Question

Consider the following statements:

Statement I: Rajkumar Shukla invited Mahatma Gandhi to lead the Champaran Satyagraha in Bihar in 1917.

Statement II: The farmers of Champaran were forced to grow indigo under the

Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

• A. Statement I is incorrect as Mahatma Gandhi initiated the Champaran Satyagraha after receiving appeals from various peasant associations, not a single individual, while Statement II is correct.
• B. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, and Statement II explains Statement I
• C. Statement I is correct, but Statement II is incorrect as the Champaran farmers primarily protested against the oppressive land revenue system, not forced indigo cultivation.
• D. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, but Statement II does not explain Statement I.

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, and Statement II explains Statement I

Champaran Satyagraha: A Landmark Movement

• The Champaran Satyagraha, initiated in 1917, marked Mahatma Gandhi's first experiment with Satyagraha on Indian soil.
• It took place in the Champaran district of Bihar, focusing on the grievances of local farmers against oppressive British indigo planters.

Role of Rajkumar Shukla: The Catalyst

• Rajkumar Shukla was a local farmer from Champaran who tirelessly sought to bring Mahatma Gandhi's attention to the plight of the peasants.
• He met Gandhi at the Lucknow session of the Indian National Congress in 1916 and repeatedly urged him to visit Champaran and witness the exploitative conditions.
• Shukla's persistence ultimately led to Gandhi's visit to Champaran in April 1917.

The Oppressive Tinkathia System

• The core issue was the Tinkathia system, an exploitative agrarian practice imposed by European planters on Indian tenants.
• Under this system, peasants were compelled by law to cultivate indigo on three-twentieths (3/20th) of their land holdings (tinkaath = three kathas per bigha) for the planters.
• They were then forced to sell the indigo to the British planters at fixed, significantly low prices, which were often unremunerative.
• This system not only resulted in economic exploitation but also rendered the land infertile for other essential food crops due to indigo cultivation.
• The problem worsened with the development of synthetic dyes in Germany, which reduced the demand for natural indigo, yet the planters continued to demand high rents or 'compensation' from farmers to release them from the obligation.

Gandhi's Intervention and Outcome

• Upon his arrival, Gandhi conducted a detailed inquiry into the conditions of the farmers, collecting testimonies from thousands of peasants.
• His method of non-violent civil disobedience and direct investigation challenged the British authorities.
• Prominent leaders like Rajendra Prasad, Anugrah Narayan Sinha, Brajkishore Prasad, J.B. Kripalani, Mahadev Desai, and Narhari Parikh assisted Gandhi in this movement.
• The British government, unable to suppress the movement, appointed an inquiry commission with Gandhi as a member.
• The commission's recommendations led to the abolition of the Tinkathia system and the refund of 25% of the illegal exactions to the farmers, marking a significant victory for the peasants and a major success for Gandhi's Satyagraha.
• This success cemented Gandhi's reputation as a national leader and champion of the oppressed in India.