Mahatma Gandhi 39 - The Champaran Satyagraha Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon

The Champaran struggle happened in 1917.
Mere preparedness for Satyagraha proved inadequate, as
There was a strong opposition from the vested interests.
Satyagraha had to be offered
With calm politeness and
With committed resoluteness!

The Champaran tenant was bound by law
The tenant had to plant three out of every
Twenty parts of his land with indigo.
The system was called Tinkathia.
The tenants were forced by the landlords
To plant an acre of land with indigo!

Most agriculturists suffered under this system.
Rajkumar Shukla, one of the agriculturists of Champaran
Also suffered under this system of Tinkathia!
It was Shukla who alerted Gandhiji on this matter.
Shukla wanted Gandhiji to visit Champaran and see for himself
The misery of the tenants at the hands of the landlords!

Champaran is a district in Tirhut in Bihar State,
Motihari being its headquarters.
Rajkumar Shukla lived in a place near Bettiah,
The tenants of this area were the poorest lot.
Gandhiji left for Champaran
As he was anxious to meet these poor peasants!

Gandhiji's main objective of this visit was to personally
Enquire about the conditions of the agriculturists and
To understand their grievances against the indigo planters!
When Gandhiji met the Secretary of the planter's association,
He was bluntly told that he was an outsider
And had no business to interfere in this matter!

But Gandhiji was not put off by this rebuttal,
He made it his business to delve deeper into this matter.
He began his journey to the village on an elephant's back.
While on his way, he was overtaken by a messenger,
With an order from the police superintendent to return!
Gandhiji was taken back in a hired carriage.




Gandhiji was served a legal notice to leave Champaran.
Gandhiji wrote back that he refused to leave Champaran,
Until, all his enquiries of tenants with indigo plantations are done.
Gandhiji received further summons for a trial the very next day.
The news of notice and summons spread like a wild fire,
The court room brimmed with people to witness the trial.

Gandhiji was surrounded by his supporters and well wishers.
They followed him and regulated the crowd in a peaceful manner.
Gandhiji had accepted the notice and summons without any resistance,
As such, a friendly atmosphere prevailed in the court room.
The peace maintained by the people of Champaran was amazing
The leaders of Satyagraha practised non-violence throughout!

Hardly had the proceedings of the trial begun,
When a written message by the Magistrate arrived
To withdraw the case against Gandhiji!
He was now at liberty to conduct the proposed enquiry.
The peasants came forward to make their statements boldly,
The committee formed voted in favour of the peasants!

Thus, the unlawful Tinkathia system was abolished,
The age long abuse of Champaran came to an end.
The success was a celebration for it was don entirely
With absolute non-violence in thought, word and deed.
This was achieved only through the power of determination
And the indomitable spirit of Gandhiji!