Salt Satyagraha at Aonla, Bareilly, 1930

The Civil Disobedience Movement ushered in a new wave of public participation and mass action. Salt Satyagraha, first observed by Gandhi, spread to many parts of the country including Aonla in 1930 in the present district of Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh.

In opposition to the Salt Act of 1882, leaders led mass protests towards the field of operation where the commoners prepared salt by boiling water and broke the law. Nathu Singh was the leader of the Salt Satyagraha at Aonla for which he was arrested by the police and was sentenced to a simple imprisonment with a fine of rupees 20 under section 9 and section 14 of the Salt Act of 1882. Other important local leaders who participated in the Salt Satyagraha at Aonla were Kishan Lal, Bulaki Ram, Nandu, Deen Dayal, Chadeen Lal and Khushi Ram. They were also arrested by the police and were sentenced to jail for 6 months to 1 year. Moti Mal and Mallu Ram were also arrested for participating in the Salt Satyagraha and were sentenced to imprisonment for 6 months. There were many such arrests made where brave freedom fighters were put behind the bars by the oppressive colonial forces.

The Salt Satyagraha at Aonla was repressed time and again by the police intervention who made a number of arrests in order to stop the Satyagrahis from making salt and breaking the law. Despite the suppression, the Satyagrahis put up a brave fight against the colonial forces for the sake of their motherland.