In 1916, Mahatma Gandhi travelled to which district in Bihar to inspire peasants to struggle against the oppressive indigo plantation system, launching his first major satyagraha in India?

Introduction / Context:
This question refers to the Champaran Satyagraha, widely regarded as Mahatma Gandhi's first major experiment with satyagraha in India. It focused on the plight of indigo cultivating peasants in Bihar who were forced by European planters to grow indigo under exploitative conditions. Identifying the correct district not only tests your factual recall but also helps you track the early development of Gandhian methods before the nationwide Non Cooperation Movement.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The year mentioned is 1916, in the early phase of Gandhi's work in India.
• The target group were peasants suffering under an oppressive plantation system.
• The crop involved was indigo, grown under the tinkathia system.
• Places listed include Dandi, Sabarmati, Champaran, Chauri Chaura and Kheda.
• We assume knowledge of where various Gandhian movements took place.

Concept / Approach:
Champaran, a district in Bihar, became famous when Gandhi was invited by local leaders like Raj Kumar Shukla to investigate peasants' grievances against indigo planters. Gandhi conducted enquiries, stayed among the peasants and organised protests that eventually forced the authorities to reform the system. Dandi is associated with the Salt March of 1930, Sabarmati with Gandhi's ashram in Gujarat, Chauri Chaura with the 1922 incident that led to the suspension of the Non Cooperation Movement, and Kheda with a separate peasant satyagraha for tax relief. Therefore, the correct place for this early indigo satyagraha is Champaran.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the first big satyagraha Gandhi led in India involved indigo planters in Bihar. Step 2: Recognise that this event is known as the Champaran Satyagraha. Step 3: Identify Champaran as a district in Bihar that became a symbol of this movement. Step 4: Distinguish this from later campaigns: Dandi for salt, Kheda for tax relief, Chauri Chaura for a violent incident, and Sabarmati as Gandhi's ashram location. Step 5: Select Champaran as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick way to double check is to align major Gandhian movements with locations: Champaran with indigo peasants, Kheda with tax relief in Gujarat, Ahmedabad with cotton mill workers, Dandi with the Salt March and Chauri Chaura with the violent clash that ended Non Cooperation. Only Champaran fits the description of an oppressive indigo plantation system in 1916. This clear mapping confirms that Champaran is the right choice and that the other options belong to different contexts and years.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Dandi: Famous for the Salt March of 1930, where Gandhi broke the colonial salt law, not for indigo plantations.

Sabarmati: Site of Gandhi's ashram in Gujarat and an important base for his activities, but not the district of the indigo satyagraha.
Chauri Chaura: The place in Uttar Pradesh where a police station was burnt in 1922, leading Gandhi to call off the Non Cooperation Movement.
Kheda: Location of another Gandhian peasant struggle in Gujarat about tax assessment, distinct from the indigo plantation issues of Champaran.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes mix up Kheda and Champaran because both involve peasants and Gandhi. Others may see Dandi in the options and incorrectly connect it with all Gandhian satyagrahas. To avoid this, remember a simple association: Champaran equals indigo peasants in Bihar, Kheda equals tax relief for Gujarati peasants, and Dandi equals the Salt March. Keeping these pairs clear ensures you select Champaran when the question mentions indigo plantations and the year 1916.

Final Answer:
In 1916, Gandhi travelled to Champaran to organise a satyagraha against the oppressive indigo plantation system.