Question

What were causes of Champaran Satyagraha?

Hint:

For Gandhi's early movements, remember the chronological order and the key issue for each: \textbf{C}hamparan (1917) for indigo farmers, \textbf{A}hmedabad Mill Strike (1918) for workers' wages, and \textbf{K}heda (1918) for crop failure and tax remission. The acronym "CAK" can help you remember the order.

Answer 1

The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917, Mahatma Gandhi's first major satyagraha movement in India, was launched to address the grievances of the tenant farmers (ryots) in the Champaran district of Bihar. The primary causes were rooted in the exploitative practices of the European indigo planters.
1. The Tinkathia System: This was the most significant cause. Under this system, the European planters forced the Indian farmers to cultivate indigo on 3/20th (three kathas out of twenty) of their land. This was a compulsory obligation, and the choice of land was often made by the planters, usually the most fertile parts.
2. Exploitative Pricing: The planters fixed the price for the indigo, which was extremely low and non-remunerative for the farmers. The farmers were bound by contract and could not sell their produce on the open market.
3. Illegal Dues and Fines (Abwabs): The planters imposed numerous illegal taxes and fines on the tenants for various pretexts. This placed an unbearable financial burden on the already impoverished farmers.
4. Coercion and Oppression: Farmers who resisted indigo cultivation or demanded fair prices were subjected to harassment, physical intimidation, and legal persecution by the planters, who enjoyed significant power and influence over the local administration.
5. Impact of German Dyes: By the early 20th century, German synthetic dyes had made indigo cultivation unprofitable. To release the farmers from their obligation to grow indigo, the planters demanded exorbitant rents and lump-sum payments as compensation, further exacerbating the farmers' plight.
These conditions led Raj Kumar Shukla, a local farmer, to persuade Mahatma Gandhi to visit Champaran and lead the struggle against this injustice.