Why this matters now
This phase shows how Gandhi forged and proved satyagraha in India and rose to lead the Congress. Champaran, Kheda and Ahmedabad are frequently tested, as are the Rowlatt Act and Jallianwala Bagh.
Return from South Africa
Gandhi returned from South Africa in 1915, where he had developed satyagraha (truth-force / non-violent resistance). On Gokhale’s advice, he spent his first year travelling India to understand its people before plunging into politics, and set up the Sabarmati Ashram.
The three early satyagrahas (1917-18)
| Movement | Issue |
|---|---|
| Champaran (1917, Bihar) | Gandhi’s first satyagraha in India — against the oppressive tinkathia indigo-cultivation system forced on peasants |
| Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918) | A dispute between mill workers and owners over wages — Gandhi used a fast to win a fair settlement |
| Kheda (1918, Gujarat) | A no-revenue campaign supporting peasants hit by crop failure who could not pay land revenue |
Rowlatt Satyagraha and Jallianwala Bagh
In 1919 the Rowlatt Act — allowing detention without trial — provoked Gandhi’s first nationwide satyagraha. During the protests, on 13 April 1919, troops under General Dyer opened fire on a peaceful gathering at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar, killing hundreds. The massacre shocked the nation, prompted Tagore to renounce his knighthood, and convinced Gandhi that cooperation with the colonial system was impossible — setting the stage for Non-Cooperation.
UPSC angle
Fix the three early satyagrahas (Champaran-indigo; Ahmedabad-mill wages; Kheda-revenue) and the Rowlatt Satyagraha → Jallianwala Bagh sequence. Champaran was Gandhi’s first satyagraha in India.
Frequently asked questions
What was the Champaran Satyagraha?
Gandhi’s first satyagraha in India (1917, Bihar), against the oppressive tinkathia indigo-cultivation system imposed on peasants.
What was the Kheda Satyagraha?
A 1918 no-revenue campaign in Gujarat supporting peasants who, after crop failure, could not pay land revenue.
What was the Rowlatt Act?
A 1919 law allowing detention without trial; Gandhi launched his first nationwide satyagraha against it.
What happened at Jallianwala Bagh?
On 13 April 1919, troops under General Dyer fired on a peaceful crowd in Amritsar, killing hundreds — a turning point that pushed Gandhi toward Non-Cooperation.