Gandhi’s First Step: Champaran Movement

Gandhiji took his first step of the freedom struggle of India in April 1917, in Champaran tract in North Bihar through his norms of non-violent adherence to the path of truth, fairness and justice in the face of the most hideous odds. He visited Champaran to have first-hand knowledge about the sufferings of the tenant peasants. Statements of about 13,000 tenant peasants were recorded by the followers of Gandhiji in this connection. On the basis of these statements, Lt. Governor of the State constituted an Enquiry Committee of which Mahatma Gandhi was also a member. The main objective of the book is to present to the public a selection of typical examples of the statements of the peasant tenants. The statements included in the book are without any editing, and as they were originally recorded by eminent leaders like Rajendrababu, Shri Brijkishore Prasad and others. However, for the ease of the reader, a write up explaining the typical examples of atrocities, has also been included in the book. For the purpose of understanding the Champaran Movement in its proper perspective, the author has included in the book all the relevant documents in respect of the findings, processes and the outcome of the movement.