Champaran Satyagraha

Champaran district is a historic region which now forms the East Champaran district, and the West Champaran district in Bihar, India. In 1914 and 1916, the farmers in this region had revolted against the British against the conditions that they imposed for indigo cultivation. The topic is important from the IAS Exam point of view.

Get Modern Indian History Notes for UPSC in the linked article.

Some important relevant articles that aspirants must read apart from Champaran Satyagraha are linked below:

Gandhi’s Early Movements in India Salt Satyagraha
Bardoli Satyagraha Dandi March
India’s Independence Struggle Quit India Movement

 

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Facts about Champaran Satyagraha

Mahatma Gandhiji was persuaded by Pandit Raj Kumar Shukla one such oppressed Indigo cultivator to visit the region. As a result of Gandhiji’s visit. The Champaran Sathyagraha began. An ashram was established by Gandhi established an ashram in Champaran. A detailed survey and study of the villages was organised where Gandhiji’s handpicked group of eminent lawyers like  Babu Braj kishore Prasad , Dr. Anugrah Narayan Sinha and Dr.Rajendra Prasad accounted the general state of degenerate living, atrocities and terrible episodes of sufferings of the indigo farmers.

The first Satyagraha movements inspired by Mahatma Gandhi occurred in Champaran district of Bihar in the year 1917. The Champaran Satyagraha was the first to be started, but the word Satyagraha was used for the first time in Anti Rowlatt Act agitation.

Champaran,  a district in the state of Bihar where tens of thousands of landless serfs, indentured labourers and poor farmers were forced to grow indigo and other cash crops instead of the food crops which were necessary for their survival. These goods were bought from the farmers at a very low price. Suppressed by the brutal militias of the landlords, they were given negligible compensation, leaving them in extreme poverty. Even in the throes of a devastating famine, the British government levied a heavy tax on them and insisted on increasing the rate. Without food and money, the situation was growing progressively unbearable and the peasants in Champaran revolted against the government in indigo plant cultivation in 1914 (at Pipra) and in 1916 at (Turkaulia). Raj Kumar Shukla who was an indigo cultivator persuaded Mahatma Gandhi to go to Champaran and hence, the Champaran Satyagraha began. Gandhiji arrived in Champaran on 10 April 1917 with a team of eminent lawyers i.e.Brajkishore Prasad, Rajendra Prasad, Anugrah Narayan Sinha and  Acharya Kripalani.

Read about Indigo Rebellion in the linked article.

Consider the following statements:

  1. Champaran is a district in Bihar.
  2. Gandhiji arrived in Champaran on 11 April 1917.

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

a) Only 1

b) Only 2

c) Both 1 and 2

d) None of the above

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Frequently Asked Questions on Champaran Satyagraha

Q1

Q 1. What was the Champaran Satyagraha?

Ans. The Champaran Satyagraha was a peasants uprising, led by Mahatma Gandhi in the Champaran district of Bihar. The farmer’s in the region revolted against the British power against the imposed indigo cultivation between 1914 and 1916.
Q2

Q 2. What was the reason for Chmaparan Satyagraha?

Ans. The farmers in Champaran were forced to cultivate indigo. They could not grow the food they needed, nor did they receive adequate payment for the indigo which intensified their misery.

UPSC Preparation:

UPSC 2024 UPSC Mains GS 1 Strategy, Structure and Syllabus
UPSC Calendar 2024 History Questions from UPSC Mains GS 1
Ancient Indian History Notes for UPSC Medieval History Notes for UPSC

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