Gandhian Era · April 1917
Champaran Satyagraha
Gandhi went to Champaran in Bihar to investigate peasants forced to grow indigo under the 'tinkathia' system. He refused an order to leave and recorded thousands of statements.
Causes
- Tinkathia system forcing peasants to grow indigo on 3/20 of their land
- Illegal dues imposed by European planters
Consequences
- Champaran Agrarian Act (1918) abolished tinkathia
- Gandhi became a national figure
- Leaders like Rajendra Prasad joined him
Significance
Gandhi's first satyagraha in India, proving that non-violent resistance could win concrete gains for peasants.
People
Key terms
Part of
Sources
- Bipan Chandra et al., India's Struggle for Independence (Penguin, 1988)
- NCERT, Themes in Indian History Part III, Class XII