When did Gandhi take up the cause of peasants against landlords
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
Gandhi started gathering details. He visited the secretary of the British landlord association who refused
to give information to an outsider. Then he visited the British Commissioner of Tirhut Division who
advised him to leave Tirhut.
Instead of leaving Tirhut Gandhi proceed to Motihari where he was greeted by a vast multitude. Using a
house as headquarter, he continued his investigation. He also decided to go and see a peasant who had
been maltreated.
Gandhi was ordered to come back. He did so. Thereafter he was served with an official notice to quit
Champaran. He signed it and wrote that he would disobey the order. He was summoned to appear in
the court the next day.
All night Gandhi remained awake. He wired Rajendra Prasad to come from Bihar with influential friends.
He also wired a full report to the Viceroy.
The news of Gandhi being in trouble with the authorities spread fast. Thousands of peasants came from
Motihari and demonstrated in front of the courthouse. This was the beginning of their liberation from
fear of the British.
The official felt powerless but Gandhi helped them to regulate the crowd. This was the proof that the
British authority was no longer unchallengeable.
The government was baffled. The prosecutor wanted to the trial to be postponed. He protested against
the delay. He read a statement pleading guilty. He clarified that he broke the law to render
humanitarian and national service. He claimed to have no disrespect for law but greater respect for the
voice of his conscience.
The government was confused and ultimately set him at liberty, but kept the judgment reserved.
Rajendra Prasad and other lawyers reached there. They held a discussion with Gandhi about what would
they do if Gandhi sentenced prison. They consulted and told Gandhi that they were ready to follow him
to jail. Gandhi exclaimed, “The battle of Champaran is won”.
The Lieutenant Governor dropped the case against Gandhi. This was the first triumph of civil
disobedience in modern India.
Gandhi and his associates moved forward to conduct an inquiry into the complaints of farmers. The
whole area was filled with the air of investigation and protest. The notes were made and documents
were collected.
After four meetings with the Lieutenant Governor an official commission of inquiry was made. It
consisted of landlords, government officials and Gandhi as an only representative of peasants.
A lot of evidence was collected against the landlords. They were left no choice but to agree in principle
to refund the money to the peasants. They expected Gandhi to ask for full amount but he demanded
just fifty percent. They offered him twenty five percent and to their amazement Gandhi agreed to it.
He explained that the amount of refund was less important than the fact that the landlord had been
obliged to surrender part of the money and, with it, part of their prestige.
Now the peasants saw that they had rights. They learnt a lesson of courage.