In which of the following years did Mahatma Gandhi led the Satyagraha and hunger strike for the first time in India?

The correct answer is 1918.

Key Points

• Mahatma Gandhi led the first Satyagraha and hunger strike in India in the year 1918.
• This event is known as the Champaran Satyagraha.
• The Satyagraha was aimed at addressing the grievances of farmers who were forced to grow indigo under oppressive conditions.
• Gandhi's leadership in this non-violent protest marked the beginning of his prominent role in the Indian independence movement.
• The success of the Champaran Satyagraha established the effectiveness of non-violent resistance in India.

Additional Information

• Champaran Satyagraha:
  • This was Gandhi's first active involvement in the Indian independence movement.
  • It was a major success and demonstrated the power of non-violent resistance (Satyagraha).
  • Gandhi arrived in Champaran in 1917 and led the movement in 1918.
  • It resulted in the abolition of the oppressive tinkathia system where farmers were forced to grow indigo on a portion of their land.
• Satyagraha:
  • A form of non-violent resistance or civil resistance.
  • The term was coined and developed by Mahatma Gandhi.
  • It played a significant role in the Indian independence movement and influenced numerous other freedom and civil rights movements globally.
• Indigo Cultivation:
  • Indigo was a cash crop grown in India during British rule.
  • Farmers were often forced to grow indigo by British planters under oppressive conditions.
  • The Champaran Satyagraha specifically addressed the exploitation and hardships faced by indigo farmers.
• Non-violent Resistance:
  • A method of protest that seeks to achieve goals through symbolic protests, civil disobedience, and other non-violent means.
  • Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence (Ahimsa) was central to his approach to resistance.
  • Non-violent resistance has been adopted by various movements around the world, including the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.