Statements of Peasants Taken By Mahatma Gandhi in Champaran

[Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav]

Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Gandhian Scholar

Gandhi Research Foundation, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

Contact No. – 09415777229, 094055338

E-mail- [e-mail];[e-mail]

 

 

Statements of Peasants Taken By Mahatma Gandhi in Champaran

 

 

May 19, 1917 Hira Rai of Mauza Chailabhar, Tola Raj Kumar Dhokaraha Kothi, son of Durga Rai. My age is nearly 50 years, my wife is alive. I have one son and three daughters. I have 5 bighas in Chailabhar and 1_ bighas under Belwa Kothi. I have had nearly 2_ kathas of zirat forced on me. I have offered through Mr. Gandhi to surrender the zirat. Yesterday about 10 a.m. Mr. Holttum came near my house. On seeing him I went to him. He was on horseback. He had the Patwari Ram lagan Lal and TahsildarAmla Amla Singh and three peons with him. Several people had collected there. Mr. Holttum addressed us all and said “You have surrendered your zirat. What is there now between you and me? You will have to pay for it. I shall charge you annas 12 per buffalo and annas 8 per ox and annas 4 per cow for grazing in the Parti. If you do not pay, I shall impound your cattle. You will also have to grow indigo.” We have not been obliged to pay anything up to now for grazing cattle. We listened but said nothing. He spoke to his men and went away.

Janai Mahto Moiri Mauza Dhokaraha, Tola Shikarpur Kothi Dhokaraha, son of Thakur Mahton. I have a wife, I have no children. I am 40 years old. I have 3_ bighas land in Shikarpur. I have had 2_ kathas of Zirat forced on me. This was about 10 years ago. I have in common with many others offered through Mr. Gandhi to surrender my zirat. I was present on the day Mr. Gandhi came to Saraswa. About 6 o’clock in the evening I was passing by Dhokaraha factory on my way to Shikarpur. The Kacheri of the Factory is situated in its compound. A passer-by could get a clear view of the Kacheri as I did. I saw Sukhari Mahton on the verandah. He was standing by a bundle of papers on the floor of the verandah. I know that the Kacheri has been burnt down. I do not believe that it is the work of the raiyats.

Devnarain Rai of Chailabhar, Kothi Dhokaraha, son of Thakur Rai. My age is 40 years. My wife is alive. I have no children. I have 12 Bighas of land in Chailabhar. I have had forced on me 8 kathas of zirat. I have offered to surrender the zirat through Mr. Gandhi. Yesterday I was fetched by Mr. Holttum’s sepoy to go to Raj Kumar’s house and there pay to the Tahsildar Rs. 2/- for thatching straw I had purchased from the Kothi. I paid the money and I was standing there when Mr. Holttum was seen coming on horseback. There were many people present. Mr. Holttum was accompanied by his sepahis who were there, when he came. The Patwari was also there. Addressing the crowd he said “What is there in common between you and me? You have surrendered the zirat. You will have to pay for it. You will have to grow indigo. You will have to pay 12/- for buffaloes, as. 8 for oxen and as 4 for cows for grazing. If you do not pay, your cattle will be impounded.” Hira Rai was present when the Saheb came. We have not paid anything hitherto for grazing cattle. We listened, we said nothing. He said something to his men and went away.

Merkhun Turha of Chailabhar, son of Param Turha, age about 26 years, married, has one son, has 7 bighas zirat, 7 kathas has surrendered. Support above statement. Sivprasad Rai of Chailabhar, son of Pratap Rai, has wife and 3 sons, has 1_ bighas, and has no zirat. Supports above statement. Sivanandan of Chailabhar, son of Devnarain Rai, age 30 years, wife, no children, 4_ bighas, zirat 2 kathas has surrendered. Supports above statement. Amar Rai, son of Shishupal Rai, age 25 years, wife, no children, 4 bighas, 11_ kathas zirat.