Peasant Movement of Champaran - General Knowledge of Modern India
In the early stages of the 20th century, there was a movement of the farmers of Champaran, which echoed throughout India. The importance of this movement is also more because it is from here that Mahatma Gandhiji actively enters Indian politics. Satyagraha started from Champaran itself.
In north Bihar, there was a practice of indigo cultivation in Champaran, adjacent to Nepal. The land was contracted by the British to the planters in this area. The plantation owners had implemented the 'Teen Kathia System'. According to the Teen Kathia system, every farmer had to cultivate indigo on 15% of his cultivable land. In fact, indigo was considered a cash crop. Cash means that the sale of which would have earned a substantial income. Farmers could not sell their own grown indigo outside. They had to be sold to the planters at a price below the market price. It was atrocities on the farmers. He was financially exploited. Cultivation of indigo from above also reduced the fertility of the field.
Atrocities On Farmers
After 1900 AD, when people started reducing the consumption of indigo, the price of indigo started falling in the market. The planters suffered losses. But at the behest of the British, the plantation owners started making up for this loss from the farmers. New taxes were imposed on the farmers. If a farmer did not want to cultivate indigo, he had to pay a large sum of money to his master in the form of 'Tavan'. Begar was also taken from them. The condition of the farmers cultivating Champaran was even more pathetic than the farmers of Bengal.
Every time the farmers in Champaran protested against the atrocities happening during the cultivation of indigo. Between 1905-08, peasants in central Motihari and adjoining areas of Bettiah first resorted to large-scale agitation. Violence also took place during this movement but it did not have much effect on the government and the indigo farmers. Cases were launched to agitate the farmers. Many farmers were put in jail. But the farmers did not give up. They kept fighting till the end.
Gandhi's Arrival
Some prosperous farmers and some Congress workers also helped the farmers in this movement. In 1916, Gandhiji was invited to Champaran by "Rajkumar Shukla". "Gandhiji came to Champaran in 1917". With the help of Rajendra Prasad, Dr. Anugrah Narayan Singh, Acharya Kriplani and other important leaders, he took stock of the pathetic condition of Champaran. A large number of farmers approached Gandhiji complaining about the atrocities of the Nilhas (plantation owners). Gandhiji urged the farmers to adopt a non-violent and non-cooperative attitude. This created a new communication of enthusiasm among the farmers and increased unity among them.
Champaran Movement
The government got worried seeing the popularity of Gandhiji. He was forcibly arrested and tried on the ground of no head and feet. But Gandhiji was soon released. The government formed a committee to inquire into the grievances of the farmers. Gandhiji was also kept as a member in this committee. On the basis of the recommendations of the committee, the 'Champaran Agriculture Act' was formed. Through this act the Tinkathia-system was abolished. The farmers got a big relief from this. A new consciousness arose among the farmers and they also started giving their support to the national movement.
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Modern India