Bihar has played a pivotal role in the Indian Freedom Struggle. It was here in Champaran where for the first time the mantra of  'non-violence' was put to experiment by Mahatma Gandhi. And to the surprise of many it proved to be very effective.

    The district of Champaran lies in the north-western corner of the State with the river Gandak flowing through it. Along its bank many indigo factories were established with the onset of early settlements of British colonies in Bihar. These factories received their raw materials from the farms spread over the district of Champaran. But the cultivation of indigo was not done willingly.

System of Bloodshed

    The tale of Indian ryots, forced to plant indigo by the British planters, forms one of the blackest chapters in the annals of colonial exploitation. "Not a chest of indigo reached England without being stained with human blood", said E.De-Latour of the Bengal Civil Service, who was Magistrate of Faridpur in 1848. Giving evidence before an enquiry committee, he revealed, "I have seen several ryots sent unto me as a magistrate, who have been speared through the body. I have had ryots before me who have been shot down by the planters. I have put on record how others have been first speared and then kidnapped; and such a system of carrying on indigo, I consider a system of bloodshed".

    The planters resorted to inhuman and illegal methods in order to get indigo cultivated at the lowest cost. Sir Ashley Eden in his evidence before the Indigo Commission of 1860 gave a list of their heinous acts and said,  ' I consider that it has frequently been the case that the Government officials have sacrificed justice to favour the planters'.

Gandhiji's Entry

    The cause of the ryots was first taken up by Raj Kumar Shukla. Instilled with a zeal to wash away the stains of blood on indigo growers he proceeded to Lucknow in December 1916 where the annual session of Indian National Congress was in progress. He approached Gandhiji who by now had gained a name as the saviour of the indentured labourers in South Africa.

    "I can give no opinion unless I see it myself" was Gandhiji's poignant reply to Shukla.

    On April 15, 1917 Gandhiji accompanied by two lawyers of Bihar, started for Motihari. At Motihari station, they received the news of beating up of a tenant in neighbouring village of Jasautipatti. Gandhiji decided to visit the village next day but before he could leave he was handed over a letter duly signed by District Magistrate W.B. Heycock ordering him to leave the district by the next available train.

    Gandhiji described his presence as a genuine searcher of the down-to-earth facts and refused to comply the order so long as he was free.

    Under the prevailing circumstances his arrest seemed imminent. To show solidarity with Gandhiji in his fight against atrocities and injustices meted out to the suppressed growers of indigo of Champaran, telegrams started pouring in from all corners of the country. Gandhiji intended to visit the interior village of the district. A summon forbidding Gandhiji from any such visit was issued. He was now asked to appear in person before the sub-divisional officer.

    Gandhiji appeared in the precinct of the court without a pleader. In reply to the queries from the government pleader regarding his disobedience, Gandhiji said he had done so as per the calls of his conscience. In this way Gandhiji gave vent to his utter disregard for the Government of the day whom he had held responsible for the plight of the indigo growers. The magistrate instead of being harsh to him asked to admit his feelings of guilty. Those persuasive words proved ineffective and Gandhiji even turned down the magistrate's call regarding his release on a bail of Rs.100 and was put into jail.

Case Withdrawn

    These happenings in the court captivated the indigo growers all across Champaran. Gandhiji was now being looked upon them as a saviour. Babu Rajendra Prasad, Maulana Mazharul Haque and others met Gandhiji in jail. Next day hundreds of tenants came to meet Gandhiji. In the same evening the magistrate received a message from Lt.Governor Sir Edwand Gait stating that the case against M.K. Gandhi be withdrawn immediately. Gandhiji was even granted to see any documents regarding indigo plantation. This was by no means a small achievement. It established the suzerainty of the non-violent means of protest.

    On May 29, Gandhiji received a summon asking him to present before the Lt.Governor at Ranchi on June 4, 1917. The meeting lasted for three days. The Government had decided to set up an Enquiry Committee to look into the problems of indigo growers. The Committee submitted its report under the title 'Report of the Committee on the Agrarian conditions in Champaran' on October 3, 1917. It was received in good cheers by the indigo growers. On October 11, 1917 Gandhiji publicly announced the recommendations of the Committee at Betiah. Thousands of people sang songs in praise of Gandhiji.

Non-Violent Struggle

    A couple of days later an order was passed by the Government in accordance with the recommendations of the Report. The much disliked Tinkanthia system, ordaining the growers to plant indigo on at least 3/20 part of their land, was abolished. No contract could be now entered between the factory owners and indigo-growers without the consent of the letter. The minimum rate of wages of the labourers too were revived., besides other steps by the Government. With it the Planter's Raj came to an end.

    This blood-less struggle at Champaran had nationwide repurcussions and also exploded the myth of non-applicability of passive resistance in the minds of the countrymen. The agitation also paved the way for many more non-violent agitations in the years to come against the mighty and oppressive rule of the Britishers.