. 810
Strength: 4/5
“M.K. Gandhi formally launched the Civil Disobedience Movement on April 6, 1930 by picking a handful of salt after the completion of historic 'Dandi March' from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, thus breaking the salt law imposed by the Government. He was the major force behind the movement and inspired grass-root participation in the freedom struggle. C. Rajagopalachari led a salt march from Trichinopoly to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore coast in Tamil Nadu, in support of the Civil Disobedience Movement. He was arrested on April 30, 1930. K. Kelappan, a Nair Congress leader, launched the Vaikom Satyagraha and marched from Calicut to Payanneer in defiance of salt laws.”
Why relevant

Also notes Rajagopalachari led a salt march to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore coast and was arrested on April 30, 1930.

How to extend

Use the arrest/date detail to cross-check contemporaneous reports or leader lists from late April 1930 to see which leader was active at Vedaranniyam.

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 11: MAHATMA GANDHI AND THE NATIONALIST MOVEMENT > 3. The Salt Satyagraha A Case Study > p. 297
Strength: 4/5
“Where most Indians understood the significance of Gandhiji's challenge, the British Raj apparently did not. Although Gandhiji had given advance notice of his "Salt March" to the Viceroy Lord Irwin, Irwin failed to grasp the significance of the action. On 12 March 1930, Gandhiji began walking from his ashram at Sabarmati towards the ocean. He reached his destination three weeks later, making a fistful of salt as he did and thereby making himself a criminal in the eyes of the law. Meanwhile, parallel salt marches were being conducted in other parts of the country. Source 3”
Why relevant

States that parallel salt marches were being conducted in other parts of the country around Gandhi's Dandi March.

How to extend

A student could treat the Tamil Nadu march as one documented parallel and look for documentary patterns (one named leader per region) to test whether VOC appears as an organiser elsewhere.

India and the Contemporary World – II. History-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Nationalism in India > The Independence Day Pledge, 26 January 1930 > p. 40
Strength: 3/5
“with the British, as they had done in 1921-22, but also to break colonial laws. Thousands in different parts of the country broke the salt law, manufactured salt and demonstrated in front of government salt factories. As the movement spread, foreign cloth was boycotted, and liquor shops were picketed. Peasants refused to pay revenue and chaukidari taxes, village officials resigned, and in many places forest people violated forest laws – going into Reserved Forests to collect wood and graze cattle. Worried by the developments, the colonial government began arresting the Congress leaders one by one. This led to violent clashes in many palaces.”
Why relevant

Describes widespread local acts of breaking salt law across many places and mass participation, indicating many localized leaders and actions.

How to extend

This suggests it is plausible other local leaders might have organised salt actions; a student should therefore seek region-specific records for VOC rather than assume national-level leadership.

Statement 2
Did C. Rajagopalachari organize a march on the Tanjore coast to break the Salt Law in April 1930?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 19: Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences > Satyagraha at Different Places > p. 373
Presence: 5/5
“A brief survey of the nature of Civil Disobedience Movement in different parts of the subcontinent is given below. ● Tamil Nadu In April 1930, C. Rajagopalachari organised a march from Thiruchirapalli (Trichinapoly as it was called by the British) to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore (or Thanjavur) coast to break the salt law. The event was followed by widespread picketing of foreign cloth shops; the anti-liquor campaign gathered forceful support in interior regions of Coimbatore, Madura, Virdhanagar, etc. Although, Rajaji tried to keep the movement non-violent, violent eruptions of masses and the violent repressions of the police began. To break the Choolai mills strike, police force was used.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states that in April 1930 C. Rajagopalachari organised a march from Thiruchirapalli to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore coast to break the salt law.
  • Specifies purpose (to break the salt law) and the regional context (Tanjore/Thanjavur coast), directly matching the claim.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Civil Disobedience Movement > p. 810
Presence: 5/5
“M.K. Gandhi formally launched the Civil Disobedience Movement on April 6, 1930 by picking a handful of salt after the completion of historic 'Dandi March' from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, thus breaking the salt law imposed by the Government. He was the major force behind the movement and inspired grass-root participation in the freedom struggle. C. Rajagopalachari led a salt march from Trichinopoly to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore coast in Tamil Nadu, in support of the Civil Disobedience Movement. He was arrested on April 30, 1930. K. Kelappan, a Nair Congress leader, launched the Vaikom Satyagraha and marched from Calicut to Payanneer in defiance of salt laws.”
Why this source?
  • Affirms that C. Rajagopalachari led a salt march from Trichinopoly to Vedaranniyam in support of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
  • Gives corroborating temporal detail by noting his arrest on April 30, 1930, placing the action in April.
History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 4: Advent of Gandhi and Mass Mobilisation > Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha > p. 51
Presence: 5/5
“In Tamil Nadu, a salt march was led by Rajaji to Vedaranyam. Vedaranyam, situated 150 miles from Tiruchirapalli, where the march started, was an obscure coastal village in Thanjavur district. Rajaji had just been elected president of the Tamil Nadu Congress. The march started on April 13 and reached Vedaranyam on April 28, 1930. The Thajavur collector J.A Thorne had warned the public of severe action if the marchers were harboured. But the Satyagrahis were warmly welcomed and provided with food and shelter. Those who dared to offer food and”
Why this source?
  • Provides specific dates: march started on April 13 and reached Vedaranyam on April 28, 1930, confirming the April timing.
  • Identifies Tiruchirapalli as the starting point and Vedaranyam (Thanjavur district) as the destination, matching the geographic claim.
Statement 3
Did K. Kamaraj organize a march on the Tanjore coast to break the Salt Law in April 1930?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"In April 1930, Rajagopalachari organised a march on the Tanjore coast to protest the salt law."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly names C. Rajagopalachari as the organiser of the April 1930 Tanjore coast salt march.
  • Directly attributes the protest to Rajagopalachari rather than K. Kamaraj, thereby refuting the statement.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"C. Rajagopalachari organized a march from Trichinopoly to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore coast to break the salt law in April 1930."
Why this source?
  • Specifies C. Rajagopalachari organized a march from Trichinopoly to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore coast to break the salt law in April 1930.
  • Provides location and timing matching the claim but assigns leadership to Rajagopalachari, not Kamaraj.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"He was arrested in April 1930 for leading a salt march from Trichinopoly to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore coast."
Why this source?
  • States Rajagopalachari was arrested in April 1930 for leading a salt march from Trichinopoly to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore coast.
  • Reinforces that Rajagopalachari — not K. Kamaraj — led the 1930 Tanjore coast salt action.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 19: Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences > Satyagraha at Different Places > p. 373
Strength: 5/5
“A brief survey of the nature of Civil Disobedience Movement in different parts of the subcontinent is given below. ● Tamil Nadu In April 1930, C. Rajagopalachari organised a march from Thiruchirapalli (Trichinapoly as it was called by the British) to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore (or Thanjavur) coast to break the salt law. The event was followed by widespread picketing of foreign cloth shops; the anti-liquor campaign gathered forceful support in interior regions of Coimbatore, Madura, Virdhanagar, etc. Although, Rajaji tried to keep the movement non-violent, violent eruptions of masses and the violent repressions of the police began. To break the Choolai mills strike, police force was used.”
Why relevant

Explicitly states that in April 1930 C. Rajagopalachari organised a march from Trichinapalli to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore coast to break the salt law.

How to extend

A student could note the named leader (C. Rajagopalachari) and compare it to 'K. Kamaraj' to question attribution and seek primary/biographical sources to confirm who led the Tanjore march.

History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 4: Advent of Gandhi and Mass Mobilisation > Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha > p. 51
Strength: 5/5
“In Tamil Nadu, a salt march was led by Rajaji to Vedaranyam. Vedaranyam, situated 150 miles from Tiruchirapalli, where the march started, was an obscure coastal village in Thanjavur district. Rajaji had just been elected president of the Tamil Nadu Congress. The march started on April 13 and reached Vedaranyam on April 28, 1930. The Thajavur collector J.A Thorne had warned the public of severe action if the marchers were harboured. But the Satyagrahis were warmly welcomed and provided with food and shelter. Those who dared to offer food and”
Why relevant

Gives dates and route: march started April 13 from Tiruchirapalli and reached Vedaranyam on April 28, 1930, and identifies Rajaji as leader.

How to extend

Use these precise dates/route to check contemporary newspapers or arrest records for the march leader's name, testing whether K. Kamaraj appears in those records.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Civil Disobedience Movement > p. 810
Strength: 4/5
“M.K. Gandhi formally launched the Civil Disobedience Movement on April 6, 1930 by picking a handful of salt after the completion of historic 'Dandi March' from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, thus breaking the salt law imposed by the Government. He was the major force behind the movement and inspired grass-root participation in the freedom struggle. C. Rajagopalachari led a salt march from Trichinopoly to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore coast in Tamil Nadu, in support of the Civil Disobedience Movement. He was arrested on April 30, 1930. K. Kelappan, a Nair Congress leader, launched the Vaikom Satyagraha and marched from Calicut to Payanneer in defiance of salt laws.”
Why relevant

Summarises Civil Disobedience in Tamil Nadu and names C. Rajagopalachari leading a salt march to Vedaranniyam, noting his arrest on April 30, 1930.

How to extend

Compare the arrest record/date and reported leader here with biographies of K. Kamaraj to see if he is credited or if sources consistently credit Rajagopalachari.

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 11: MAHATMA GANDHI AND THE NATIONALIST MOVEMENT > 3. The Salt Satyagraha A Case Study > p. 297
Strength: 4/5
“Where most Indians understood the significance of Gandhiji's challenge, the British Raj apparently did not. Although Gandhiji had given advance notice of his "Salt March" to the Viceroy Lord Irwin, Irwin failed to grasp the significance of the action. On 12 March 1930, Gandhiji began walking from his ashram at Sabarmati towards the ocean. He reached his destination three weeks later, making a fistful of salt as he did and thereby making himself a criminal in the eyes of the law. Meanwhile, parallel salt marches were being conducted in other parts of the country. Source 3”
Why relevant

Notes that Gandhi's Dandi march inspired parallel salt marches across the country, indicating multiple local leaders led region-specific actions.

How to extend

A student can use this pattern to expect named regional organizers and then verify whether K. Kamaraj appears among the documented regional leaders for Tanjore/Vedaranyam.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 19: Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences > Spread of Salt Law Disobedience > p. 372
Strength: 3/5
“Once the way was cleared by Gandhi's ritual at Dandi, defiance of the salt laws started all over the country. Nehru's arrest in April 1930 for defiance of the salt law evoked huge demonstrations in Madras, Calcutta and Karachi. Gandhi's arrest came on May 4, 1930 when he had announced that he would lead a raid on Dharasana Salt Works on the west”
Why relevant

States that once Gandhi acted at Dandi, defiance spread nationwide and cites arrests (e.g., Nehru) in April 1930, placing the Tamil march in the same timeframe.

How to extend

Use the timing pattern (April 1930 widespread actions and arrests) to cross-check lists of arrested organizers in Tamil Nadu during April 1930 for K. Kamaraj's involvement or absence.

Statement 4
Did Annie Besant organize a march on the Tanjore coast to break the Salt Law in April 1930?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"In April 1930, Rajagopalachari organised a march on the Tanjore coast to protest the salt law."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly names C. Rajagopalachari as the organiser of the April 1930 Tanjore coast march to protest the salt law.
  • Directly ties the event to April 1930 and the Tanjore coast, contradicting attribution to Annie Besant.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"(b) C. Rajagopalachari organized a march from Trichinopoly to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore coast to break the salt law in April 1930."
Why this source?
  • States C. Rajagopalachari organized a march from Trichinopoly to Vedaranniyam to break the salt law in April 1930.
  • Directly assigns leadership of that specific salt march to Rajagopalachari, not Annie Besant.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"He was arrested in April 1930 for leading a salt march from Trichinopoly to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore coast."
Why this source?
  • Notes he was arrested in April 1930 for leading a salt march from Trichinopoly to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore coast.
  • Reinforces that C. Rajagopalachari led the march and was the prominent actor associated with that event.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 19: Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences > Satyagraha at Different Places > p. 373
Strength: 5/5
“A brief survey of the nature of Civil Disobedience Movement in different parts of the subcontinent is given below. ● Tamil Nadu In April 1930, C. Rajagopalachari organised a march from Thiruchirapalli (Trichinapoly as it was called by the British) to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore (or Thanjavur) coast to break the salt law. The event was followed by widespread picketing of foreign cloth shops; the anti-liquor campaign gathered forceful support in interior regions of Coimbatore, Madura, Virdhanagar, etc. Although, Rajaji tried to keep the movement non-violent, violent eruptions of masses and the violent repressions of the police began. To break the Choolai mills strike, police force was used.”
Why relevant

Explicitly states that C. Rajagopalachari organised a march from Trichinapalli to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore coast in April 1930 to break the salt law.

How to extend

A student could use this to infer that credit for the Tanjore/Vedaranniyam salt march is typically assigned to Rajaji rather than to Annie Besant and so should check contemporaneous records for leadership names.

History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 4: Advent of Gandhi and Mass Mobilisation > Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha > p. 51
Strength: 5/5
“In Tamil Nadu, a salt march was led by Rajaji to Vedaranyam. Vedaranyam, situated 150 miles from Tiruchirapalli, where the march started, was an obscure coastal village in Thanjavur district. Rajaji had just been elected president of the Tamil Nadu Congress. The march started on April 13 and reached Vedaranyam on April 28, 1930. The Thajavur collector J.A Thorne had warned the public of severe action if the marchers were harboured. But the Satyagrahis were warmly welcomed and provided with food and shelter. Those who dared to offer food and”
Why relevant

Gives specific dates and route: march started April 13 from Tiruchirapalli and reached Vedaranyam on April 28, 1930, identifying the Vedaranyam action on the Tanjore/Thanjavur coast.

How to extend

A student could compare these precise dates and route with biographies or newspapers from April 1930 to see who led or was prominently associated with the event.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Civil Disobedience Movement > p. 810
Strength: 4/5
“M.K. Gandhi formally launched the Civil Disobedience Movement on April 6, 1930 by picking a handful of salt after the completion of historic 'Dandi March' from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, thus breaking the salt law imposed by the Government. He was the major force behind the movement and inspired grass-root participation in the freedom struggle. C. Rajagopalachari led a salt march from Trichinopoly to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore coast in Tamil Nadu, in support of the Civil Disobedience Movement. He was arrested on April 30, 1930. K. Kelappan, a Nair Congress leader, launched the Vaikom Satyagraha and marched from Calicut to Payanneer in defiance of salt laws.”
Why relevant

Summarises leaders of parallel salt actions and names Rajagopalachari as leader of the Tanjore coast march, and notes his arrest on April 30, 1930.

How to extend

Use the named leader and arrest date to search arrest lists, police records, or contemporary press reports to confirm organisers of the Tanjore march and rule out other claimed organisers.

THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 11: MAHATMA GANDHI AND THE NATIONALIST MOVEMENT > 3. The Salt Satyagraha A Case Study > p. 297
Strength: 4/5
“Where most Indians understood the significance of Gandhiji's challenge, the British Raj apparently did not. Although Gandhiji had given advance notice of his "Salt March" to the Viceroy Lord Irwin, Irwin failed to grasp the significance of the action. On 12 March 1930, Gandhiji began walking from his ashram at Sabarmati towards the ocean. He reached his destination three weeks later, making a fistful of salt as he did and thereby making himself a criminal in the eyes of the law. Meanwhile, parallel salt marches were being conducted in other parts of the country. Source 3”
Why relevant

Explains that parallel salt marches were being conducted in other parts of the country at the same time as Gandhi's Dandi March.

How to extend

Given multiple simultaneous regional satyagrahas, a student should expect local Congress leaders to have organised those regional marches and thus check regional leadership (e.g., Rajaji) rather than national figures like Annie Besant.

Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 19: Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences > Civil Disobedience Movement the Salt Satyagraha and Other Upsurges > p. 372
Strength: 3/5
“The historic march, marking the launch of the Civil Disobedience Movement, began on March 12, and Gandhi broke the salt law by picking up a lump of salt at Dandi on April 6. The violation of the law was seen as a symbol of the Indian people's resolve not to live under British-made laws and therefore under British rule. Gandhi openly asked the people to make salt from sea water in their homes and violate the salt law. The march, its progress and its impact on the people was well covered by newspapers. In Gujarat, 300 village officials resigned in answer to Gandhi's appeal.”
Why relevant

Describes the broader pattern that Gandhi asked people to make salt and that local leaders mounted local violations, implying regional ownership of specific salt actions.

How to extend

A student could extend this pattern to investigate which local leaders in Tamil Nadu were active in April 1930 and evaluate whether Annie Besant — primarily associated with earlier politics — appears in those local lists.

Pattern takeaway: The 'Regional Reflection' Pattern: For every major Pan-Indian movement (NCM, CDM, QIM), UPSC asks for the specific leader in Madras, Malabar, or Punjab. They test if you know the movement was not just one man walking in Gujarat.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Direct lift from Spectrum (Chapter: Civil Disobedience Movement) and Tamil Nadu Class XII History Book.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: The 'Parallel Salt Marches' theme. UPSC moves beyond Gandhi's Dandi to ask: 'Who was doing what elsewhere at the same time?'
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the Regional CDM Map: 1) Malabar: K. Kelappan (Calicut to Payyanur). 2) Dharasana: Sarojini Naidu, Imam Sahib, Manilal Gandhi. 3) NWFP: Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (Khudai Khidmatgars). 4) Manipur/Nagaland: Rani Gaidinliu (at age 13). 5) Bengal: Sylhet to Noakhali.
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Do not read movements as a monolith. Always create a table: Region | Leader | Specific Action/Route. The examiner looks for the 'Local Gandhi' of each province.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Vedaranyam (Tanjore) Salt March — Rajaji (April 1930)
💡 The insight

Multiple references identify C. Rajagopalachari as organising and leading the march from Trichinopoly to Vedaranniyam (Vedaranyam) on the Tanjore coast in April 1930—directly relevant to the claim about a Tanjore coast salt march.

High-yield for UPSC: questions often ask about regional leaders and specific salt satyagrahas. Connects Civil Disobedience Movement to regional leadership and chronology. Study approach: memorise key parallel satyagraha leaders, start/end points, and arrest dates for comparative questions.

📚 Reading List :
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Civil Disobedience Movement > p. 810
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 19: Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences > Satyagraha at Different Places > p. 373
  • History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 4: Advent of Gandhi and Mass Mobilisation > Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha > p. 51
🔗 Anchor: "Did V. O. Chidambaram Pillai organize a march on the Tanjore coast to break the ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Gandhi's Dandi March as the catalyst for parallel salt satyagrahas
💡 The insight

References show Gandhi's Dandi March (March–April 1930) launched the wider salt satyagraha campaign, prompting parallel marches elsewhere including Tanjore/Vedaranyam.

Core concept for Modern India: understanding the central event (Dandi) and its ripple effect helps answer questions on cause–effect, chronology, and nationwide mobilisation. Study approach: link dates, Gandhi's route, and the idea of 'parallel' actions led by regional leaders.

📚 Reading List :
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 19: Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences > Civil Disobedience Movement the Salt Satyagraha and Other Upsurges > p. 372
  • THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 11: MAHATMA GANDHI AND THE NATIONALIST MOVEMENT > 3. The Salt Satyagraha A Case Study > p. 297
  • THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 11: MAHATMA GANDHI AND THE NATIONALIST MOVEMENT > 3.1 Dandi > p. 296
🔗 Anchor: "Did V. O. Chidambaram Pillai organize a march on the Tanjore coast to break the ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Nature and tactics of the Salt Satyagraha (local actions and boycotts)
💡 The insight

Evidence details accompanying actions—picketing foreign cloth, anti-liquor campaigns, tax refusal—that formed part of the salt movement beyond making salt at the coast.

Useful for essay and mains answers explaining mass dimensions of Civil Disobedience Movement and its socio-economic tactics. Master by grouping tactics (salt production, picketing, tax refusal) and linking them to regional outcomes.

📚 Reading List :
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 19: Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences > Satyagraha at Different Places > p. 373
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 19: Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences > Civil Disobedience Movement the Salt Satyagraha and Other Upsurges > p. 374
  • India and the Contemporary World – II. History-Class X . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Nationalism in India > The Independence Day Pledge, 26 January 1930 > p. 40
🔗 Anchor: "Did V. O. Chidambaram Pillai organize a march on the Tanjore coast to break the ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Vedaranyam (Vedaranniyam) Salt March — Rajaji's 1930 campaign
💡 The insight

The references identify Rajaji as leader of a salt march from Tiruchirapalli/Trichinopoly to Vedaranyam in April 1930 to break the salt law.

High-yield: UPSC often asks leaders, places and dates of major civil disobedience actions. Knowing Rajaji's Vedaranyam march helps answer questions on regional variants of the Salt Satyagraha and regional leadership. Prepare by memorising leader–place–date triads and linking them to the wider Civil Disobedience Movement.

📚 Reading List :
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 19: Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences > Satyagraha at Different Places > p. 373
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Civil Disobedience Movement > p. 810
  • History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 4: Advent of Gandhi and Mass Mobilisation > Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha > p. 51
🔗 Anchor: "Did C. Rajagopalachari organize a march on the Tanjore coast to break the Salt L..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Parallel regional salt satyagrahas in April 1930
💡 The insight

References note that Gandhiji's Dandi ritual was followed by parallel salt marches across the country, including Vedaranyam.

Important for comparative questions: UPSC asks about the spread and nature of nationwide movements beyond flagship events. Understand the pattern (Dandi as catalyst; regional marches as replication) and map major parallel actions. Study by grouping Dandi + key regional marches and their impacts.

📚 Reading List :
  • THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 11: MAHATMA GANDHI AND THE NATIONALIST MOVEMENT > 3. The Salt Satyagraha A Case Study > p. 297
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 19: Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences > Spread of Salt Law Disobedience > p. 372
🔗 Anchor: "Did C. Rajagopalachari organize a march on the Tanjore coast to break the Salt L..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Timeline and arrests during early Civil Disobedience (April–May 1930)
💡 The insight

Evidence gives concrete dates (Rajaji's march in April; his arrest April 30; Gandhi's later arrest May 4) showing immediate government response.

Chronology and consequences are frequently tested: knowing arrest dates and sequence helps explain escalation and state repression. Create a concise timeline (march starts, regional actions, arrests) to answer cause–effect and sequence-based questions.

📚 Reading List :
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Civil Disobedience Movement > p. 810
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 19: Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences > Spread of Salt Law Disobedience > p. 372
🔗 Anchor: "Did C. Rajagopalachari organize a march on the Tanjore coast to break the Salt L..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Vedaranniyam Salt March (led by C. Rajagopalachari)
💡 The insight

The references identify a salt march to Vedaranniyam on the Tanjore coast in April 1930 and explicitly name C. Rajagopalachari as the organiser/leader.

High-yield for UPSC: distinguishes key regional leaders in the Civil Disobedience Movement (important for factual/analytical questions). Connects to questions on regional variations of national movements and leader-specific roles. Prepare by mapping major satyagrahas to their leaders and locations, using timelines and leader profiles.

📚 Reading List :
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Civil Disobedience Movement > p. 810
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 19: Civil Disobedience Movement and Round Table Conferences > Satyagraha at Different Places > p. 373
  • History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 4: Advent of Gandhi and Mass Mobilisation > Vedaranyam Salt Satyagraha > p. 51
🔗 Anchor: "Did K. Kamaraj organize a march on the Tanjore coast to break the Salt Law in Ap..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

K. Kelappan, known as the 'Kerala Gandhi', led the march from Calicut to Payyanur. A likely future question: Who led the raid on the Dharasana Salt Works? (Answer: Sarojini Naidu, Imam Sahib, and Manilal Gandhi).

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

Use 'Political Prime Time' logic. Annie Besant peaked in 1916 (Home Rule) and was anti-Non-Cooperation; she wouldn't lead a law-breaking march in 1930. V.O. Chidambaram Pillai was the hero of the 1905 Swadeshi Movement. Kamaraj was a foot soldier in 1930 (became 'Kingmaker' in the 1960s). Rajaji was the only 'General' rank leader active in the South during this specific decade.

🔗 Mains Connection

Link Rajaji to Post-Independence History (GS1): From leading the Salt March (Gandhian socialism) to founding the Swatantra Party (1959) which advocated for free-market liberalism against the License Raj—a rare ideological pivot in Indian history.

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

CDS-I · 2021 · Q59 Relevance score: 0.30

Who among the following socialist activists persuaded Gandhiji not to restrict the salt march protest to men alone ?

NDA-I · 2012 · Q90 Relevance score: -0.97

Gandhiji’s call for breaking Salt Laws was in response to the

CAPF · 2020 · Q104 Relevance score: -2.47

Which one of the following is NOT correct about Mahatma Gandhi’s Dandi Yatra or Salt March ?

NDA-I · 2014 · Q25 Relevance score: -3.22

The Salt Satyagraha called by Mahatma Gandhi saw the 1. violation of salt laws along coastal India 2. participation of women 3. upward swing when it came to the working class joining in Select the correct answer using the code given below:

CDS-I · 2017 · Q82 Relevance score: -3.93

Consider the following statements about the Salt March : 1. The Salt March was deliberately ignored by the European media. 2. The Salt March was widely covered by the American and European press. 3. The Salt March was the first nationalist activity in which women participated in large numbers. 4. The Salt March impressed upon the British the urgent need to devolve more power to Indians. Which of the statements given above are correct?