Gandhiji sent a letter to Viceroy Irwin stating eleven demands on 31st January, 1930. The most shocking of all was to abolish the salt tax. Salt was one of the most essential items of food. Irwin was not ready to negotiate. So, Gandhiji started the famous salt march. The march was over 240 miles, from Sabarmati to Dandi. Thousands of people came to support Gandhiji wherever he stopped. He urged them to peacefully defy the British rule. On 6th April he reached Dandi and violated the law by making salt.

Mahatma Gandhi found in 'salt' a powerful symbol that could unite the nation because of the following reasons:

~ He said that salt was a very essential material of food. Imposing tax on salt was the most opressive measure taken by the British Government.

~ He demanded the abolition of the Salt Law along with his other 10 demands to Viceroy Irwin. Irwin refused to all of his demands.

~ In response to Irwin's refusal, Mahatma Gandhi started the Salt March from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, with his 78 followers.

~ It took 24 days for them to cover the march of 240 miles.

~ On reaching Dandi, he and his followers boiled sea water to manufacture salt and broke the Salt Law.