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Champaran Satyagraha

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Gandhiji and Sub-Inspector Qurban Ali in Champaran (1917)[1]
Champaran Satyagraha
(Sitting left to right) Rajendra Prasad and Anugrah Narayan Sinha with (standing left to right) local vakils (lawyers) Ramnavmi Prasad and Shambhu Sharan Verma during Mahatma Gandhi's 1917 Champaran movement
Date10 April ― May 1917
LocationChamparan district of Bihar
Organised byMahatma Gandhi, Brajkishore Prasad, Rajendra Prasad, Anugrah Narayan Sinha Ramnavmi Prasad, Mazhar-ul-Haq and others including J. B. Kripalani & Babu Gaya Prasad Singh.

The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was the first satyagraha movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in British India and is considered a historically important rebellion in the Indian independence movement. It was a farmer's uprising that took place in Champaran district of Bihar in the Indian subcontinent, during the British colonial period. The farmers were protesting against having to grow indigo with barely any payment for it.[2]

When Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in 1915 and saw peasants in Northern India oppressed by indigo planters, he tried to use that he had used in South Africa to organize mass uprisings by people to protest against injustice.

Champaran Satyagraha was the first popular satyagraha movement. The Champaran Satyagraha gave direction to India's youth and freedom struggle, which was tottering between moderates who prescribed Indian participation within the British colonial system, and the radicals from Bengal who advocated the use of violent methods to topple British colonial rule in India.[3]

Under colonial-era laws, many tenant farmers were forced to grow some indigo on a portion of their land as a condition of their tenancy, under Panchkathia or Teenkathia system. This indigo was used to make dye. The Germans had invented artificial dye so the demand for indigo fell. Some tenants paid more rent in return for being let off from growing indigo. However, during the First World War the German dye ceased to be available and so indigo became profitable again. Thus many tenants were once again forced to grow it on a portion of their land- as was required by their lease. Naturally, this created much anger and resentment.[4][5]

Prompted by the invitation of local peasant Raj Kumar Shukla to investigate the grievances of farmers, Mahatma Gandhi undertook his initial political endeavor in India, the Champaran Satyagraha. Joined by prominent figures including Rajendra Prasad, Mazhar ul-Haq, Mahadeo Desai, Narhari Parekh and J.B. Kripalani, Gandhi journeyed to Champaran to examine the oppressive conditions. Brajkishore Prasad, Anugraha Narayan Sinha, Ramnavmi Prasad, Shambhusharan Varma also participated. When authorities instructed Gandhi to depart, he defied the order and preferred to face punishment. Gandhi's refusal marked his first act of passive resistance or civil disobedience on Indian soil. This pivotal action, coupled with his subsequent efforts leading to the establishment of a Government Commission of Inquiry on which he served, resulted in a negotiated settlement. This agreement compelled the planters to reimburse the peasants 25% of unlawfully collected funds and, significantly, led to the dismantling of the exploitative 'Teenkathia' system.Within a decade, the planters left the area.[6]

Centenary celebrations

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The series of celebration began on 10 April 2017 with a National Conclave (Rashtritya Vimarsh) where eminent Gandhian thinkers, philosophers, and scholars participated. The event was organised by Education Department and Directorate of Mass Education being the nodal office.[7] On 13 May 2017, Indian Postal Department Issued three commemorative postage stamps and a miniature sheet on Champaran Satyagraha Centenary.[8][9][10]

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 10 April 2018 attended the concluding ceremony of the Champaran Satyagraha's centenary celebrations at Motihari in Champaran district of Bihar.[11] PM Modi's key initiatives, including Swachh Bharat Mission attempt to re-interpret the theme of Champaran Satyagraha as Swachhagraha, thus to "re-emphasise the spirit of cleanliness – or Swachhta – which was close to Mahatma Gandhi's heart.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Select Documents On Mahatma Gandhi's Movement In Champaran 1916-17. Government of Bihar. 1963. pp. Page No. 63.
  2. ^ Gandhi, Mohandas Karamchand (1 February 1931). My experiments with truth. Ahmedabad: Sarvodaya.
  3. ^ Nehru, Jawaharlal (1 June 1937). An Autobiography (1 ed.). London: Bodley Head.
  4. ^ aicc. "SATYAGRAHA MOVEMENT OF MAHATMA GANDHI". aicc. Archived from the original on 6 December 2006. Retrieved 8 December 2006.
  5. ^ ":: Indian national congress - History". 25 June 2008. Archived from the original on 25 June 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  6. ^ Ahir, Rajiv (2022). A Brief History of Modern India (28th ed.). New Delhi: Spectrum Books. p. 351. ISBN 81-7930-819-7.
  7. ^ "Year-long celebrations to mark Champaran Satyagraha's 100th year begin in Bihar". Zee News. 10 April 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  8. ^ "Haunted by memories". India Today newspaper. 20 October 2003. Retrieved 5 January 2017.
  9. ^ Jain, Manik (2018). Phila India Guide Book. Philatelia. p. 325.
  10. ^ "Stamps 2017". India Postage Stamps. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  11. ^ "Modi to attend Champaran Satyagraha celebrations in Bihar". 10 April 2018.
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Further reading

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