If we look on the history of salt, we find many interesting things that are worth of taking a note.
Soldiers were paid ‘salt’ as their income.
Salt was so precious a commodity during those days, It was even taxed.
There were also wars among a few tribal people for the sake of “salt”.
The French revolution began over gabelle [Salt tax].
Timbuktu: Salt was valued equal to gold.
So, if we come to India – in the early 1900’s – we can picture the salt as being available or in possession of the rich or socially upward classes.
“Hypertension has started as a lifestyle disease that is prevalent in the well-to-do sections of the society. And we know that the root cause of hypertension is increased salt intake. So, I don’t think the statistics are surprising when I study the History and facts and correlate them with the common diseases of today.”
In such a scenario, I can’t imagine a person belonging to a backward class having any salt with them, Can you?
Hmm so after this pact [The Gandhi-Irwin pact], I can see the ‘salt’ being made available to the backward classes too and maybe the people of the lowest social class also could get a little ‘salt’ for themselves, off the shores, the little something which must have been left.