Champaran District

It was created in 1866. On 2 November 1972 it was split into two districts: West Champaran and East Champaran (Paschim and Purbi Champaran).

In 1917, Mohandas Gandhi lead a satyagraha movement in the Champaran district against European landowners and government policies. During that time British landowners used to pressurize local peasants to grow indigo and sell it in lower prices. In response the British government arrested Gandhi, and later released and appointed him in an investigating committee. The British government later did amendments to improve the situation of peasants. This was Gandhi's first movement in India, and later he became the leader of the Indian National Congress.^[1]