Question

Who drew Mahatma Gandhi's attention towards the exploitation of the peasants by the European Indigo planters?
1. Baba Ram Chandra
2. Raj Kumar Shukla
3. Swami Sahajananda Saraswati
4. Sri Krishna Sinha
5. None of the above/More than one of the above

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : Raj Kumar Shukla

The correct answer is Raja Kumar Shukla.

• Raja Kumar Shukla:
  • Raja Kumar Shukla was the person who convinced Mr M.K. Gandhi to visit and view the exploitation in Champaran.
  • Raja Kumar Shukla was very much connected to the ongoing revolutionary changes ongoing in the country.
  • He was engaged in opposing the planters for the exploitative means adopted by them and was fighting many cases in courts against the planters.
  • In any event, towards the end of 1916, unable to muster adequate local support for action, Shukla headed to the Lucknow session of the Indian National Congress.
  • Raj Kumar Shukla- an illiterate but resolute hence followed Gandhiji Lucknow, Cawnpore, Ahemdabad, Calcutta, Patna, Muzzafarpur & then Champaran to invite him.
  • He mobilised the Champaran peasantry and exhorting them to join hands in a common fight before Gandhiji's arrival.
  • Shukla present in court to lend his support to these unfortunate individuals in their moments of hardship.
  • During the 31st session of the Congress in Lucknow in 1916, Gandhiji met Raj Kumar Shukla, a representative of farmers from Champaran, who invited him to come and see for himself the miseries of the indigo ryots.

• Baba Ram Chandra:
  • He was an Indian trade unionist who organised the farmers of Oudh, India into forming a united front to fight against the abuses of landlords in the 1920s and 1930s.
  • Baba Ramchandra led the peasant movement in Awadh. 
  • The peasant movement demanded to socially boycott oppressive landlords, demanded to abolish beggar, and demanded a reduction of revenue.
  • In many places to deprive the services of even washermen and barbers to the landlords, the nai-dobi bandhs were organised by the Panchayats.
  • In June 1920, Jawaharlal Nehru tried to understand the grievances of the villagers in Awadh by talking to them.
• Swami Sahajananda Saraswati:
  • Sahajanand Saraswati was an ascetic, a nationalist and a peasant leader of India.
  • Sahajanand Saraswati was the pioneer of the Bihar Kisan Sabha Movement and the founder of Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha (BPKS).
  • He was the first President of the All India Kisan Sabha.
  • After the split of the Communist Party of India in 1964, the front was also divided into two — All India Kisan Sabha (CPI) and All India Kisan Sabha (CPI-M; Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Sabha).
• Sri Krishna Sinha:
  • He was the First Chief Minister of Bihar.
  • Shri Krishna Singh was a modern leader of social justice of Bihar who served as the first Chief Minister for the state of Bihar till his last breath.
  • He was born on 21st October 1887 in the Nawada district of Bihar.
  • He has been among the leading fighters of the freedom struggle.
  • Since childhood, he started to look at the qualities of self-esteem and a keen interest in the field of knowledge.