On April 5, 1930, when Mohandas K. Gandhi completed the 241-mile Salt March, he made a prophetic remark: “I want world sympathy in this battle of right against might.” “In many ways we are still faced with the same battle of right against might,” says a written statement by Arun Gandhi, the Tennessee based grandson of Gandhiji (who is the founder of the M. K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, USA).

The year 2005 marks the 75th anniversary of the Salt March undertaken by a sixty one year old Mohandas K. Gandhi, the Mahatma and his band of 78 handpicked marchers. They walked 241 miles, in 24 days, from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad to the tiny seaside hamlet of Dandi on the west coast of South Gujarat.

Beginning March 12, hundreds are marching in the footsteps of Gandhi, in India, to rededicate themselves to the battle of right against might and International Peace. The walk will end on April 7 in Dandi.

People in cities around the world could also participate in the International Walk for Peace, Justice and Freedom on any one day during the period March 12 to April 7. “While the India march is dedicated to the memory of the original 81 Salt Marchers and the millions who joined later, it is time for the people of the world to rededicate themselves to Peace through non-violence, “ adds Arun Gandhi. 

Participation in the march is free. Also, as a reward to those who walk/bicycle the entire distance from Sabarmati to Dandi, a specially crafted memento with the participant's name engraved on the base will we presented. Those who participate for certain distance or days only they will be given a certificate of participation, mentioning the distance covered by them.

Participants will walk an average 9.64 mile per day for 25 days but the daily distance will vary since we will be walking according to the schedule followed by the original Salt Marchers, maximum distance to be walked in a day is 15 miles and minimum is 4 miles.

Global March: Local native, Rebecca Valencia, founded the local national Global Salt March campaign. Hoping, but it not being possible, to attend the 75th anniversary of the Gandhi Salt March in India from March 12th to April 7th, the idea of a local march emerged. While attending Southwest Missouri State University, the Director of the International Study Abroad (now Study Away) program, Dr. Curtis Lawrence, encouraged her by saying, “If you cannot study, or work, abroad, then international-ize your education by meeting as many internationals as possible.” Inspired by these words, and inspired by an advisor of the social justice program she was enrolled in by working for Habitat for Humanity who lived by Gandhi principles of nonviolence, Valencia had a foundation for conceptualizing this national campaign.

“In India, individuals will be walking step-by-step as Gandhi walked 75 years ago. In America, it may not be practical for an individual to walk 10 to 15 miles a day in unity with the march in India,” she said in a written statement. “Local communities are encouraged to arrange for marches for the same number of miles they will be walking in India on any given day. However, the best effort all of us can achieve is being mindful of nonviolence and peace each day of this march. Maybe we walk from the office to our car or in the grocery store parking lot to our car, slowly, focusing on nonviolence. Or walk around the block, or walk-the-dog, focusing on nonviolence. It doesn’t take much effort to spend a few moments focusing on peace. When we realize that individuals are focusing on peace and nonviolence throughout the world from March 12 to April 7, we can feel like we’re a part of something much bigger than ourselves. This is significant.”

The Salt March happens to be during the same time as the Season for Nonviolence. 1998 marked the year of the 50th anniversary of Gandhi’s death and the 30th anniversary of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s death. In commemoration, Arun Gandhi (great-grandson of Gandhi), the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, the Association of Global New Thought, and the United Nations came together to arrange for an annual event to remember the messages of these two great leaders.

Local marches are scheduled at the beginning and end of the Salt March dates. At SMSU there will be marches scheduled March 12th and 13th. At Drury University there will be marches scheduled between April 1st and 4th (exact dates/times TBA). Please see the Season of Nonviolence calendar for details at www.agnt.com/SNV02.htm.

There will be many local organizations with a focus on nonviolence and international education with exhibition tables at this event.

For more information about local marches in the Ozarks, please see the following:

Rebecca Valencia, rebecca@saltmarch.org.in, 417-581-0544
Salt March and Global March information: www.saltmarch.org.in
The Mahatma Gandhi Foundation: www.mahatma.org.in
The M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence: www.gandhiinstitute.org
The 8th annual Season for Nonviolence: www.agnt.org/snv02.htm
The King Center: www.thekingcenter.com
Drury University’s Diversity Center: www.drury.edu/virtualtour/campus/diversity_center/index.cfm