INTRODUCTION:

Gandhi's re-entry to the active politics and his Salt satyagraha march to Dandi in March 1930 infused a new spirit to the national movement. In Madras Presidency, C.Rajagopalachari gained maximum control of Tamilnadu Provincial Congress Committee. He drew up a plan for salt satyagraha march in the Tamil province on the Gandhian style and planned to conduct the same from Trichi to Vedaranyam beach. T.Prakasam, the prominent leader of Andhra Provincial Congress had a difference of opinion with Rajagopalachari on the selection of venue for breaking the salt law in the Madras Presidency.

When Rajagopalachari decided to conduct the march at Vedaranyam beach, T.Prakasam appealed to the Andhra people to participate in the marina beach salt satyagraha¹. C.Rajagopalachari led the salt satyagraha march from the house of T.S.S.Rajan from Trichy along with hundred volunteers. The march started on 13' April 1930 and reached Vedaranyam on 28" April. On 1' May 1930, Rajagopalachari broke the salt law at Vedaranyam beach². The above developments caught the attention of the press.

The Swadesamitran in its issue dated 6th May 1930 published an article on the arrest of Gandhi on 4th May 1930, adverting to the arrest of the national leader said: "Mr.Gandhi who is capable of maintaining the peace of the country need not be arrested. The Government's action is likely to secure greater support to Gandhiji's movement by inducing persons, who have till now been only sympathizers, to lend support to it'. The paper further said that the Indians should obey the teachings and guidelines of Mahatma Gandhi and appealed to the Indian youth to act immediately to join the salt satyagraha movement in their areas.³

The Nationalist papers were The Hindu, the Swarajya, the Gandhi, the Navasakthi, the Tamilnadu, the Ooliyan and the Sudandira Sangu. The Sudandira Sangu was an exceptional paper; it published matters only related to the Congress programmers⁴

Sudandira Sangu, an ardent supporter of the civil disobedience movement served as the mouth organ to the Congress. The paper reacted immediately after launching of salt satyagraha march by Gandhi on 12th March 1930. In its issue dated 15' March 1930, Sangu Ganesan, the editor of the paper and also a dedicated Congress worker of Tamilnadu provincial Congress Committee, published an article entitled "The Civil Disobedience Movement in the Tamil Country", he appealed to the Tamilians to come forward to take vow to defeat Britishers in the war Ahimsa. Further, the paper said: "The Tamilians are sitting on the fence between the two and agitating. There need not be any struggle in their minds about what they should to do at this critical juncture, when there is the anxiety whether we would see the Mahatma again and the bureaucracy is gloating over the fact of its having imprisoned hundreds of patriots. What is expected now is the flood of salt satyagraha". Further, the paper kindled the people of this province to be prepared to work for the cause of their country and called them to join in the national army led by Mahatma Gandhi⁵.

The paper writes: "Let these Tamilians, who have the least sense of shame come out even today making the necessary arrangements for their private affairs and pursuits in life. Let these postmen who wish to have their name imprinted in letters to fold in the history of the future, enlist in the national army. Even if there are (even) two or three persons, who have perseverance and patriotism, they can carry on propaganda in different places and mobilize an army of non-violence. Further the paper requested the youth of Tamilnadu to perform their duty for the country's independence andcalled them to sacrifice their life for Mahatma Gandhi's movement. Moreover, the paper cautioned the Indians who worked in the British offices as the village officers, Thasildar etc., not to co-operate with the Britishers because they treated them as 'coolies' and `dogs'⁶.

The Tamilnadu in its issue dated 17th March 1930 writes: "You (Indians) have been appointed as coolies to collect unjust taxes. Take a vow in the name of God and cast away your appointments. The suggestions of the Mahatma, that the unduly high salaries given to these officials should be reduced. This paper made an appeal to them to participate actively in the salt satyagraha movement after they have resigned their posts. Further the paper requested the people to disobey the Salt Act at Vedaranyam or Kodiyakkara in the Tanjore district. And advised them march on foot from Tanjore to afford the meeting of satyagraha of Vedaranyam march, which was to be started in April 1930 The paper also appealed to the villagers of different villages to give warm welcome to the satyagraha 'divine corps" and to bless them to the holy yatra to Vedaranyam⁷

The Sudandira Sangu republished a message in its issue dated 22nd March 1930, which was originally written by Mahatma Gandhi in his paper Young India to advise the people to start the propaganda in the villages and encourage them to participate in the satyagraha march. Gandhi further said that the village people should be given awareness on the national movement Gandhi thought that it was a people's movement He added that every Indian should know his fundamental duty to work for their nation. Gandhi, who welcomed the mass participation from the Indian villages to salt satyagraha march. He called the villagers to continue the movement even if he was arrested by the British during the course of the march. Sudandira Sangu published this message of Gandhi to the people of Tamil province. The purpose of publishing this article was to encourage the Tamilians to come forward to participate in the Vedaranyam salt satyagraha movement which was scheduled in April 1930 under the leadership of C Rajagopalachari Sangu Ganesan, the editor of the paper appealed to the youth of India to involve actively in large numbers in the satyagraha war.⁸

The Navasakthi in its issue dated 29' March 1930 simultaneously published the preparations of the leaders of Tamil province. The paper republished a letter written by C.Rajagopalachari, inviting the Tamil people to join the salt satyagraha march. The letter was also published by the paper like The Sudandira Sangu, The Tamilnadu and the Swadesamitram⁹. In the letter C.Rajagopalachari discussed the following matter. "Many youth in Tamil province are ready to participate in the satyagraha war. It is the main duty of the common people to prepare themselves to participate in the march. For this, they should exchange their moral support to the volunteers and to form some shelters to cover these satyagraha. I cannot collect this at the eleventh hour of the war Hence I request the people to contribute donations to the Congress offices of your regions If we get loss in it definitely our country will get into some other serious problems. This is a loss not only to the congress workers but also the people of whole nation. I therefore, invitethe Tamil youth to prepare and join the war with conviction and determination. It is the duty of every Tamilian to encourage other volunteers for the national cause. AU must join in it's holy war to liberate our Mother Bharatha Matha from the clutches of the aliens.¹⁰

Further Rajagopalachan narrated the course of Dandi satyagraha of Gandhi. He wrote: "...Gandhi is participating in this salt satyagraha to show his protest against the British in India. Gandhi advised the provincial congress committee to organize a salt satyagraha movement in Madras Presidency. After a close observation of Gandhi's satyagraha movement, we shall decide upon the future course of action. I believe the people of Tamil province have the basic qualities such as unity, conviction, encouragement, self-control and to win the war. Moreover, Rajaji appealed to the Tamilians to contribute money and materials on or before the 13th April, the day on which he was to inaugurate the satyagraha march. T.S.S.Rajan, Trichy, K.Vaithyanatha lyer, Madurai K.Bhasyam, Madras and T.V.Kalyana Sundaramudaliar, the editor of the Navasakthi Rayapet, Madras were authorized to collect the donations for the movement on behalf of the provincial congress committee office.¹¹The Navasakthi was recognized as the centre of congress activities of the Tamil province.

The Sudandira Sangu in its issue dated 29th March 1930 writes: " The Tamilnadu Congress Committee has fixed the venue for the salt satyagraha march in this province. The place may be Vedaranyam or Kodaikkarai in Tanjore District. The volunteers will start their march from Trichy on 13th April, (Jallianwala Bagh Day) 1930. It has been decided to march 10 miles a day: 5 miles in the morning and 5 miles in the evening. Though, it is decided by the Tamilnadu congress committee to have only 100 volunteers to join the march. The congress office received many applications from all over Tamil province. A list of selected volunteers for the first batch will be informed through the Tamilnadu Congress committee office to the regional Taluk office committees.¹² Moreover the selected volunteers are to be given the opportunities to stress the people.

The Gandhi yet another Tamil Newspaper republished a letter in its issue dated 2i'd April 1930 originally written by C.Rajagopalachari entitled "To the Volunteers of Civil Disobedience" (Satyagraha Thondarkalukku). In this letter Rajaji exhibited the picture of satyagraha war in the following man., The letter was also published by the Sudandira Sangu, Tamilnadu and Navasakthi.

Rajaji writes: ' Gandhi emphasized us to start the salt satyagraha movement immediately. The Tamilnadu congress committee has received a large number of applications from volunteers to participate in the first batch of the war The satyagrahis have to walk from Trichi to Vedaranyam batch. On their march, they have to cross Tanjore, Kumbakonam, Manarkudi Thiruthuraipoondi and other villages enroute Vedaranyam. They are advised to bring things which are absolutely necessary during the march. They are also instructed to have Khaddar dhotis and shirts and bed sheets. The reserved volunteers, who have signed in the declaration, are advised to prepare themselves of the short notice from the organizer. The other interested volunteers who have the conviction to win the war are asked to register their names to the Organizer. In this letter, Rajaji, the author of this appeal has signed in the bottom of the letter.¹³

The Hindu in its issue dated 12^th April 1930, published news about the preparatory issues of the satyagraha war. The paper narrated that all the preparations were made in Trichy under the supervision of Rajaji and also informed the people to give warm welcome to the volunteers, who are on the way to cross their respective villages during the March.¹⁴

The Hindu article was followed by the leading Newspaper like The New India, The Swarajya in English and the Swadesamitran, Tamilnadu, Ooliyan of Karaikudi and other papers. The Swadesamitran in its issue dated 10th April 1930 published a translated version of the appeal of Gandhi entitled 'What is Satyagraha?" Gandhi in this article expressed explained the meaning and significance of 'Satyagraha'. He writes: "…there is a difference between Satyagraha and protest. Satyagraha is the weapon of people, who disliked the concept of violence. The later is the weapon of the people, who have firm belief in the concept of violence. Satyagraha is the strength of Indians. I have used this concept more than 8 years in South Africa, where I got the victory over the Europeansbecause of this weapon. The basic feature of Satyagraha is truth..."¹⁵.

The Sudandira Sanghu published an article entitled "Tamil force", in its issue dated 16' April 1930. In this article, the paper narrated the first day of Vedaranyam salt satyagraha march. It added that the volunteers after the morning prayer on the first day (13 April 1930) came to stand before the national flag to get the instructions from the leaders. Rajagopalachari, the commander of the march was standing in front of the volunteers and prayed. The voluntary group consisted of people from different castes and religions. The prominent figures like Veeran Thirumalaisamy, Srinivasan, College Professor, Thanu and other stood along with volunteers. They were large members of volunteers from Madura', Ramnad and other southern districts participated in the march. The paper thanked the prominent leaders and their active participation in the movement. The Tamil force started their march on 13th April 1930 from the residence of T.S.S.Rajan, where from the members reached the main streets of Rockport in Trichy. The Satyagrahis were given fruits and sweets. The paper said that it was a great show that was made by the volunteers of the march. The volunteers of the march worked Khaddar dhotis and shirts as their uniform and also put khaddar cap (Gandhi cap) on their heads.¹⁶ The Satyagrahis moved to Sri Rangam and they were received by the people. They shouted nationalist slogans and sung national songs of Subramania Bharathi and Ramalingam PiIlai.¹⁷

The public of Sri Rangam town prayed the "God Ranganatha to help the marchers and protect our India from the aliens". Further, they asked Rajagopalachari to speak. He spoke about the unity of Indians for this success of movement. One Rangasamy lyyengar of Srirangam requested the satyagraha to stay at their chatram. The volunteers had bath in the cover at Kollidam. The people gave letter, adding salt in it to the volunteers and asked them to bring salt from Vedaranyam. On that day some volunteers need the newspaper and some of them discussed the naked administration of the British, and the remaining were handling charka to get khaddar yarn. Nobody wasted time. On the first day, Rajagopalachari was interviewed by many locals. At 5.00 pm the satyagrahis started their march to Thiruvalarcholai to stay there. Thus the paper narrated the first day programme of the Tamil force.¹⁸

The Sudandira Sangu published articles on the day to day happenings of the march in the successive issues from 17 to 22 April 1930. The paper reported the developments of the march and also published the behaviors of the Bntish police on the marchers. The paper in its issue dated 28^thApril 1930published an article Punishment! Punishment!. The editor of the paper reported the rough behaviors of the police in arresting the volunteers who accompanied the marchers. The paper suggested the judge of the court to advice the British administrators not to indulge in this type of action against the volunteers of the war. Further, the editor of the paper advised the Indians not to go the British courts, where the British Judges prepared to give injustice to the Indians said " Ohl Indians! Don't go to court of the present days because Judges, who have acted not on the basis of judicial law. They acted what actually admitted by the government. We can solve any problems among us'. The paper further writes about the availability of the natural salt in the Gujarat province. The government added some external chemicals on the natural salt. This kind of approach of the British authorities would give badly to the heavy loss to the Indians.¹⁹

Further the editor of the paper said: "The satyagrahis will not be tired both physically and mentally. They have sacrificed their occupation and facilities. Your money is not at all a matter for them. But they are badly in need of your heartfelt wishes. You should think about our responsibility and duties at this juncture" ²⁰ Sangu Ganesan, the editor of paper boldly criticized the repressive measures adopted against the satyagrahis of the salt war and questioned the British government for their misbehaviour attitude. The paper frequently reported the day to day activities of these satyagraha of Vedaranyam war from 14 April to 29 April 1930.²¹ On 1 May 1930, C.Rajagopalachari, who broke the salt law, he was followed by a group of leaders of the camp. On the evening of the day, Rajagopalachari, Santanam, I.B.Arangasamy Raja of Rajapalayam and other prominent leaders were arrested by the police, who camped for the last one week at the Vedaranyam beach. The Government instructed the police officials to act very seriously on the Volunteers and the leaders of the camp. It resulted in heavy assaults that were made on the satyagrahis. I.B.Arangasamy Raja was severely beaten up by the police lathi charge on 1" May 1930, he was taken to police custody and rushed to Beery jail for two years imprisonment.²²

The paper reports the following: "The government will be indulging only in a day dream if they southern district by arresting Mr.Achariyar can "Special constables" suppress a country? Can a Useless section 144 of I.P.C. arrest one's patriotism? Or can beating the people with lathis, making houses trample upon the and shooting them down put on end to the frenzy of a country? Lord Irwin desires to suppress the outburst of feeling in the county by gagging the newspapers by means of the press ordinance...²³ The paper vehemently condemned the Government's action on the press. In 1930, there were ten ordinances passed. Three out of these ten directly related to press and political literature. Many newspapers were ordered to stop writing and publishing about Gandhian movements. But these pro-nationalist presses did not care on the orders, passed by the Government continued to publish the articles on the salt satyagraha movement.²⁴Sudandira Sangu and its editor, sangu Ganesan was warned by the Government for publishing a series of articles in supporting the Civil Disobedience movement. The paper exhibited the wrong doings of the British authorities and also condemned the drastic measures taken by these authorities on the Satyagraha's during their camp at Vedaranyam.²⁵

Apart from the Tamil press, there were few Telugu papers like Andhrapatrika, Krishnapatrika, Janmabhumi and The Swaraj published the police atrocities on the Satyagraha's of Madras and in Vedaranyam.²⁶

The first anniversary of the Salt Satyagraha March was celebrated in a grand manner allover India, as the part of the Congress programme. The nationalist press of post-March period published articles infamous of the sacrifices of the satyagraha volunteers. The Sudandira Sangu, in its issue dated 15 April 1931, republished the sacrifices of Gandhi and other provincial leaders of the Congress. The paper observes: When Mr.Gandhi set out on his march on the 6' march last year, not only the government but several leaders and Congress workers also were staggered, not knowing what shop it would assure. In this article the editor challenged the British government and their authorities for their wrong doings.²⁷

Further, the paper wrote about the stringent measures adopted on the nationalists last year. Many hundreds of volunteers were imprisoned for participating in the Civil Disobedience movement. The paper said: "...The French independence spread throughout the foreign Governments. The government did not resort to any action for suppressing this movement. After imprisoning people in thousands, they began to beat them. Police opened fire on several places...". Thus, the paper remembered the whole incidents of the salt satyagraha movement at the time of its first anniversary.²⁸

Apart from these nationalist papers, there were political literature such as the pamphlets leaflets and books, highlighting the issues of the Civil Disobedience movement. The titles of these literature are reproduced here under. 1) Satyagraha patta (Songs of Satyagraha) part I & II in Tamil, 2) Satyagraha or Second Ramayana in Malayalam, 3) Uppu Satyagraha pate in Tamil, 4) Congress Bulletins by Rajaji in Tamil, 5) Vedaranyam salt Satyagraha in Tamil, 6) Congress Thonder Marital Pattu (The song on the picketing by Congress Volunteers) in Tamil, 7) Sudandira Por (War of independence) etc. were published by the Congress committee and other congress sympathisers of this province." All these political literature were proscribed under the Indian press Ordinances of 1932 in Madras Presidency.³⁰

Thus the nationalist press and Political literature of the period of Salt Satyagraha Movement in Tamilnadu resorted a new era of reporting the Salt Satyagraha march of Gandhi and other prominent leaders of this movement at their regions. The prominent nationalist papers like The Hindu, New India, Swadesamitran, Sudandira Sangu, Navasakthi, Tamilnadu, Gandhi, Ooliyan and other papers dedicated to the movement. The Sudandira Sangu, an ardent supporter of Gandhian movement appeared only on 26th January 1930 on the day of Independence'. The paper reported only the national and regional politics, it was regarded as the mouth organ on the national movement. The paper disappeared in January 1934 due to the heavy pressure by the Government press legislations. The paper and its circulation during the movement increased day by day. The reporting of the paper was highly appreciated by national leaders. The Tamilnadu and The Navasakthi, the two non-Brahmin papers also extended its total support to Civil Disobedience movement. There was a spontaneous response from the people to the Salt Satyagraha march due to the reporting of these nationalist press and political literature in the Tamilnadu. The Satyagrahis of Tamilnadu whole heartedly supported to the Salt Satyagraha march of Rajaji. The march of Rajaji was a very successful movement because of the involvement of the Tamil press. The Tamil press in general motivated the rural and sub-urban people a lot to the movement. By and large the Tamil Press extended its full support to this march. Their reporting were really induced the Tamilians to the salt march of Rajaji.

REFERENCES:

1. V.Venkatraman, “Proscribed Press and Political Literature under British Raj, 1910-1935 ”, Rajapalayam, 2007, pp. 186-188

2. Fortnightly Report. Strictly Confdl., Second Half of May, 1930.

3. Madras Native Newspaper Report, May 1930, p.761. (Hereinafter referred to as MNNPR)

4. Fortnightly Report, Second Half of May, 1930.

5. Sudandira Sangu, 15 March 1930, p.4.

6. Ibid., pp.5-6.

7. Tamilnadu, 17 March 1930, p-3.

8. Sudandira Sangu, 22 March 1930, pp.4-6.

9. Navasakthi, 29th March 1930, pp.6-7.

10. lbid., p.8.

11. Ibid., p.9.

12. Sudandira Sangu, 29th March 1930, pp.4-5.

13. Gandhi, 2nd April 1930.

14. V.Venkatraman, “Salt Satyagraha: Preventive Measures and Counter Propaganda of the British in Madras Presidency, 1930-1931”, Google Scholar e-Journal, June 2018,pp.8

15. V.Venkatraman, “SudandiraSangu and Civil Disobedience Movement in Tamilnadu,1930-1931”, Research Gate e-Journal, August 2018.pp.5-7

16. Sudandira Sangu, 16th April 1930, p.5.

17. V.Venkatraman, The Cartoons of Sudandira Sangu, p.32.

18. Sudandira Sangu, 16th April 1930, p.5.

19. V.Venkatraman, “Women, Press and Gandhian Movements in Tamilnadu”, Research Gate e-Journal, August 2018, pp.9

20. V.Venkatraman, “Indian Press and Public Opinion on the Congress Movements in Tamilnadu, 1906-1933”, Research Gate e-Journal, August 2018, pp.7

21. V.Venkatraman, Sudandira Sangu and Civil Disobedience Movement, 1930-1933, pp.289-90.

22. V.Venkatraman, The Role of Rajapalayam in the National Movement 1905 - 1947, pp.76-77.

23. Sudandira Sangu, 28th April 1930, p-8.

24. Fortnightly Report, Strictly Confdl., Second Half of May, 1930.

25. V.Venkatraman, The Cartoons of Sudandira Sangu, 1930 -1932, pp.13-14.

26. Fortnightly Report, Strictly Confdl., Second Half of May, 1930.

27. Sudandira sangu, 15 April 1931, p.5.

28. V.Venkatraman, Sudandira Sangu and Civil Disobedience Movement, 1930-1933, p.282.

29. Z9. V.Venkatraman, Towards Independence., Rajapalayam, 2004, p.127. 30. Under Secretary (Secret) Files, 1930-1931, pp.282-96.

Received on 17.10.2020 Modified on 10.11.2020

Res. J. Humanities and Social Sciences. 2021; 12(1):43-47.

DOI: 10.5958/2321-5828.2021.00008.5