Explanations:The Champaran Satyagraha was a pivotal event in the Indian independence movement, initiated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1917. The movement was a response to the exploitation of peasants by British indigo planters in Champaran, a district in the state of Bihar. The peasants were forced to cultivate indigo on a portion of their land and were subjected to unfair practices and high rents.
Gandhiji's involvement in the Champaran Satyagraha began when he was invited by Rajkumar Shukla, a peasant from Champaran, to visit the region and help the peasants. Shukla had met Gandhi at the All India Congress Committee meeting in Calcutta (now Kolkata) and requested his assistance. Gandhi agreed to visit Champaran and traveled with Shukla from Calcutta to Patna, the capital of Bihar.
Patna was chosen as the destination because it was the administrative center of Bihar and the seat of the Bihar government. From Patna, Gandhi could gather more information about the situation in Champaran and plan his strategy to support the peasants. The journey to Patna was significant as it marked the beginning of Gandhi's direct involvement in the Champaran Satyagraha.
The historical context of this event is crucial for understanding the broader Indian independence movement. Gandhi's approach to the Champaran Satyagraha was non-violent and based on the principles of Satyagraha, which he later used in other movements across India. The success of the Champaran Satyagraha not only brought relief to the peasants but also established Gandhi as a prominent leader in the Indian independence movement.
It is important to note that the journey from Calcutta to Patna was a strategic move by Gandhi to gain support and gather information before proceeding to Champaran. The choice of Patna as the destination was based on its administrative significance and its role as the capital of Bihar, which made it a logical and necessary stop for Gandhi's mission.