Question map
Which of the following statements about the Champaran Satyagrah is / are correct? 1. The Champaran region had a long tradition of anti-planter discontent and agitation 2. Mahatma Gandhi gave all India publicity to the grievances of Champaran cultivators 3. The cultivators of Champaran had protested against excessive taxation on sugar Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Explanation
The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was rooted in a long history of anti-planter discontent. Similar to the 1859-61 indigo uprising in Bengal, the peasantry in Champaran had been excessively oppressed by European planters for decades [4]. Mahatma Gandhi's intervention provided all-India publicity to these local grievances, transforming a regional agrarian issue into a national cause through his detailed inquiry and defiance of British orders [3]. However, the primary grievance was the exploitative 'Tinkathia' system, which compelled farmers to grow indigo on 3/20th of their land, rather than excessive taxation on sugar [2]. While peasants faced high taxes and illegal cesses, the movement's core was the forced cultivation of indigo and the fixed prices set by planters [2]. Thus, statements 1 and 2 are correct, while statement 3 is incorrect.
Sources
- [2] Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 15: Struggle for Swaraj > Champaran Satvagraha (1917) > p. 266
- [4] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 31: Peasant Movements 1857-1947 > Indigo Revolt (1859-60) > p. 575
- [1] History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 4: Advent of Gandhi and Mass Mobilisation > Gandhi in Champaran > p. 43
- [3] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 11: MAHATMA GANDHI AND THE NATIONALIST MOVEMENT > 2. The Making and Unmaking of Non-cooperation > p. 289