Gandhi’s Eleven Demands
Gandhi's Eleven Demands, presented to the government as part of the Civil Disobedience Movement, covered a range of issues affecting various sections of Indian society:
Issues of General Interest:
1. Reduce Expenditure on Army and Civil Services by 50%: This demand aimed to cut government spending on the military and administrative services, freeing up resources for other social needs.
2. Introduce Total Prohibition: Advocated for a complete ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol.
3. Carry out Reforms in Criminal Investigation Department (CID): Called for reforms in the police department to ensure fair and impartial investigations.
4. Change Arms Act Allowing Popular Control of Issue of Firearms Licences: Sought to democratize the process of issuing firearms licenses, giving the public more control over access to weapons.
5. Release Political Prisoners: Urged the government to release individuals imprisoned for their political activities.
6. Accept Postal Reservation Bill: Advocated for the passage of legislation to reserve certain positions in the postal service for specific communities or groups.
Specific Bourgeois Demands:
7. Reduce Rupee-Sterling Exchange Ratio to 1s 4d: Called for a change in the exchange rate between the Indian rupee and the British pound to benefit Indian traders and businesses.
8. Introduce Textile Protection: Sought protective measures for the Indian textile industry to safeguard it from foreign competition.
9. Reserve Coastal Shipping for Indians: Demanded that coastal shipping routes be reserved for Indian-owned vessels and businesses.
Specific Peasant Demands:
10. Reduce Land Revenue by 50%: Called for a significant reduction in land taxes to alleviate the burden on rural peasants.
11. Abolish Salt Tax and Government’s Salt Monopoly: This demand, central to the Civil Disobedience Movement, called for the abolition of the salt tax and the government's monopoly on salt production and sale.
Despite Gandhi's ultimatum, the government did not respond positively to these demands. Consequently, the Congress Working Committee empowered Gandhi to launch the Civil Disobedience Movement at his discretion. Gandhi chose salt as the focal point of the movement, leading to the historic Salt Satyagraha.
