Motihari, at that time simply called Champaran, was close to Mahatma Gandhi. He came to Motihari in 1917 with Raj Kumar Shukla to start the Satyagraha movement in champaran, known as Champaran Satyagraha, which concerned the exploitations of farmers. Gandhi with his supporters held a big campaign in champaran. His frequent visits to champaran and its local areas showed the Gandhi's connection with land.