Question

Champaran Satyagraha was launched by Gandhiji against:
A.High revenue demands
B.Indigo planters
C.Mill owners
D.Salt tax

Answer 1

Hint:The Champaran Satyagraha marked the first ever silent riot that happened in Indian against the British. The satyagraha happened in 1917 in Champaran district of Bihar and Mahatma Gandhi was the leader of this riot. The riot was organized in order to help the indigo farming community of the Champaran region and provide legal aids and education on how to oppose the decisions made by the British over their land.

Complete answer:
 The main focus of the Champaran movement for Mahatma Gandhi happened in Bihar when the farmers of the native land were refused authority to produce the indigo dye, a common ingredient used as a colouring agent in the textile industry. When Gandhi came to know about the situation in Champaran from an agriculturist named Rajkumar Shukla, Gandhi decided to initiate a movement and have a talk with the British officials about taking out the tinkathia system which restricted farmers’ chance to cultivate indigo on almost 80% of the total land. The land was taken over the British plantation system and had given zero power over the crops to the villagers
After coming from South Africa and listening to their grievances, Gandhi demanded the abolishment of the tinkathia system which took away the rights of farmers. He demanded that it should be abolished and farmers should be compensated for illegal dues. As a result, European planters left the area for good in the next few years and gave back the rights of the villagers over indigo.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Note:The Champaran movement became a resounding success not only in the aspect of winning over a forceful cultivation of indigo by the British but also as India’s first major civil disobedience movement which marked Mahatma Gandhi’s satyagraha mode of protest. The importance of the Champaran Satyagraha goes far beyond the eradication of the indigo planters' exploitative activities and the development of the Champaran people in terms of their educational and economic stature.