A SNEAK PEAK TO NEW-GEN FREEDOM STRUGGLE.
We are celebrating this Independence Day as Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ . As a tribute to our national leaders, let us look back and salute their relentless work, perseverance and above all their sacrifice to get the freedom that we all enjoy today. There were many battles fought by our ancestors and freedom fighters that have made their lives historical. One among such battles fought by our father of nation, Gandhiji is the Dandi March or the civil disobedience act.
Paying homage to the great personality, lets analyse the situation if it is happening at the present age. Keeping in mind that we are living in a digital era, where almost every need is dependable on technology. Let’s move back a few centuries – One of the great historical movements (Dandi March) of India would be a huge success in today’s world.
Since today’s world is very much dependable on social media to influence and spread information; Gandhiji would have taken many actions through social media for mass reach and communication if today was the freedom struggle.
Let us consider the example of Dandi March(Salt March). The first step Gandhiji would have taken was to plan and call an “event” in particularly professional media like LinkedIn – under the hashtag boycott salt tax for more reach. It would have call upon important personalities from wide areas of specialization other than politics to come to the movement. Next, let us take a wild guess that he would have started a poll to take into consideration the opinion of different people. This would give Gandhiji a preview onto who all are in support of the movement and thereby take necessary actions.
On 5th February, before setting off for the great Dandi March, he called upon various national leaders like Nehru, Dibyalochan, Sardar Patel, C. Rajagopalachari and various prominent members for a Google Meet to discuss the issue. As history tells us, Nehru and Dibyalochan were first hesitant. Sardar Patel suggested a land revenue boycott instead. But, the then Governor-General of India, C. Rajagopalachari was the only leader who understood Gandhiji’s viewpoint.
Hence, it was decided that the Salt March or the civil disobedience act would begin on 12 March. This was an act of civil disobedience to show tax resistance against British monopoly. Gandhiji informed various medias both traditional newspaper and digital media (including social media). The march was from Sabarmati Ashram to the coastal village of Dandi. He also made sure that social distancing was maintained in the time of a pandemic. How effective would the whole movement be with less choes!
Finally, when the day arrived, Gandhiji started off from the said sabarmati ashram on foot along with some of the prominent leaders.
He started addressing people, giving them the much needed motivation. He starts navigating towards the south making salt and addressing the gathering all the way. By now,many people started to take videos, stories, status and tagging everyone which made this event spot in the eye of the British. Some of the people took videos and it went viral; while some crowd of men took selfies,put it as stories to show solidarity for their support of the nation. Overall the movement was a grand success with people from all over supporting Gandhi.
Soon,the British had to take quick actions against the protestors . Gandhiji and his supporters were jailed. This fired up many people. Many of the celebrities and well known personalities turned onto social media and tweeted against the British with the same hashtag boycott Salt tax.
Soon,the British were forced to release Gandhi and his supporters in effect with a round table conference with Viceroy Lord Irwin in the matter of the Salt tax.
This is the advantage of modern technology and social media. It can be very influential and can be used to spread information like a wildfire. This is the major benefit of the digital age. It can be very beneficial for everyone if used wisely.