Champaran Movement year?
VerifiedAnswer: 1917
Explanation:
The Champaran Movement took place in 1917 and holds immense significance as it marked Mahatma Gandhi's first major satyagraha movement in India. This movement was launched in the Champaran district of Bihar to address the grievances of indigo farmers who were suffering under the oppressive tinkathia system.
Under the tinkathia system, European planters forced local farmers to cultivate indigo on 3/20th of their land and sell it at artificially low prices. The farmers were trapped in this exploitative arrangement and faced severe hardships. When synthetic indigo was developed in Germany, the demand for natural indigo decreased, but the planters continued to exploit the farmers through unfair compensation and lease agreements.
Gandhi was invited to Champaran by Raj Kumar Shukla, a local farmer who met him at the Lucknow session of the Indian National Congress in 1916. Initially reluctant, Gandhi eventually agreed to visit Champaran in April 1917. Upon arrival, he was served with a notice to leave the district, but Gandhi refused to comply and was prepared to face arrest.
The movement gained momentum as thousands of peasants gathered to support Gandhi. He conducted detailed investigations into the farmers' conditions and organized peaceful protests. The British authorities, under pressure from the widespread support for Gandhi, eventually agreed to form an inquiry committee. Gandhi was included as the sole representative of the farmers on this committee.
The success of the Champaran Movement was remarkable. The planters agreed to refund 25% of the illegally collected money to the farmers and abolished the tinkathia system. More importantly, this movement established Gandhi's credibility as a leader and demonstrated the effectiveness of satyagraha as a method of non-violent resistance against injustice.
The year 1917 thus became a turning point in India's freedom struggle, as the Champaran Movement not only brought relief to the oppressed farmers but also introduced Gandhi's philosophy of non-violent resistance to the Indian independence movement. It marked the beginning of Gandhi's leadership in the Indian freedom struggle and set the foundation for future mass movements against British rule.
