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Although many believe Gandhi to be the true reason for the emancipation of the unjustly treated Indigo planters, Raj Kumar Shukla was a crusader for non-violence and a resolute man who was the hidden cause for Bapu’s success.
Born on 23rd August 1875
‘I am Rajkumar Shukla. I am from Champaran, and I want you to come to my district’!
Gandhi’s march towards various places spread across the subcontinent to liberate the locals from their oppressors is considered as one of his key contributions to the freedom struggle of India. His intense efforts to help the plight of the oppressed are commendable. Yet many fail to recognise the people behind him who were the cause of his successes. This is a story of one such man who isn’t written into history that often, but is probably one of the biggest reasons Gandhi became the person he was.
To get to that point first, one needs to get acquainted with the noisy background of the early 1900s.
The Britishers had arrived with a cause and ensured they didn’t leave till they achieved their goal of thoroughly colonising the Indian land. From manipulating territories, trade to politics, their strings controlled every aspect of the functioning of India. However, their interference in agriculture proved to be one with one of the most devastating effects on the people.
A plant named indigo single-handedly changed the livelihoods of the locals, and no, not for the better. The British aimed at producing indigo in India in large amounts, without the consent of the local peasants. They were forced to grow this troublesome crop, for it ruined the soil once it grew and required inhuman amounts of labour. On top of this, peasants were made to sign a contract where 15 percent of their lands needed to grow indigo, which would serve as a tax to the British.
This unjust tax cost a huge sum to the poor peasants, who began leading miserable lives. With their lands forcefully ruined and no money to sustain themselves, the ryots of India were ready to assist in the fight for independence with a newfound fire.
Now enters our protagonist, Raj Kumar Shukla who was one of the victims of this horrific illegal tactic placed by the colonizers. Born on 23 August 1875, Shukla had already seen his people tied by the hands of the West.
Hailing from a family of landowners, Raj had resided in his town of Champaran in Bihar since the day he was born. His world began and ended with this town. When the centre of this harsh indigo settlement was Champaran itself, he pledged to make it free with a determination rarely found in people.
Shukla went from place to place in search of an answer which would free his people from this injustice. Just like many back in 1916, he had heard greatly about the axial anti-British power in India- The Congress. Yet there was one person on whom he placed his money the most, this was none other than M.K Gandhi.
He had heard countless stories of this great man who was a liberator of the oppressed. After hearing that the 31st session of the Congress was to be held in Lucknow, Shukla travelled all the way from Champaran in search of his saviour. Upon meeting Gandhi outside the session, Shukla introduced himself and the place where he came from and urged Gandhi to visit Champaran as he faithfully believed only he could be their liberator.
According to Gandhi’s autobiography, he stated: “I must confess that I did not then know even the name, much less the geographical position, of Champaran, and I had hardly any notion of indigo plantations.”
How did an ordinary commoner like Shukla then make Gandhi an integral part of the abolition of this settlement? Well, it was by his stubbornness of course! Initially, Bapu had refused him as he had no clue about their plight in addition to having other commitments in cities like Cawnpore.
However, Shukla did not come so far to take no for an answer, so he followed Bapu everywhere he went persistently! From Cawnpore to his ashram, Raj trailed Gandhi till he eventually gave in. After multiple efforts, Bapu agreed to visit Champaran alongside Shukla.
Upon their arrival, Gandhi was unpleasantly surprised by the state of the peasants, causing him to launch his first satyagraha movement in the nation in 1917. This movement carved out the direction for its successors and was responsible for the faith found in non-violent protests.
Gandhi, alongside Shukla, spent months here, leaving behind all his essential work to fight for the cause of the peasants. After an excruciating period of countless protests attended by thousands to almost getting arrested, the Champaran movement concluded with the introduction of 'Champaran Agrarian Bill', which washed out the stain of indigo.
It was the first time that civil disobedience had triumphed, leading the Britishers utterly confused and thrown off. The Champaran Satyagraha is credited to be the landmark event that bestowed Gandhi with the title of “Bapu” and “Mahatma.”
After the success of this movement, Mahatma went on to fight various other historic battles at Kheda, Ahmedabad, etc. But, it was because of this one man named Raj Kumar Shukla who provided Bapu with a platform, and who kickstarted his journey towards Satyagraha.
Although a man so important changed Gandhi’s fate, his name is rarely found in books. His grandson possesses his diary where he chronicled his journey with Gandhi. Raj Kumar Shukla, unfortunately, succumbed to death in 1929, but his contribution to the making of the Father of the Nation and the release of Indigo planters will never be forgotten.
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