Consider the following statements : 1. The Champaran Satyagraha marked Gandhiji’s second appearance in Indian politics as a leader of the masses. 2. The Champaran Satyagraha was launched to address the problems faced by Indigo plantation workers. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Statement 1 is incorrect because the Champaran Satyagraha (1917) marked Mahatma Gandhi’s first great experiment in Satyagraha and his first major appearance in Indian politics after returning from South Africa [4]. It was not his second appearance. Statement 2 is correct as the movement was specifically launched to address the grievances of indigo plantation workers in Bihar [3]. Under the oppressive 'tinkathia' system, peasants were legally compelled by European planters to grow indigo on 3/20th of their land and sell it at fixed, low prices [1][t3]. Gandhi, invited by Raj Kumar Shukla, conducted a detailed inquiry into these conditions [c2][c4]. The struggle eventually led to the abolition of the tinkathia system and provided relief to the exploited cultivators [c2][t5]. While it established Gandhi as a mass leader, it was his debut in Indian grassroots struggle [t4].

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. [3] 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. [4] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 15: Emergence of Gandhi > Champaran Satyagraha (1917)—First Civil Disobedience > p. 316