Why was the Dandi Salt March such a big deal if salt is so cheap?

The genius of the Salt March was exactly that salt seemed so ordinary. The British had a monopoly on salt production and taxed it, even though salt was a basic necessity used by every Indian, rich or poor. By choosing salt, Gandhiji picked an issue that touched every household and that everyone, across class and religion, could understand and join. In March 1930 he walked about 240 miles from Sabarmati to Dandi and made salt from seawater, openly breaking the unjust law. This act of civil disobedience showed that ordinary people could defy British authority peacefully. It drew worldwide attention, brought thousands including women into the movement, and proved that a simple, symbolic act could shake a powerful empire's legitimacy.