During Indian Freedom Struggle, Gandhiji launched the first Peasant Movement in

Mahatma Gandhi launched his first peasant movement in India at Champaran, Bihar, in 1917 [c1][c3]. Upon returning from South Africa, he was invited by Rajkumar Shukla to investigate the grievances of indigo farmers who were being exploited by European planters under the 'tinkathia' system [c1][t4][t5]. This system forced peasants to cultivate indigo on 3/20th of their land [c1][t2]. The Champaran Satyagraha marked Gandhi's first successful experiment with non-violent civil disobedience in India, leading to the Champaran Agrarian Act of 1918 which abolished the forced cultivation [t1][t6]. While the Bijolia movement (Rajasthan) began earlier in 1910, it was not led by Gandhi [t7]. His subsequent peasant involvements included the Kheda Satyagraha in 1918 and the Bardoli Satyagraha in 1928, the latter being led primarily by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel [c2][c3].

Sources

1. [1] Modern India ,Bipin Chandra, History class XII (NCERT 1982 ed.)[Old NCERT] > Chapter 15: Struggle for Swaraj > Champaran Satvagraha (1917) > p. 266
2. [2] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 11: MAHATMA GANDHI AND THE NATIONALIST MOVEMENT > 2. The Making and Unmaking of Non-cooperation > p. 289
3. [3] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 11: MAHATMA GANDHI AND THE NATIONALIST MOVEMENT > Fig. 11.17 > p. 314