Kalpana Patowary, the Folk activist, is known for her creativity in the world of music as she has established the fact that music has no boundaries after her musical document albums like "The Legacy of Bhikhari Thakur" ,"The Sacred Scriptures of Monikut" and "Anthology of Birha". It is her creativity that she has sung in 30 different languages and dialects. On the occasion of 100 years of "Champaran Satayagraha" she has given tribute in the passion for which she is known for. She believes that Bhojpuri was the soul of Champaran Satyagraha. She says, "Albert Einstein was one among followers of Mahatma Gandhi and he believes that the next generation will not believe that there was a person in the universe who protected humanity by Truth and Non -violence".
Celebrating 100 years of Champaran Satyagraha, this is a musical travelogue to the first Satyagraha movement inspired by Mohandas Gandhi occurred in Champaran district of Bihar in 1917.
About Champaran Satyagraha
Champaran, is a district in the state of Bihar, tens of thousands of landless serfs, indentured labourers and poor farmers were forced to grow indigo (poppy/opium) and similar cash crops by the British East India company and subsequently, the British government in colonised India. The farmers and labourers were forced to grow indigo instead of food crops which were necessary for their survival. This indigo was bought from them at a very low price to export to China as opium.
#"Teen Kathia" was a term used during the freedom struggle in 1917 where peasants were forced to cultivate Indigo plants in 3 kathas out of every 20 Katha lands they owned.
Suppressed by the ruthless militias of the landlords (mostly British), they were given measly compensation, leaving them in extreme poverty. Now in the throes of a devastating famine, the British levied a harsh tax which they insisted on increasing the rate. Without food and without money, the situation was growing progressively unlivable and the peasants in Champaran revolted against conditions in indigo plant cultivation. Raj Kumar Shukla, an indigo cultivator, persuaded Gandhi to go to Champaran and thus, the Champaran Satyagraha began.
Kalpna's Tribute to the Legend
Kalpana has dedicated this project to Bihar(the land of revolution) and the Legend(Gandhiji) so that the colloquial dialect of the region, Bhojpuri must be recognised as an Indian language. She describes her tribute as her musical Satyagraha for inclusion of Bhojpuri in the 8th schedule of Indian constitution.
Kalpana says that the Champaran Satayagarha was important not only for farmers who were exploited by Britishers. Actualy Champaran Satayaghara was the real freedom movement insisted by people in rural area like Champaran. Kalpana also connects the Satyagraha with the rich Bhojpuri culture including the melody of Bhojpuri traditional Ramleela folktune through this project she has made and effort to make Bhojpuri as the language of intellectual literature world.
Kalpana says that Mahatma Gandhi has used Bhojpuri as the main tool to connect with people of Champaran hundred years ago. But it is unfortunate that Bhojpuri is not included in the 8th schedule of Indian constitution yet today. She wants to request the State Government and Central Government to give respectable place to Bhojpuri for which it deserve.
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