Civil Disobedience Movement launched in 1930 under Mahatma Gandhi`s leadership was one of the most significant phases of India`s freedom struggle.
The Simon Commission, formed in November 1927 by the British Government to chart and conclude a constitution for India and comprising members of the British Parliament only, was boycotted by every section of the Indian social and political platforms, as an `All-White Commission`. The opposition to the Simon Commission in Bengal was noteworthy. In disapproval against the Commission, a `hartal` (strike) was observed on 3 February 1928, in several parts of the province. Widespread demonstrations were held in Calcutta on 19 February 1928, the day of Simon`s arrival to the city. On 1 March 1928, meetings were held simultaneously in all thirty-two wards of Calcutta, spurring people to revamp the movement for boycott of British goods.

Mahatma Gandhi was arrested on May 5th, 1930, just days before his projected raid on the Dharasana Salt Works. The Dandi March and the resultant Dharasana Satyagraha drew worldwide attention to the Civil Disobedience movement through widespread newspaper and newsreel coverage. In fact, satyagraha was such a step towards the disobedience movement, that it came to synonymous with Indian freedom struggle and non-violence. The satyagraha against the salt tax continued for nearly a year, ending with Gandhi`s release from jail and negotiations with Viceroy Lord Erwin at the Second Round Table Conference. More than 80,000 Indians were jailed as a result of the Salt Satyagraha. The crusade had a significant effect on changing British attitudes toward Indian independence and caused huge numbers of Indians to aggressively join the fight for the first time. Sadly though, the movement failed to win major concessions from the British.

The Salt Satyagraha campaign was based upon Gandhi`s principles of non-violent protest called satyagraha, which he slackly translated as "truth-force." The Salt March to Dandi and the flogging of hundreds of non-violent protesters in Dharasana, manifested the efficient use of civil disobedience as a technique for fighting social and political injustice.

On 8th April 1929, members of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association detonated two bombs and fired revolvers in the assembly chamber of the Imperial Legislative Council in New Delhi. In response, Lord Irwin published a Public Safety Bill which addressed the menace of the Communist Party by deporting the Englishmen involved and taking legal action against the Indian membership.

On 31st October, Lord Irwin announced on behalf of the British Government that the natural constitutional progress of India was the attainment of Dominion Status. The Viceroy did not name a specific time for the award. The Congress Party indicated its willingness to cooperate in formulating a Dominion constitution as a test of the government`s sincerity which in the end proved minimal. In November debates in both Houses, the measure was tacitly approved, but in such away that Congress rejected the Declaration.

On 23rd December, Indian nationalists failed in an attempt to blow up Irwin`s train.

On 23rd December, Lord Irwin met with Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964), Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (1875-1950), Mohammed Ali Jinnah (1876-1948) and Tel Bahadur Sapru (1875- 1949) in New Delhi. Erwin however, could not arrive at an agreement for framing a constitution under Dominion Status. The Congress also refused to attend the London Round Table Conference in London due to communal division and the lack of British support for Indian freedom. At the ensuing 1930 annual meeting of the Congress Party held at Lahore, the Congress declared itself for independence rather than Dominion Status and authorised a campaign of civil disobedience.

On 12th March 1930, the Government of India allowed Gandhi`s civil disobedience movement to proceed. It emerged as a march to Dandi on the sea, in protest to the duty on salt. On April 6th, Gandhi reached Dandi and explicitly violated the salt law. In response, the Government of India arrested Jawaharlal Nehru on April 14.

On 18th April, amidst the turmoil of Indian life, approximately one hundred Indians attacked police and railway armouries at Chittagong. They acquired a considerable cache of arms and ammunition. During the raid eight defenders were killed. Gandhi condemned the raid which had made a deep impression throughout India. That liaison of the night, later came to be known as the legendary Chittagong Armoury Raid Case.

On 5th May, following evaluation of the attacks and violence at Chittagong and Peshawar, the Government of India had Gandhi arrested and lodged at Yervada Jail near Poona (present day Pune, Maharashtra). His retention was justified under Regulation XXV of 1827, calling for the jailing of those engaged in unlawful activities. Following Gandhi`s arrest, the British faced the full programme of civil disobedience as composed of Indian raids on salt depots, disobedience of forest laws, refusal to pay taxes in chosen areas, boycott of foreign cloth and spirits and avoidance of business with all British firms.

On 30th June, the Government of India outlawed the All-India Congress Committee and the Congress Working Committee. Congress President Motilal Nehru (1861-1931) was arrested with many other Congress leaders. In a June 7 resolution the Congress called for all Indian police and military to disobey British orders.

On 23rd July, Lord Irwin facilitated visits to the imprisoned Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru by two Indian Liberals, Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru (1875-1949) Mukund Ramrao Jayakar (1873-1959), for the purpose of determining ways to end civil disobedience movement and to elicit Congress Party participation at a Round Table Conference in London.

On 25th January 1931, Lord Irwin authorised Gandhi`s release from prison and withdrew proscription of illegality against the Congress Working Committee. He hoped that through a personal appeal to Gandhi that progress could be made.

Between the period of 16th February to 4th March 1931, Lord Irwin and Gandhi met in a series of negotiations seeking settlement of the issues emanating from the civil disobedience movement. In the agreement reached on March 5, Gandhi agreed to discontinue civil disobedience as it embraced defiance of the law, non-payment of land revenue, publication of news-sheets, termination of its boycott of British goods and the restraint of aggressive picketing. The Government of India agreed to repeal ordinances opposing the movement and its associations, to release Indian prisoners not guilty of violent acts, return fines and property as possible and to reappoint Indians who had resigned their government posts if not subsequently filled. No material changes were made in the Salt Acts, but exceptions in the case of local domestic manufacture and consumption excepted.