Champaran Satyagraha (1917)

📌 The first civil disobedience movement by Gandhi in the freedom struggle.

Persuaded by Rajkumar Shukla, an indigo cultivator, Gandhi went to Champaran in Bihar to investigate the conditions of the farmers there.

📌 The farmers were suffering under heavy taxes and an exploitative system. They were forced to grow indigo by the British planters under the tinkathia system.

Gandhi arrived in Champaran to investigate the matter but was not permitted by the British authorities to do so.

📌He was asked to leave the place but he refused.

📌He was able to gather support from the farmers and masses.

When he appeared in court in response to a summons, almost 2000 locals accompanied him.

📌The case against him was dropped and he was allowed to conduct the inquiry.

📌After peaceful protests against the planters and landlords led by Gandhi, the government agreed to abolish the exploitative tinkathia system.

📌The peasants also received a part of the money extracted from them as compensation.

📌Champaran struggle is called the first experiment on Satyagraha by Gandhi and later Ahmedabad Mill Strike and Kheda Satyagraha occurred.

It was during this time that Gandhi was given the names ‘Bapu’ and ‘Mahatma’ by the people.