New Delhi: Today, on 30 January, that historical memorial was inaugurated in India. Salt Satyagraha March also known as Dandi March of 1930. Experts believe that this march by 80 Satyagrahis led by Mahatma Gandhi was a milestone in the history of Indian freedom struggle. This movement against the salt policy of British rule strengthened the fight for India’s independence.
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80 Satyagrahis led by Mahatma Gandhi marched 241 miles from the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad to the coastal village of Dandi and broke the salt law imposed by the British. This march had inspired millions of Indians to join the freedom struggle and the movement drew worldwide attention. Then the Dandi March first demonstrated the effectiveness of non-violent civil disobedience as a form of protest. The National Salt Satyagraha Memorial or Dandi Memorial is an important monument of the freedom struggle in India in its memory. It honors the activists and participants of the Salt Satyagraha.
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The memorial is spread over 15 acres and is located in the coastal town of Dandi and it is here that the Salt March ended on 5 April 1930. The project was developed at an estimated cost of ₹89 crore. IIT Bombay served as a design coordinating agency to develop the National Salt Satyagraha Memorial. The memorial was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on 30 January 2019, the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
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Visitors can view the monument step-by-step to understand the history of the historic Salt March and the methodology of Satyagraha. The road along the lake here symbolizes the route of the Dandi March. The road to the banks of the lake here is called the Dandi March route. Along the path are 24 bas-relief sculptures depicting the 24 themes and events of the 1930 Dandi March. During the 24 days of this march led by Mahatma Gandhi, 80 bronze statues in memory of the Satyagrahis who accompanied Mahatma Gandhi have also been installed at the memorial along with a 5 meter high statue of the Mahatma.
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An A-frame can also be seen here, with stylized hands raised up into the sky, holding an imitation salt crystal on top to form a canopy. Another unique feature is the laser illumination which elevates the glass crystals at night making it a visually enhancing experience. There are 40 solar trees. This makes this monument a net zero-energy project. The salt making pan in the memorial complex lets visitors experience the salt making process in person. People can also take a pinch of salt here as a memory from the memorial visit.