Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Champaran district in Bihar
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question is about the early political career of Mahatma Gandhi after his return to India from South Africa. Gandhi had already experimented with his method of Satyagraha, or truth force, abroad, but he first applied it on a large scale in India in a particular district. Knowing where this first Satyagraha took place helps you place later movements like Kheda, Ahmedabad and Bardoli in the correct chronological order.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The leader is Mahatma Gandhi.
- The method is Satyagraha, meaning non violent resistance based on truth and moral pressure.
- The question asks about his first Satyagraha in India.
- The options list various famous locations associated with Gandhi Bardoli, Ahmedabad, Kheda, Champaran and Dandi.
Concept / Approach:
The key concept is that Gandhi first led a full scale Satyagraha in India in Champaran district of Bihar in 1917. This movement addressed the exploitation of indigo cultivators by European planters under the tinkathia system. Later, Gandhi led agitations in Kheda and Ahmedabad in 1918 and supported the Bardoli movement in 1928. The Dandi March came still later in 1930 as part of the Civil Disobedience Movement. Therefore, the correct answer must be Champaran district in Bihar.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the sequence of major Gandhian movements in India Champaran, Kheda, Ahmedabad, Non Cooperation, Civil Disobedience and so on.Step 2: Identify Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 as the earliest major Satyagraha led by Gandhi in British India.Step 3: Note that Kheda and Ahmedabad movements took place in 1918 and that Bardoli Satyagraha was in 1928 under the leadership of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.Step 4: Recognise that the Dandi March, though very famous, came much later in 1930 and cannot be the first Satyagraha.Step 5: Compare this timeline with the options and select Champaran district in Bihar as the correct one.
Verification / Alternative check:
A quick verification technique is to connect each place with the issue involved. Champaran is linked with indigo cultivators, Kheda with peasants demanding revenue remission after crop failure, Ahmedabad with mill workers fighting for wages, Bardoli with land revenue hike, and Dandi with the Salt Satyagraha. When you place these events in sequence, Champaran clearly appears as Gandhis first Satyagraha experiment in India. Standard history texts also describe Champaran Satyagraha as his first mass civil resistance on Indian soil.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Bardoli in Gujarat: Bardoli Satyagraha was an important peasants movement led mainly by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in 1928, not Gandhis first Satyagraha.- Ahmedabad Mill area: Gandhi did lead a strike of mill workers here in 1918, but this came after Champaran.- Kheda district in Gujarat: Kheda Satyagraha also took place in 1918 to demand revenue relief, so it is not the first.- Dandi on the Gujarat coast: The Dandi March of 1930 is associated with the Civil Disobedience Movement and came much later.
Common Pitfalls:
Candidates often confuse Champaran with Kheda or Bardoli because all involve peasants and revenue related issues. Another common mistake is to pick Dandi because it is very famous, even though it is not the first Satyagraha. To avoid confusion, always remember the simple order Champaran, then Kheda and Ahmedabad, followed by later national level movements.
Final Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi first launched his Satyagraha movement in India in the Champaran district in Bihar.
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