Champaran Satyagraha Movement 1917: History, Leaders, Role

During the British colonial period, the Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was the first Satyagraha movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in India and is considered an important rebellion in the history of the Indian independence movement. The British introduced the ‘Tinkathia System‘, which forced farmers in Bihar’s Champaran district to cultivate indigo on three parts out of twenty of each bigha of their land. This led to the merger of farmer discontent with the Indian national movement. This fire of discontent and resentment was expressed through the Champaran Satyagraha Movement.

Reasons for Champaran Satyagraha

• For a long time, resentment and discontent had been smoldering among the indigo farmers in Champaran. The European planters in this area forced farmers to cultivate indigo and sell it to them at predetermined prices. Farmers were compelled to cultivate indigo on 3 parts out of 20 parts of their land. This system was called the ‘Tinkathia System’. The indigo farmers had been building resistance against the ‘Tinkathia System’ for a long time. After 1900, indigo factories in Bihar began to decline due to competition from European synthetic indigo. To avoid losses, farmers didn’t want to cultivate indigo.
• Despite this, the indigo planters not only refused to exempt farmers from indigo cultivation but also attempted to impose the burden of ‘Sarahabeshi’ (increased rent) and ‘Tawan’ (lump sum compensation, i.e., up to 100 rupees in compensation). Between 1905 and 1908, indigo farmers built resistance in the Motihari-Betiya area of Champaran district. The indigo planter Brumfield was killed. Many farmers were severely punished. Some Bihar Congress leaders continued the movement until the next decade. Among them were Rajkumar Shukla and Brajkishore Prasad. In 1916, at the Lucknow session of Congress, Gandhi came into contact with Rajkumar Shukla and Brajkishore Prasad.
• For this reason, Gandhi went to Champaran in 1917 and began investigating the atrocities against indigo farmers in detail. When the government ordered Gandhi to leave Champaran, he refused. As a result, he was arrested, but later, he was released unconditionally. In Champaran, indigo farmers fearlessly joined the nonviolent Satyagraha at Gandhi’s call.

You can also read about Kheda Satyagraha of 1918: Reason, Leaders, Outcomes.

Leaders of Champaran Satyagraha

Although Mahatma Gandhi led this movement under the leadership of Rajkumar Shukla, the Champaran Satyagraha Movement also involved prominent lawyers of that time, such as Brajkishore Prasad, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, J.B. Kripalani, Mazhar-Ul-Haq, Mahadeva Desai, and others. Judith M. Brown described these young Gandhi colleagues as ‘sub-contractors’.

Role of Mahatma Gandhi in Champaran Satyagraha

Gandhi had come to India in 1915 with the concept of Satyagraha from South Africa. After coming to India, he first applied his weapon of Satyagraha in the Champaran Satyagraha Movement in Bihar. Gandhi and his associates arrived in Champaran and demanded government intervention to protect farmers from the atrocities of indigo planters. He also conducted his own investigation in this matter. When he defied the angry administration’s order to leave Champaran for fear of disturbing the peace, he was arrested and brought to court, but eventually, the administration was forced to release him.

You can also read about First Round Table Conference 1930: Key Events and Outcomes.

Significance of Champaran Satyagraha Movement 1917

The importance of Champaran Satyagraha movement includes:

• The first successful implementation of Gandhi’s Satyagraha ideal took place in Champaran.
• By standing beside the indigo farmers, Gandhiji first built a relationship with the peasant class.
• Gandhi gained experience about rural life, which helped in determining future courses of action.
• The success of the Champaran movement increased the confidence, self-reliance, and morale of Indian farmers.
• The young leaders of this movement played an important role in leading the national movement.
• As a result of Gandhi’s Satyagraha movement, the British government was compelled to form the Champaran Agrarian Enquiry Committee and take some measures to alleviate the difficulties of indigo farmers. Gandhi himself was a member of this committee. According to its recommendations, the Champaran Agrarian Act was enacted in 1918, and the exploitative ‘Tinkathia System’ was abolished.
• The Champaran Agricultural Bill of 1917 ended a century of oppression on farmers.
• The indigo planters left Champaran.
• The rate of fixed rent on farmers was reduced by 20 to 26%.
• Rameshchandra Majumdar described the Champaran Satyagraha as the first step in Gandhi’s rise as an all-India leader.

You can also read about Simon Commission 1927: Objectives, Recommendations, Impact.

Limitations of Champaran Satyagraha Movement

• Although Gandhi achieved success in the Champaran movement, some limitations remained. The wealthy farmers of that area could not accept the principles and success of this Satyagraha conducted by him, and resentment continued. The planters continued to collect animal grazing fees and increased rent from the farmers. The farmer resistance struggle also continued.

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