Various classes and groups of Indians participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement for their own specific reasons, interpreting the call for Swaraj in their own way.

1. Rich Peasant Communities: Patidars of Gujarat and Jats of Uttar Pradesh, hit by the trade depression and falling prices, sought a reduction in revenue demands. For them, Swaraj meant fighting against high revenues.
2. Poor Peasantry: They wanted unpaid rent to the landlords to be remitted and were often part of radical movements led by socialists and communists.
3. Business Class: Prominent industrialists wanted protection against imports and a rupee-sterling exchange rate that would discourage imports. They saw Swaraj as an end to colonial restrictions on business.
4. Industrial Working Class: While their participation was less extensive, some workers did engage, adopting Gandhian ideas like boycotting foreign goods as part of their own movements against low wages and poor working conditions.
5. Women: Large numbers of women participated, seeing it as their sacred duty to serve the nation. It was a moment of empowerment and a step into public life.