The Indigo Revolt and Gandhi's Involvement

The Indigo Revolt was a widespread uprising by Indian farmers against indigo planters in Bengal in 1859-60. The planters forced the peasants to cultivate indigo instead of food crops, which caused widespread poverty and famine. The farmers were also subjected to harsh treatment and low wages.

The Incident that Prompted Gandhi

In 1917, Gandhi was approached by the peasants of Champaran district in Bihar, who were being forced to grow indigo by British landlords. The farmers were facing severe hardships due to the exploitative system, and were being forced to sell the indigo at low prices to the planters.

Gandhi decided to visit Champaran to investigate the matter and gather evidence against the planters. He was accompanied by a team of lawyers and social workers. The British authorities tried to stop him from entering the district, but he refused to back down.

Gandhi's Involvement in the Movement

Gandhi organized mass protests and strikes against the planters. He also launched a campaign of civil disobedience by asking the farmers to stop cultivating indigo and refuse to pay taxes until their demands were met.

The British authorities arrested Gandhi and his associates, but the protests continued. The movement gained widespread support from across India and the world, and the British were forced to relent.

In 1918, the Champaran Agrarian Bill was passed, which gave the farmers the right to choose what crops they wanted to cultivate and fixed the prices of indigo. The success of the Champaran movement gave Gandhi the confidence to launch more campaigns of civil disobedience, and played a crucial role in the Indian independence movement.