Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The Salt March (Dandi March) of 1930 was a defining moment in the Indian Freedom Struggle, signaling the start of the Civil Disobedience Movement.
Identifying the Viceroy is essential because the British administration's response to Gandhi's demands dictated the course of the movement.
At this time, the relationship between the Indian National Congress and the British Crown was at a breaking point due to the demand for 'Purna Swaraj' (Complete Independence).
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Lord Irwin served as the Viceroy and Governor-General of India from April 1926 to April 1931.
His tenure was a period of intense political activity and confrontation.
Before launching the march, Mahatma Gandhi sent a letter to Lord Irwin on March 2, 1930, detailing 11 demands.
These demands included the abolition of the salt tax, reduction of land revenue, and protective tariffs on foreign cloth.
When Lord Irwin ignored these demands and refused to meet Gandhi, the Salt Satyagraha began on March 12, 1930.
Irwin was the administrator who had to manage the massive scale of civil disobedience that followed, leading to the arrest of over 60,000 people, including Gandhi himself.
Eventually, realizing the stalemate, Irwin initiated negotiations, leading to the "Gandhi-Irwin Pact" in 1931.
Let's review the other options for clarity:
- Lord Curzon (1899–1905): He is famous for the Partition of Bengal in 1905 and the educational reforms of 1904.
- Lord Chelmsford (1916–1921): He was the Viceroy during the Jallianwala Bagh massacre (1919) and the Non-Cooperation Movement (1920-22).
- Lord Wavell (1943–1947): He managed India during the final years of WWII and the initial negotiations for the transfer of power.
Step 3: Final Answer:
As the Salt March took place in 1930, Lord Irwin was the presiding Viceroy.
Therefore, the correct answer is (A).