Explanation: The Champaran movement, which took place in 1917, was the first major movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in India. It was a significant event in the Indian independence movement and marked the beginning of Gandhi's leadership in the struggle against British colonial rule. The movement was centered in the Champaran district of Bihar, where indigo planters, mostly British, were exploiting the local peasants by forcing them to cultivate indigo and pay high rents.
Gandhi arrived in Champaran in 1917 to investigate the plight of the peasants. He used the principles of non-violent civil disobedience, or Satyagraha, to organize the peasants and fight against the oppressive practices of the British planters. Gandhi's approach was to gather evidence of the exploitation, hold public meetings, and encourage the peasants to refuse to pay the high rents and to cultivate their own crops instead of indigo.
The movement gained significant support from the local population and attracted national attention. Gandhi's methods of non-violent resistance and his ability to mobilize the masses were instrumental in bringing about a resolution. The British government was forced to set up a commission to investigate the conditions in Champaran, and the commission's report led to the abolition of the indigo cultivation system and the reduction of land revenue.
The success of the Champaran movement established Gandhi as a leader in the Indian independence movement and set the stage for future movements such as the Kheda Satyagraha and the Non-Cooperation Movement. It demonstrated the power of non-violent resistance and the importance of grassroots mobilization in the fight against colonial oppression.
In contrast, the other movements mentioned in the options occurred at different times and in different contexts. The Quit India movement, which took place in 1942, was a much later event and was a call for immediate independence from British rule. The Natal movement, which took place in South Africa, was part of Gandhi's earlier experiences with non-violent resistance, but it was not the first movement in India. The Kheda movement, which took place in 1918, was another significant event in the Indian independence movement, but it occurred after the Champaran movement.
Understanding the context and significance of the Champaran movement is crucial for comprehending the early stages of the Indian independence struggle and the role of non-violent resistance in achieving social and political change.