Who knew that a place in Bihar called Champaran would begin the turning point of the freedom struggle launched by Gandhiji in 1917. This was, perhaps, the first time Gandhiji implemented Satyagraha in India to reduce the sufferings of the farmers belonging to Champaran.
Farmers of Champaran were in great difficulty due to the unjust demand imposed by the British Government of reserving three ‘kathas’ (a small measure of land) in one ‘bigha’(a large measure of land) for growing Indigo alone. The then government had the commercial interest in forcing this mandate. In Britain, Indigo was in great demand because of being used in dyeing the textile that was produced there on a large scale. Though they were getting indigo from elsewhere in the world, but the quality of the indigo coming from India was superior to other indigos. On the other hand, the farmers were troubled due to this unfair demand because reserving a certain part of their field for indigo meant that much less space available for growing food grains. The people were already reeling under the threat of famine that killed many in those times. The requirement to grow more and more indigo had been worsening the conditions of farmers. Finally, this news reached Gandhiji’s ears and he set out on his maiden journey to Champaran.
Initially, Gandhiji was threatened, by the British Government, to go back from Champaran and when that method didn’t work then he was arrested. His arrest was followed by a mass agitation, forcing the administration to release him. Eventually, a committee was set up to look into the grievances of peasants. Due to uncompromising stand taken by Mahatma Gandhi, the British government was compelled to withdraw the diktat regarding indigo farming. After 100 years, neither Gandhiji is alive nor are the farmers, for whom he fought, present. But the legacy of their fight against the mighty British Empire will continue to echo for several hundred years to come.
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