Question

Aim of champaran movement

Answer 1

The Champaran peasant movement was also a part of the wider strug­gle for independence. When Gandhiji returned from South Africa, he made the experiment of non-cooperation in a smaller way by giving leadership to the peasant struggles in Champaran (Bihar) and later on in Kheda (Gujarat). These struggles were taken up as a reformist movement but the idea was to mobilise the peasants for their de­mands.

The Champaran peasant movement was launched in 1917-18. Its objective was to create awakening among the peasants against the European planters. These planters resorted to illegal and inhuman methods of indigo cultivation at a cost which by no canons of justice could be called an adequate remuneration for the labour done by the peasants.

Answer 2

(1). Champaran Satyagraha was Mahatma Gandhi’s first experiment of Satyagraha.

(2). It was undertaken in the erstwhile undivided Champaran district in northern Bihar in April 1917.

(3). It was undertaken after Mahatma Gandhi learned about the abuses suffered by farmers, who were forced into growing indigo by British planters and estate owners.

(4). The tenants from Champaran were forced under the law to plant three out of every twenty parts of his land with indigo for his landlord under the so called Tinkathia system.

(5). Initially, Gandhiji was reluctant to commit himself to the task but he was so persuaded by indigo cultivator Rajkumar Shukla that he decided to investigate the matter.

(6). Gandhiji’s plan was to carry out an extensive inquiry in the district and demand action based on its findings.

(7). However, local authorities did not find his visit welcoming and they unsuccessfully tried to dissuade him.

(8). But Gandhi began his work from the house of Babu Gorakh Prasad in Motihari, headquarters of the then Champaran district.

(9). During this time, Gandhij was served with a court summon while he was making a spot visit to village.

(10). Gandhiji was charged with violating law and was told to leave Champaran, but he refused to leave.

(11). On April 18, 1917 when Gandhi appeared in Motihari Court and was accompanied by nearly 2000 local people.

(12). The then Lieutenant Governor of Bihar ordered the withdrawal of case against Gandhi, and the Collector wrote to Gandhi saying he was free to conduct the inquiry.

(13). This small step in the form of passive protest was a giant leap forward in the history of freedom struggle and heralded the advent of Gandhian era.

(14). His protest led to abolishing of exploitative tinkathia system.

(15). The victory at Champaran established Gandhiji in India’s struggle against the British raj.

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