The events in this part of the text illustrate Gandhi’s method of working. Can you identify some instances of this method and link them to his ideas of satyagraha and non-violence?

The ideas of satyagraha and non-violence state that by using the truth, in a peaceful and non-violent manner, it is possible to gain independence. Some of the instances are as follows.

Gandhi first tried to gather the facts. He did this by visiting the secretary of the British landlord’s association and the British official commissioner of the Tirhut division in which the Champaran district lay. He was denied access to information on both counts.

However, Gandhi persisted. When he learned of a peasant who had been maltreated, he went to see the peasant. On the way, he was met by the police superintendent’s messenger with an order to quit Champaran immediately. He refused to obey, citing that he had to listen to his voice of conscience. Many peasants who were with him and his prominent lawyer friends, joined him in this act of civil disobedience. Finally, the Lieutenant-Governor of the province ordered the case to be dropped.