Centenary of Champaran Satyagraha

The Beginning of a Revolution

Arrival in Champaran

On April 15, 1917, thousands of people gathered at Motihari railway station in Bihar’s East Champaran to welcome Mahatma Gandhi, who had arrived from Muzaffarpur. His visit marked the beginning of a historic movement that would change the course of India’s freedom struggle — the Champaran Satyagraha.

The Plight of Indigo Farmers

In Champaran, farmers were forced to grow indigo under the oppressive tinkathia system, where they had to cultivate indigo on a portion of their land and sell it at unfair rates to the British planters. Those who resisted faced heavy taxes and brutal treatment by the landlords’ agents (gumastas). The system led to widespread poverty, debt, and despair among the peasants.

Gandhiji’s Intervention

Moved by the appeals of Raj Kumar Shukla, Gandhi came to Champaran to witness the condition of the farmers firsthand. When ordered by the British magistrate to leave the district, Gandhi refused, declaring,

“I came here to serve the people and shall not leave until I have helped them.”

His courage and calm defiance inspired hope and unity among the oppressed peasants. Within days, the British authorities were compelled to withdraw the case against him.

Inquiry and Reform

Gandhiji conducted a detailed inquiry, recording testimonies of over 8,000 indigo cultivators. His findings revealed systemic exploitation, prompting the formation of an official committee, with Gandhi as a member. The committee’s recommendations led to the passing of the Champaran Agrarian Act (1918), which abolished the tinkathia system and freed the farmers from forced indigo cultivation.

Seeds of Education and Empowerment

During his stay, Gandhi established three schools — at Bhithiharwa, Madhuban, and Motihari — to promote literacy and self-reliance. These institutions also provided vocational training in spinning, carpentry, and farming, laying the foundation for Gandhi’s concept of ‘Buniyadi Shiksha’ (Basic Education).

Legacy of the Movement

The Champaran Satyagraha was not merely a protest; it was a moral awakening. It united peasants, students, and the middle class in a shared spirit of truth and non-violence. It was here that Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was first hailed as the Mahatma, and Satyagraha emerged as a powerful weapon against injustice.

A Turning Point in India’s Freedom Struggle

Champaran marked the dawn of India’s non-violent resistance movement. The lessons Gandhi and the nation learned here would go on to guide the entire course of India’s journey to independence.