Chapter 15.12 - Civil Disobedience Movement in Orissa

[Full title: Orissa under the British (a political sketch) (12): Civil Disobedience Movement in Orissa]

The call of the Lahore Congress to the people to fight for complete independence of India stirred the whole country in 1930. In different parts of Orissa the pledge of Independence was taken on 26 January. Mass meetings were organised in many places on the occasion. The decision of Gandhiji to break the salt law was received with much enthusiasm by the Congress leaders in Orissa. It was a heaven-sent

Ortssa under the British-A Political Sketch 169 opportunity to re-establish their traditional right to manufacture salt in the long coastal tract. The Congress leaders especially H. K. Mahatab and Sardar Surendra Nath Das prepared the ground at Inchudi on the seacoast of Balasore for beginning the struggle in Orissa. The people participated in large numbers in actual breaking of the salt law and in preparing the contraband salt. It was claimed on the basis of the government report that the Salt Satyagraha at Inchudi occupied the second place in India, first being Gujrat where Gandhiji himself led the movement. 28 Besides Inchudi, other important centres for salt satyagraha were Sartha in the Balasore district, Kujang in the Cuttack district, Kuhudi, Singheswari and Latra in the Puri district; and Huma in the district of Ganjam, then under the Madras Presidency. Under the inspiring guidance of the Congress party, the people of Orissa achieved spectacular success in salt satyagraha. The movement slowed down towards June with the advent of rainy season which naturally hampered the production of salt on the seashore. In the meanwhile, all prominent Congress leaders of Orissa and hundreds of volunteers were imprisoned. Two important papers propagating the Congress views, Prajatantra of Balasore and Samaj of Cuttack were forced to stop their publication due to stringent press ordinance. A veritable reign of terror was let loose to suppress the movement. In spite of the absence of prominent leaders, the people continued their struggle with courage and determination. The movement lingered on and did not stop fully until it was called off by the Congress in 1934.