Gandhi arrived in Patna from Calcutta (presently known as Kolkata) on April 10, 1917 with Raj Kumar Shukla. He started this journey with the request of Raj Kumar Shukla to understand the plight of the people of Champaran. Raj Kumar Shukla met Gandhi for the first time at the 32th INC Session held in Lucknow, who had gone in search of leadership to liberate the people of Champaran form their suffering. Historically, the people of Champaran had been struggling against the suppression of indigo planters since 1867. However, the struggle could not succeed in its final intend, while the tenants struggled against the power of suppression. In this case, Gandhi’s struggle and methods culminated in the Champaran Agrarian Act – 1918, which freed Champaran’s tenants from the grip of planters. This Chapter examines Gandhi’s presence in Champaran, his political struggle, and the implementation of his strategies in the emancipation of Champaran’s tenants in this background.
Keywords: Leadership, Indigo Planters, Power of Suppression, Grip of Planters.
