Page 176 - SST Class 08
P. 176
We can give you a fine example of constructive
was injustice to the people, so he decided to
dissent. In Japan, the workers of a shoe factory protest against it by taking out a march.
were not happy with a rule that the manager
made. So, they expressed their dissent by working On 12 March, 1930, Gandhiji set out from his
overtime and making only the right foot shoes. Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad for Dandi, a
This increased the production but it was not of small coastal village with 78 followers. His way of
dissent was liked by the people, so many people
any use. This resulted in a large pile up of
manufactured shoes of one foot only, which it was joined him as he marched on. By the time he
difficult for the factory to transport to the market. reached Dandi, about 300 miles away, there were
thousands of people with him. There he picked up
So, the manager was compelled to change the
rule. By constructive dissent, no loss was suffered a handful of salt from the evaporated sea water
by the factory, only it was put to inconvenience, and broke the Salt Law. The police retaliated with
lathi charges, but Gandhiji advised his followers
rather the production in fact increased. When the
rule was taken back, the workers manufactured to remain calm and peaceful. The police
the left foot shoes. imprisoned Gandhiji and
many other leaders all
On the other hand, imagine the similar case in
over the country.
India. When the workers of a factory are not However, this method of
satisfied, they stop the work and indulge in hartal. constructive dissent bore
Sometimes they indulge in violence and destroy
result when the
the factory. This results in a loss. These are the government had to
manners of destructive dissent. Any action which suspend the Salt Law.
results in loss or destruction to the organisation, Dandi March
society or country is a method of destructive When a dissent is expressed in a constructive
dissent. manner, the government too thinks it in positive
terms. When a dissent is expressed in a
Petitions, processions, dharnas, rallies etc. are the
destructive manner, the government feels
methods of constructive dissent if these are offended and takes severe action.
peaceful and no unlawful activities are done in
them. Activity
We shall understand constructive and destructive Look around your surroundings. Do you find
dissent with some specific examples. anything which is an irritant for you, such as a
government officer taking a bribe, or a strong man
Quiz Time beating a weak man, or a shopkeeper charging
Fill in the blanks : extra money? If yes, just write what you can do
1. The ___________ is the guardian of the against it.
Constitution. Dissent to the Reservation
2. Dowry has both ___________ and ___________
sides. The provision of reservation has been included in
3. The ___________ makes the laws. the Constitution of India in order to uplift the
4. A written law is the source of ___________ . depressed classes, such as Scheduled Castes (SC)
5. The force of the police and court of law will and Scheduled Tribes (ST). By reservation is meant
punish the ___________ . that a specific number of seats are reserved for the
members of these castes and tribes in educational
Dissent to the Salt Law institutions and government employment. This
reservation was meant for an initial period of 10
Prior to independence, the British government
years, but it has been extended from time to time
made a Salt Law . As per this law, making of salt due to political reasons.
became the monopoly of the government. Also, it
imposed a tax on the salt. Gandhiji felt that this Later, the provision for reservation was also
Contemporary Social Science-8
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