The American journalist who reported to the world the police brutality on the satyagrahis at the Dharasana Salt Works in May 1930 was:

The American journalist Webb Miller of the United Press reported to the world the brutal police attack on the satyagrahis at the Dharasana Salt Works, in Gujarat, on 21 May 1930.

Background:

• After breaking the salt law at Dandi (6 April 1930), Gandhi planned to lead a raid on the Dharasana Salt Works.
• He was arrested on 5 May 1930, before he could do so.
• The march was then led by other leaders, including Sarojini Naidu, Imam Saheb and Gandhi's son Manilal.

The incident:

• About 2,500 satyagrahis marched peacefully towards the salt works.
• They were met by hundreds of policemen armed with steel-tipped lathis.
• As each column of satyagrahis advanced, the policemen beat them down with lathis; the satyagrahis did not resist or even raise their arms to protect themselves.
• Hundreds were injured, and two died.

Webb Miller's report:

Webb Miller witnessed the scene and described it in detail:

"Not one of the marchers even raised an arm to fend off the blows. They went down like ten-pins... I could hear the sickening whacks of the clubs on unprotected skulls."

His report was censored by the British authorities at first, but he managed to send it out, and it was published in more than 1,000 newspapers around the world.

It was also read into the record of the United States Senate.

Impact:

• The report brought world sympathy for the Indian freedom struggle and exposed the brutality of British rule.
• It showed the power of non-violent resistance.
• The scene was later shown in Richard Attenborough's film "Gandhi" (1982), with the journalist character based on Miller.

About Webb Miller:

He was a well-known war correspondent who covered many conflicts; he died in London in 1940.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Louis Fischer wrote a famous biography of Gandhi; William Shirer and Edgar Snow were other journalists.