Muzaffarpur: The Bihar government has announced plans to convert the Muzaffarpur home of Gaya Babu, where Mahatma Gandhi stayed in April 1917 before launching the Champaran Satyagraha, into a museum dedicated to the historic movement.
Gandhi arrived in Muzaffarpur on the night of April 10, 1917 and stayed at Gaya Babu’s residence in Ramna. Five days later, he travelled to Champaran, where he initiated his first satyagraha campaign, amplifying the voices of farmers oppressed under the British indigo cultivation system known as Teen Katia Pratha. The visit marked a turning point in the freedom struggle, with Champaran becoming Gandhi’s first “laboratory” of non-violent resistance.
District magistrate Subrata Kumar Sen recently inspected the premises, accompanied by Dr Vimal Tiwari, additional director of Bihar’s Museum Directorate. Sen instructed officials to renovate the building and prepare a development plan in line with its historical significance.
During his visit to Muzaffarpur in 1917, Gandhi also stayed briefly at Langat Singh College, then under the stewardship of Acharya JB Kripalani. It was farmer leader Rajkumar Shukla who first drew Gandhi’s attention to the plight of indigo cultivators, leading him to Champaran.
Sen also inspected the Ramchandra Shahi Museum in Mithanpura, expressing concern at the deteriorating condition of the building. He directed engineers to submit detailed estimates for its renovation.
