CHAMPARAN SATYAGRAHA : IMPORTANT KEY FACTS FOR STATE PSC (UP/ BIHAR) /UPSC MAINS EXAM

KNOW ALL IMPORTANT KEY FACTS ABOUT CHAMPARAN SATYAGRAHA

picture source: Times of India

Champaran is an important and prominent name of an administrative district situated in the north- west edge or corner of the Bihar and Orrisa province. Previously it was included in bengal and separated on 22 march 1912. on 1 April 1936 Bihar and Orrisa also separared from each other. Champaran has two kind of land 1- To the north of Sikrahana property of soil is hard and land is low laying. it is therefore, fit for paddy cultivation not for growing Indigo . This soil is called as BANGAR SOIL by local people. 2- To the South of Sikrahana the soil has a large mixture of sand in it. This type of soil is good for growing Indigo but harsh for growing paddy . This type of soil is called as BHEET by local people. here two town is important one is MOTIHARI which is headquarter and second is BETTIA known as trade centre.

💥 Due to emergence of british in bihar, within recent time some british factories have also purchased Zamindari rights in some villages but that is to a very small extent only. after some time more than half of the, district is in the possession of european lessees. In the beginning the planters used to cultivate sugarcane along with indigo, but from 1850 onward they diminished sugarcane plantation on account of large profit derived from Indigo. Ever since than the planters have carried on indigo cultivation under TWO System.....

1ZERAIT SYSTEM- It is the departmental cultivation under the direct supervision of British government.

2 ASAMIWAR SYSYEM- cultivation is done through cultivators or tenants, this used to done in several ways,but most prevalent method was "THIKATHIA SYSTEM" about this system it was said by the commissioner of Patna in 1885 " The Tinkathia lease is a new system of institution dating from a very few yaer back....there is a growing up in our midst and in spite of our efforts at beneficent legistation a system under which the Ryot mortgages his entire holding and the very site of his house for period probably extending beyond his own life time redemption being contingent on the repayment of loan, the Ryot to use the common expression is selling himself body and soul into hopless servitude."

About 1867 this area was reduced from 5 kathas to 3 kathas per bighas known as Tinkathia Pratha.

When they get lease, they would get indigo cultivation by the tenants for their own profit. They used to make much profit from indigo and the only losers were the poor tenants. It is thus apparent that whenever a factory got possession of a village, its first attempt would be bring as much as land under indigo cultivation and for that they used to chaet, cajole and coerce the poor simple tenants into agreeing to grow indigo on their lands.

💢 In 1909 the Planters association passed a resolution that this area should be reduced from 3 to 2 katha per bigha but it is not known if this resolution was given effect with factories .

💧With begning of 1907 sign of discontent began to manifest themselves in Bettia subdivision. Some tenants of SATHI FACTORY expressed their unwillingness to grow indigo on ground that it was unprofitable, and tried to persude other not to grow indigo. It is said above, that whenever the tenants of champaran have tried to free themselves from the miseries of indigo cultivation the planters have always laid the blame of the agitation among them on the shoulder of outsider.

About 25 years tenants grow indigo without any agreement or sattas. In 1908 British officer Mr. Gaurlay through enquiry submitted a report to govt. but it become saelded book for common public because it was not published.

💥 The oppression of planters continued as before and question was discussed from time to time in council and in press but all were worthless.

From 1911-13 the tenants submitted several memories to government but does not appear that any action taken by them.

💭Synthetic dyes of GERMAN had reduced the price of indigo and hence indigo cultivation was not profitable one , some places were in loss and factories were closed. The tenants saw that , what they had not been able to accomplish by their petitions to the goverment and occassional outbursts of violence was now going to happen itself.

💫Bihar which was formerly a part of Bengal, has a tenancy law called BENGAL TENANCY ACT. this lay down and define the rights and liabilities of landlords and tenants regarding agricultural lands.

According to this there are two classes of tenants one is having right of occupancy and other one having no such rights. The rent payable by the tenants having right of occupancy can be enhance in two ways, namely by contract between landlords and tenants or by order of court. According with the recommendation of the CHAMPARAN AGRARIAN COMMITTEE , the govt. ordered to refund (1/4) of "TAWAN" but tenants did not get any refund. In 1914 Bihar Provential conference held at Bankipur on 10th of April presided by Brijkishore Prasad , passed a resolution to appoint a enquiry committee ,but it become baised by british and many compromising situation introduced against tenants.

💂 31st session of INC meet at lucknow in dec. 1916. The tenants of champaran send Pt. RAJKUMAR SHUKLA as their representative to the congress and he supporting the resolution related the miserable plight of the champaran tenantry. It was desire of champaran delegates that GANDHI JI should visit champaran and see with his own eyes the pitiable condition of people and devise means for improving it. GANDHI accompnied by RAJKUMAR SHUKLA reached muzzafarpur on 10th April and stayed with J.B. KRIPALANI . on 15th april Gandhi ji reached champaran after many objection put by british officials. He met with people in champaran saw their misery and said "INDIA WOULD GET SWARAJ ONLY WHEN THE CONDITION OF THESE PEOPLE WOULD IMPROVE" .

💦On 13th june 1917 british govt. announcing the appointment of committee of enquiry, gandhi ji was one of its member and committee was to commence its work only on 15th june and after the publication of govt. resolution.

On 18th october 1917 following recommendation made............

1- The tinkathia system should be abolished.

2- if any agreement be executed for growing indigo it should be done on following condition.

a> agreement should be voluntary b> the term should not exceed 3 year c> The selection of field in which indigo is to be grown should rest with Ryots d> The price of indigo plants should be paid on weights e> The realization of AWAB is altogether illegal

💫 From his work in champaran he is titled as "CHAMPARAN KA UDDHARAK".

On 29th nov. 1917 "CHAMPARAN AGRARAIN ACT" was introduced in assembly. The bill contain provision that if ZAMINDAR realised AWAB ,the former could proceed against him. Reduction of SARAHBESHI by 20% and 26% in many factories happened.

👀 It was the opinion of GANDHI that the main reason of suffering of tenants of champaran was their ignorance. Gandhi new if the moral of tenants build up then only champaran satyagrah would successful, so at primary stage he build their confidence by interacting with them. Their volunteers work will be the most important and lasting and therefore it will be the final essential stage of the mission. If this welfare work has been continued for some time , then not only champaran but also all bihar would undergone a great change........