Discover Gandhi's first civil disobedience movement in Champaran (1917), its struggle against the exploitation of indigo planters, and its lasting influence on India's fight for independence.
Gandhi was requested by Rajkumar Shukla, a local man, to address the problems faced by the farmers in Champaran, Bihar.
The European planters had forced peasants to grow indigo on 3/20 of their land (known as the tinkathia system).
With the advent of German synthetic dyes in the late 19th century, planters demanded high rents and illegal dues from peasants, trying to maximize their profits before the peasants could shift to other crops.
Peasants were also compelled to sell their produce at prices fixed by the European planters.
Gandhi's Actions and Defiance
Upon arrival in Champaran with associates Rajendra Prasad, Mazharul-Haq, Mahadeo Desai, Narhari Parekh, and J.B. Kripalani, Gandhi faced an order from authorities to leave the area.
Gandhi chose to defy the order and face the punishment, employing passive resistance or civil disobedience—a novel method at the time.
The authorities eventually retreated and allowed Gandhi to conduct an enquiry into the situation.
Outcome and Impact
The government appointed a committee to investigate the issue, with Gandhi as a member.
Gandhi successfully convinced the authorities to abolish the tinkathia system and compensate peasants for the illegal dues extracted from them.
As a compromise, it was agreed that only 25% of the money would be refunded to the peasants.
Within a decade, the planters left Champaran, marking Gandhi's victory in the first battle of civil disobedience in India.
Other notable leaders associated with the Champaran Satyagraha included Brajkishore Prasad, Anugrah Narayan Sinha, Ramnavmi Prasad, and Shambhusharan Varma.
We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you agree to our use of cookies. Please review our
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Use for more information.
