द इण्डियन स्ट्रगल / भारतीय स्वाधीनता संग्राम (नेताजी सुभाष चन्द्र बोस - ऐतिहासिक विश्लेषण)

STORMY 1930 209
Mahatma started civil disobedience by appropriating pieces
of salt lying on the beach. Almost simultaneously, illegal salt
manufacture was begun all over the country. Where natural
conditions precluded any such campaign, disobedience of
other laws was attempted. In Calcutta, for instance, the
Mayor, the late Mr. J. M. Sengupta started disobedience of
the Law of Sedition by openly reading seditious literature
in a public meeting. Boycott of foreign cloth was begun on
an extensive scale and along with that, another campaign
grew up for the boycott of British goods of all sorts. There
was also an intensive campaign for the boycott of liquor and
of intoxicating drugs. To enforce the boycott, picketing by
Congress volunteers was organised all over India. A few
weeks after the march began, the Mahatma addressed a
special appeal to the women of India (Young India, April
10th, 1930). Therein he said: 'The impatience of some
sisters to join the good fight is to me a healthy sign. . . . In
this non-violent warfare, their contribution should be much
greater than men's. To call women the weaker sex is a libel.
. . . If by strength is meant moral power, then woman is
immeasurably man's superior.' Proceeding, the Mahatma
appealed to them to take up the picketing of liquor shops and
foreign-cloth shops. The prohibition of intoxicating drugs
and drinks would reduce the Government revenue by 250
millions of rupees (Rs. 13½=£1 roughly)—while the boycott
of foreign cloth would stop an annual drain of nearly 600
millions of rupees. He further appealed to women to devote
their spare hours to spinning with a view to stimulating the
production of Khadi. In conclusion he said: 'But there is
no excitement and adventure in the liquor and foreign-cloth
picketing, some sisters may retort. Well, if they will put their
whole heart into this agitation, they will find more than
enough excitement and adventure. Before they have done with
the agitation, they might even find themselves in prison. It
is not improbable that they may be insulted and even injured
bodily. To suffer such insult and injury would be their
pride. Such suffering if it comes to them, will hasten the end.'
The appeal was transmitted all over the country and it had
a magic effect. Even the women of the most orthodox and
o