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From Salt Flats to Disability Rights: How Gandhi’s Salt March Inspires Our 2025 Movement

Gandhi leads walkers on the salt march

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

It’s not every day you get to walk in the footsteps of one of history’s greatest champions of nonviolent resistance. But that’s exactly what we’re doing at The SALT Foundation this March. Our Salt March 2025 draws direct inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi’s historic 1930 protest against British salt laws. Both marches share more than just a name — they’re about standing up for those facing unjust barriers in society.

I’ve spent years researching the Gandhi salt march. Its lessons on peaceful resistance and community solidarity remain as relevant today for disability rights as they were nearly a century ago for Indian independence.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

  • Gandhi’s Salt March in 1930 was a turning point in India’s independence movement
  • The SALT Foundation’s 2025 Salt March happens March 29 in Melbourne
  • Both marches use nonviolent resistance to highlight societal injustice
  • The 2025 March focuses on disability inclusion and mental health awareness
  • Anyone can take part—the event is accessible to people of all abilities

Gandhi’s Original Salt March: A History of Nonviolent Resistance

In March 1930, Mahatma Gandhi led 78 followers on a 240-mile journey from Sabarmati Ashram to the coastal village of Dandi. Their goal? To protest the British salt law that prohibited Indians from collecting or selling salt.

This wasn’t just about seasoning food. The salt law forced Indians to buy heavily taxed salt from British rulers. It hurt everyone, but especially the poorest citizens.

“Salt is as essential as air and water,” was Gandhi’s view when choosing this seemingly minor issue as his focal point. He understood that sometimes the most powerful protests centre on the most basic needs.

The march lasted 24 days. By its conclusion, Gandhi simply picked up a handful of salt from the seashore—a small gesture that shook an empire.

What is Satyagraha, and Why Does It Matter Today?

Gandhi’s protest wasn’t just about walking or breaking salt laws. It embodied his philosophy of satyagraha—literally “truth-force” in Sanskrit.

Satyagraha has three core elements: truth, nonviolence, and self-sacrifice. It’s about standing firm in your principles without harming others.

“SALT draws inspiration from Gandhi because he was nonviolent, but passionate about justice and about overcoming injustices,” explains Roger Donnelley, CEO of The SALT Foundation. “For many people living with disability, they face a lot of injustice and non-inclusion on a daily basis.”

These injustices appear in employment, transportation, housing, and countless everyday interactions. Just as Gandhi’s followers faced obstacles, people with disabilities often navigate a world not built with them in mind.

Connecting Past and Present: Our Salt March 2025

Our Salt March doesn’t involve walking 240 miles or breaking British law. But it carries the same spirit of peaceful resistance against systems that exclude people with disabilities.

The parallels are striking. The original salt march united people across religious and class divides. Our march brings together people with various disabilities, their families, support workers, and allies.

Gandhi chose salt because it affected everyone. We focus on disability inclusion because disability can affect anyone, at any time in their life.

“We are contacting and inviting disability organizations to participate and promote within their own networks,” says Donnelley. “We hope this will amplify the message and reach people who can actually make significant changes in Parliament.”

How Our Indian Connection Shapes Our Mission

The SALT Foundation’s ties to India run deep. Our organisation began its work there in 2009, supporting a children’s home, and later, female entrepreneurs.

These experiences profoundly shaped our approach to disability inclusion in Australia.

“In India, there was a particular lady that stood out,” Donnelley recalls. “She needed a wheelchair but was pulling herself along on the ground with her hands. She lived in a straw hut, couldn’t go to the toilet, couldn’t get to the shops.”

Her mobility was limited to about 10 meters from her home. She relied entirely on others to carry her anywhere else—which rarely happened.

“India and circumstances like that impressed on me that Australia has gone a fairly long way to including people, but still has ways to go,” reflects Donnelley.

This connection between our work in India and our mission in Australia creates a meaningful link to Gandhi’s original march.

Making Our Salt March Accessible to All

A diverse group of people with visible and invisible disabilities participating in a community march, with accessibility features clearly visible, photorealistic style

The original Salt March in 1930 attracted people from diverse backgrounds. Our 2025 event aims to be even more inclusive.

“We’re offering it free for those who cannot afford to make a contribution of $25,” says Donnelley. “We’re doing that so there are no barriers to people coming along.”

We’ve also ensured the route is accessible for wheelchair users and those with mobility challenges. Rest stops, accessible bathrooms, and support volunteers will be available throughout.

We’ll provide sensory-friendly spaces for those who need breaks from crowds and noise.

Just as Gandhi’s march grew with each passing day, we hope our event will bring together a diverse crowd united by a common purpose.

Creating Change Through Awareness

Gandhi’s salt march gained international attention. Newspapers worldwide covered the event, forcing global audiences to confront British colonial policies.

Our Salt March 2025 aims to shine a similar spotlight on disability inclusion in Victoria.

“By bringing awareness of some of the injustices to light through publicity of the march—including through radio broadcasts—we can bring attention to what we’re standing for,” explains Donnelley. “Awareness is probably the first step in the direction of change.”

The original salt march didn’t immediately free India from British rule. But it shifted public opinion and showed that nonviolent resistance could challenge powerful systems.

Similarly, our march alone won’t solve all accessibility issues. But it represents a powerful step toward greater awareness and action.

The Long-Term Vision

What began with Gandhi picking up a handful of salt eventually contributed to India’s independence in 1947. What begins with our Salt March 2025 could lead to lasting changes for Victorians with disabilities.

“I would like to see more employment opportunities for people with disabilities in industry and social enterprise,” says Donnelley. “Including people in their employment plans—that would be one thing.”

Beyond employment, we envision more accessible public spaces, improved transportation options, and policy changes that recognise the rights and needs of people with disabilities.

Like Gandhi’s satyagraha, these changes require persistence, solidarity, and a willingness to stand firm in our principles.

Conclusion

The Gandhi salt march transformed a single handful of illegal salt into a powerful symbol of resistance. Our Salt March 2025 aims to transform a single day of advocacy into lasting change for people with disabilities.

By drawing inspiration from Gandhi’s nonviolent approach, we’re connecting a historic struggle for independence with today’s ongoing fight for inclusion and accessibility. Both movements recognise that true freedom means everyone can take part fully in society.

The parallels between these marches—separated by nearly a century—remind us that peaceful resistance remains one of our most powerful tools for social change.

Action Steps

Ready to join our modern salt march movement? Here’s how:

  1. Register for The SALT Foundation’s Salt March on March 29, 2025, through Eventbrite
  2. Share information about the march on social media using #SaltMarch2025
  3. Invite friends, family members, and colleagues to take part
  4. Consider volunteering to help make the event accessible for all participants
  5. Donate if you’re able—funds support The SALT Foundation’s ongoing disability inclusion programs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How is The SALT Foundation’s march actually connected to Gandhi’s salt march?

Both marches use nonviolent protest to highlight injustice and advocate for marginalised groups. Gandhi’s march focused on unjust salt laws that prevented Indians from accessing a basic necessity. Our march focuses on barriers that prevent people with disabilities from fully taking part in society. Both use peaceful gathering and walking as symbols of solidarity and resistance.

Do I need to have a disability to take part in the Salt March 2025?

Absolutely not! Just as Gandhi’s original salt march included people from all backgrounds, our event welcomes everyone. People with disabilities, family members, support workers, and allies are all encouraged to join. The more diverse our participants, the stronger our message about inclusion becomes.

What accessibility features will be available during the Salt March?

The entire route is wheelchair accessible. We’ll have, rest areas, accessible bathrooms, and volunteers to provide help as needed. Sensory-friendly quiet spaces will be available for those who need breaks. If you have specific accessibility needs not mentioned here, please contact us beforehand so we can accommodate you.

How will funds raised through the Salt March be used?

All contributions support The SALT Foundation’s disability inclusion programs in Victoria. These include employment support, skill-building workshops, advocacy initiatives, and community events. Just as Gandhi’s salt march supported India’s broader independence movement, your participation supports our ongoing work toward disability inclusion.

What lasting impact does The SALT Foundation hope to achieve through the Salt March?

We aim to increase awareness about disability inclusion, advocate for policy changes, and foster community connections. Long-term goals include improved employment opportunities, better accessibility in public spaces, and greater representation of people with disabilities in decision-making roles. As Gandhi’s salt march contributed to eventual independence, we hope our march contributes to a more inclusive Victoria.