Who of the following organized a march on the Tanjore coast to break the Salt Law in April 1930?
Contents12
- AV.O. Chidambaram Pillai
- BC. Rajagopalachari
- CK. Kamaraj
- DAnnie Besant
Show answer
Answer: (B) C. Rajagopalachari
As per Spectrum (Rajiv Ahir, pg 168):
C. Rajagopalachari (popularly known as Rajaji or CR) led the salt march from Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) to Vedaranyam on the Tanjore (Thanjavur) coast in Tamil Nadu in April 1930.
This was the southern counterpart of Mahatma Gandhi's famous Dandi March (Sabarmati to Dandi, Gujarat).
While Gandhi broke the salt law on the west coast, Rajaji did the same on the east coast in Tamil Nadu, making it a truly national movement.
Why are the other options wrong?
(a) V.O. Chidambaram Pillai — he was a freedom fighter known for launching the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company to compete with British shipping. He was not associated with the salt march.
(c) K. Kamaraj — he was a later Congress leader and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (1954-63), famous for the 'Kamaraj Plan' and the role of 'kingmaker' in national politics. He was too young at the time of the 1930 salt march.
(d) Annie Besant — she was associated with the Home Rule Movement (1916) and the Theosophical Society. She passed away in 1933, and salt marches were not her form of protest.
Memory aid:
- Dandi March = Gandhi (West coast, Gujarat)
- Vedaranyam March = Rajaji (East coast, Tamil Nadu).
C. Rajagopalachari led the Vedaranyam salt march in Tamil Nadu as the southern counterpart to Gandhi's Dandi March, making the Civil Disobedience Movement truly national by covering both coasts.
UPSC tests specific regional leaders who replicated Gandhi's methods, requiring students to know that the salt satyagraha had multiple simultaneous fronts across India in April 1930.
Civil Disobedience Movement (1930-32)
Modern Indian History Salt Law April 1930 march
Civil Disobedience Movement: Structure, Timeline & Key Features
Civil Disobedience Movement launched by Gandhi on March 12, 1930 with Dandi March
Movement had two phases: 1930-31 and 1932-34, separated by Gandhi-Irwin Pact
Salt law violation was the symbolic starting point, but expanded to all unjust laws
Featured parallel salt marches across India - Dandi (Gujarat) and Vedaranyam (Tamil Nadu)
Why Salt Tax?
Gandhi chose salt tax as the focal point because it affected every Indian, rich or poor. The British monopoly on salt production and the heavy tax made this basic necessity expensive. Salt was the perfect symbol of colonial exploitation - a daily reminder that touched every household.
Movement Timeline
%%{init: {"flowchart": {"wrappingWidth": 460}}}%%
flowchart TD
s1["`**March 12, 1930**
**Dandi March** begins from Sabarmati Ashram`"]
s2["`**April 6, 1930**
Gandhi breaks salt law at **Dandi beach**, Gujarat`"]
s3["`**April 1930**
**Parallel marches** across India - Rajaji leads Vedaranyam march`"]
s4["`**May 1930**
Mass arrests begin, Gandhi arrested on May 5`"]
s5["`**March 1931**
**Gandhi-Irwin Pact** - temporary suspension`"]
s6["`**1932-34**
**Second phase** after pact breaks down`"]
s1 --> s2
s2 --> s3
s3 --> s4
s4 --> s5
s5 --> s6Major Salt Marches 1930
Leader | Route | Coast | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
Mahatma Gandhi | Sabarmati to Dandi | West coast (Gujarat) | Iconic 241-mile march, international attention |
C. Rajagopalachari | Tiruchirappalli to Vedaranyam | East coast (Tamil Nadu) | Southern counterpart, Tanjore coast |
Satyagraha Ashram volunteers | Various local routes | Multiple coastal points | Made it a truly pan-Indian movement |
Trap: Vedaranyam vs Dandi - Rajaji led the Tanjore coast march, Gandhi led the Gujarat march
Trap: Timeline confusion - Salt marches happened in 1930, not 1929 or 1931
Trap: Rajaji vs Kamaraj - Kamaraj was too young in 1930, became prominent in the 1950s
Trap: Phase confusion - Civil Disobedience had two phases (1930-31, 1932-34), separated by Gandhi-Irwin Pact
C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji)
Modern Indian History C. Rajagopalachari Tanjore coast
C. Rajagopalachari: Freedom Fighter to Statesman
C. Rajagopalachari (1878-1972) - lawyer, freedom fighter, and last Governor-General of India
Led Vedaranyam Salt March in Tamil Nadu (April 1930) as counterpart to Gandhi's Dandi March
First Indian Governor-General (1948-50) after Lord Mountbatten
Founded Swatantra Party (1959) in opposition to Nehru's socialist policies
Gandhi's Lieutenant
Known as 'Rajaji' or 'CR', he was one of Gandhi's closest associates and often called his 'conscience keeper'. A brilliant lawyer and writer, Rajaji combined intellectual rigor with Gandhian principles, making him a bridge between the Mahatma's idealism and practical governance.
Key Roles & Contributions
Period | Position/Role | Key Achievement |
|---|---|---|
1930 | Civil Disobedience leader | Led Vedaranyam Salt March in Tamil Nadu |
1937-39 | Chief Minister, Madras | First Congress ministry, resigned over WWII |
1942 | Gandhi's emissary | Negotiated with Jinnah on Pakistan proposal |
1947-48 | Governor, West Bengal | Managed post-partition refugee crisis |
1948-50 | Governor-General of India | Last constitutional head before Republic |
1959 | Swatantra Party founder | Opposition to License Raj and socialist policies |
Literary & Cultural Legacy
Translated Ramayana and Mahabharata into Tamil, making epics accessible
Prolific writer - novels, political commentary, and philosophical works
Bharat Ratna recipient (1954) for contributions to literature and public service
Advocated Hindi as national language but promoted Tamil literature simultaneously
Trap: Rajaji vs Kamaraj - Rajaji was the salt march leader (1930), Kamaraj was a later Tamil leader (1950s-60s)
Trap: Governor-General confusion - Rajaji was last Governor-General (1948-50), not first President
Trap: Party affiliation - Founded Swatantra Party in 1959, opposing Congress's socialist turn
Trap: Vedaranyam location - This salt march was on Tanjore coast in Tamil Nadu, not Kerala or Andhra
Tamil Freedom Fighters
Modern Indian History V.O. Chidambaram Pillai K. Kamaraj Annie Besant
Tamil Nadu's Freedom Movement Leaders: Timeline & Contributions
V.O. Chidambaram Pillai - early Swadeshi leader, launched shipping company against British
Annie Besant - Irish Home Rule leader, established in Madras, died before salt marches
K. Kamaraj - post-independence leader, too young during 1930 salt satyagraha
Timeline & Key Contributions
Leader | Active Period | Major Contribution | Why Not Salt March? |
|---|---|---|---|
V.O. Chidambaram Pillai | 1900-1920s | Swadeshi Steam Navigation Co. (1906) | Different era - focused on economic boycott |
Annie Besant | 1893-1933 | Home Rule Movement (1916) | Died in 1933, used constitutional methods |
K. Kamaraj | 1940s-1970s | Chief Minister (1954-63), Kingmaker | Born 1903, too young in 1930 |
C. Rajagopalachari | 1920s-1970s | Vedaranyam Salt March (1930) | Correct answer - Gandhi's lieutenant |
V.O. Chidambaram Pillai (1872-1936)
Launched Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company (1906) to compete with British India Steam Navigation
Organized Tuticorin strike (1908) against British shipping monopoly
Imprisoned and financially ruined by British for economic nationalism
Known as 'Kappalottiya Tamilan' (The Tamil who ran ships)
Annie Besant (1847-1933)
Irish theosophist who made Adyar, Madras her headquarters from 1893
Founded Home Rule League (1916) demanding self-government within British Empire
Congress President (1917) - first woman to hold the position
Used constitutional methods, not mass satyagraha like salt marches
Trap: VOC vs Rajaji - VOC was Swadeshi shipping (1906), Rajaji was salt march (1930)
Trap: Annie Besant timeline - She died in 1933, salt marches were 1930-32
Trap: Kamaraj's age - Born 1903, was only 27 in 1930, became prominent post-independence
Trap: Method confusion - Home Rule used petitions/constitutional methods, not civil disobedience