Champaran satyagrah

Gandhi's Champaran Satyagraha

2. Idea of Satyagraha
The idea of Satyagraha emphasized the power of truth and the need to
search truth.
It suggested that if the cause was true,if the struggle we against injustice,then
physical force was not necessary to fight the opperessor.
Mahatma Gandhi belived Satyagraha could unite all Indians.
Mahatma Gandhi came back to India in 1915.
He introduced this concept of Satyagraha in India.
He organized several Satyagraha e.g-ChamparanSatyagrahin 1916 ,
Ahemdabad mill strike in 1918.

3. Principles of Champaran Satyagraha
Non Violence
Truth
Non-stealing
Chasity-it includes sexual chasity,but also subordination of other sensual desires
Non possession(not as same as poverty)
Body labour or bread labour
Fearlessness
Equal respect for all religions
Freedom from untouchability
Economic strategy as boycotts(swadeshi)
Control of the palate
Faith in God

4. What was happening in Champaran
The Champaran region of Bihar province was a very rural
area,overwhelmingly reliant on agriculture.
Most of the population were illetrate(95%+),and the area was largely
isolated from nationalism movement.
Gandhi was asked to travel there to investigate the grievance of workers on
Indigo plantation in December 1916.
The European planters forced the peasants to grow Indigo on 3/20
th
of the
total land area (teen-kathiasystem).
Peasants were also forced to sell their produce at the prices fixed by the
Europeans.
When.theGerman synthetic dyes replaced indigo,theplanters demanded
for high rents and illegal dues from the peasants in order to maximize their
profit.

5. What happened after Gandhi’s arrival
Gandhi paid an historic visit to Champaran on 10
th
April 1917,his vistwas opposed by
British ruler.
He stayed at the house of SautRaut in Amolwavillage with the team of eminent
lawyers:BrajkishorePrashad, Maulana MazharulHaque,Anurag Narayan Sinha,Babu
Gaya Prasad Sinha,Ramnavmi Prasad and others.
He started the Satyagraha a week later on 17
th
April 1917.
Setup basic schools to fight illiteracy and generate awareness.
Along with team of lawyers,Gandhijitravelled across the district to get firsthand
account of the suffering.
The statements was recorded under a formal system.
Led clean-up of village , building of schools and hospitals.
Build confidence of the villagers by organizing detaildsurveys.
Encouraged villagers to end purdah , untouchability and
suppression of women.

6. Consequences
Gandhi was joined by many young Nationalists from all over India
including Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad and many more.
Gandhi was arrested by police on the charge of creating unrest and
was ordered to leave the province.
Thousandsofpeople protested and railed outside the jail,policestation
and courts demanding his release.
The landlords with the guidance of British government signed an
agreement granting more compensation ,control over farming and
cancellation of revenue hikes.
During this agitation,thatfirst time Gandhi was called ‘BAPU’ by
Sant Raut and ‘Mahatma’.

7. Conclusion
The Champaran Satyagraha Movement was Indias’s
first Civil Disobedience Movement.When the
committee made report on 3
rd
October,1917 it
ultimately proved the success of the movement. It
recommended the abolition of the tinkathiasystem
and gave freedom to the peasants to grow whatever
crop they choose.
Asaresult 25% of all the illegal dues extracted by the
planters was returned to the farmers as a
compromise.

8. Thank you