Gandhiji Experiment with SatyagrahaChamparan Satyagraha (1917).Mahatama Gandhi began his experiments with Satyagraha at a small scale at Champaran in Bihar in 1917. Here, the European indigo planters used to be very oppressive. The brunt of their oppression used to fall directly on the plantation workers. Besides, the planters were forcing the peasants to cultivate indigo in at least 3/20 parts of their land and also to sell their products at a very low price. All such harassment meted out to them has found vivid description in Tarashankar Bandhopathyay's novel Neel Darpan. These distressed indigo farmers had been greatly impressed by Mahatma Gandhi's successful movements in So ...view middle of the document...
A decision was also taken by the government to set up a Committee of enquiry of which Mahata Gandhi himself was made a member. The Committee of Enquiry recommended some measures to alleviate the miseries the indigo cultivators thereby bringing the satyagraha to an end. From this early experiment with satyagraha at a local level, Gandhiji could directly acquaint himself with the miserable condition of the Indian farmers and also the difficulties faced them. Besides, Mahatma Gandhi also realized that satyagrha could be used as a means of struggle against injustice and foreign rule in India as well.Kheda Satyagraha (1918)The movement launched by the peasants at Kheda in Gujarat was antoher instance of Mahatma Gandhi's early experiments with satyagraha in India. In 1978, the economic condition of the peasants here had been badly affected due to the failure of crops. The peasants had, therefore, expressed their inability to pay the revenue. Mahatma Gandhi supported their cause and asked them to withhold the payment of revenue till their demand for its remission was met. Following the satyagraha, the government had to ultimately accede to the demands of the peasants and issued instructions to collect the revenue only from those who could afford to pay it. Thus, the movement ceased after a while.One of the net gains to the national freedom struggle from this small scale satyagraha at Kheda was the emergence of a towering leader in Sardar Villabhbhai Patel, who became one of the most active and dedicated followers of Mahatma Gandhi.
