Indigo

Ans. Rajkumar Shukla has been described as being resolute because he was determined to take Gandhiji to Champaran. He accompanied him to Kanpur, Ahmedabad and did not leave his side till Gandhiji acceded to his request.

Ans. Indigo was the chief commercial crop. The peasants had to plant three twentieths or 15 percent of their holdings with Indigo and surrender the entire harvest as rent. This was done through a long term contract.

Ans. Gandhiji agreed to a settlement of 25 percent refund to the farmers because he wanted to break the dead lock on the percentage f refund between the landlords and the peasants. For him the amount of the refund was not important. The important thing for him was that the landlords had been obliged to surrender part of the money as well as their prestige gave a moral victory to the farmers.

Ans. Gandhiji refused the help of Charles Freer Andrews because he was a British. He reasoned that taking an Englishman on their side would show their weakness of heart. He said that their cause was just and they should rely upon themselves to win the battle.

Ans. Gandhiji requested several volunteers to work in Champaran as teachers and social workers. They opened primary schools in six villages and taught cleanliness and community sanitation to the peasants. A doctor was asked to volunteer his services for six months. Kasturbai guided the women towards better living conditions.

Ans. Gandhiji refused to obey the order to quit Champaran and was summoned to the court the next day. The next morning, Motihari was full of peasants who were there to support the Mahatma who could save them from the British. The government was baffled and the officials felt powerless to regulate such a crowd. The prosecutor requested the judge to postpone the trial as the authorities wanted to consult their superiors.

During the trial, Gandhiji pleaded guilty and asked for the penalty. He refused to seek bail and the judge released him without bail. Gandhiji was allowed to remain at liberty while the judge did not deliver his judgement for several days. Meanwhile, Rajendra Prasad and many other prominent lawyers agreed to court arrest if Gandhiji was arrested. Thus, Civil disobedience triumphed in India for the first time.

Ans. The Champaran episode started as a small campaign to restore the rights of a group of peasants. Gandhiji visited the place casually on the request of an unlettered peasant expecting that it would last a few days, but this episode occupied almost a year of his life.

It was for the first time that the British realised the power of the peasants who had stood up for their rights. The effects of Gandhiji’s policies of Satyagraha and Civil Disobedience proved fruitful in this movement. Through the Champaran movement, Gandhiji declared that the British could not order Indians in their own country. This was the turning point of Gandhiji’s life because it marked the commencement of India’s freedom struggle.

Ans. Gandhiji considered freedom from fear more important than legal justice for the poor peasants of Champaran. This would indicate to the British that the peasants were not weak. In support of Gandhiji, thousands of poor farmers came together for a common cause.

This made them strong and the British realised that they could not order Indians in their own country. Freedom from fear was very important for the liberty of the peasants of Champaran. Gandhiji’s acceptance of the 25 percent refund laid emphasis on the fact that the landlords had been obliged to surrender part of the money and with it, part of the prestige.

Now the peasants thought they had rights and defenders. This gave them courage and strength to face the British landlords. Gradually, the British planters abandoned the estates which reverted to the peasants and thus, their conditions improved.

Ans. Rajkumar Shukla was a poor illiterate peasant from Champaran. He came to know that Gandhiji could help the poor peasants of Champaran. Rajkumar Shukla was determined and stayed with Gandhiji till he agreed to accompany him to Champaran. Gandhiji succeeded and restored the rights of the peasants. Gandhiji’s Movement in Champaran was not an act of defiance.

It was an attempt to elevate the distress of a large number of poor peasants. His aim was to solve the problems of the millions of peasants. He uplifted the farmers by making them united, improving their living conditions and health. Gandhiji employed Civil Disobedience and Non-violence to declare that the British could not order Indians in their own country.

Ans. The peasants were the most crucial agents in the success of the Champaran Civil Disobedience. As they supported the moment, large number of peasants stood together to fight against British authority and the landlords. If they had not supported Gandhiji or not placed faith in him, then the movement would not have been successful. For eg. When the Champaran peasants heard that a Mahatma had come to help them, they assembled in Motihari in large number. Thousands of peasants held a demonstration around the courthouse where Gandhiji was supposed to appear. The crowd was so uncontrollable that the officials felt powerless and Gandhiji himself helped the authorities to regulate the crowd. Gandhiji alone could not have achieved success of Champaran, the peasants were the supporters that made the movement a success.

Ans. Gandhiji was professionally a lawyer. This helped a lot in the Champaran episode. When Gandhi came to know about the sharecropping agreement, his first action was to view the entire situation. Then he decided that it was useless to go to the courts as the judiciary was not doing anything good for the peasants. He said that as long as the peasants were suppressed and full of fear, it was useless to visit the courts. Therefore, he felt that it was necessary to remove the terror of Britishers and wanted to set them free from fear. Once he was able to do so, the British authority would have no choice but to review the case and provide justice.

Ans. During his long stay in Champaran, Gandhiji kept a long distance watch on his Ashram. He sent regular instructions by mail and asked for financial accounts. He even wrote to the residents that it was time to fill in the old latrine trenches and dig new ones.

Ans. As the news of Gandhiji’s advent and the nature of his mission spread, the peasants began arriving on foot and by conveyance to get a glimpse of their champion. The lawyers, who had represented the peasant groups in court, also came to brief Gandhiji.

Ans. I am glad to present Rajkumar Shukla, the man who played a vital role in the Champaran Movement. Rajkumar was a sharecropper from Champaran. He was poor and illiterate but resolute. He followed Gandhiji to Cawnpore, Ahmedabad, Calcutta to Champaran to fight against the injustice of the British landlords. The movement instilled courage in the peasants and was the beginning of India’s freedom struggle.

Ans. Gandhiji appealed for teachers. Mahadev Desai and Narhari Parikh and their wives volunteered for the work. Several more came forward for this noble deed from other parts of India. Kasturbai and Devdas arrived from the ashram. Primary schools were opened. Kasturbai taught the ashram rules on personal cleanliness and community sanitation. The health conditions were miserable. Gandhiji got a doctor to volunteer his services for six months.

Ans. The sharecropping agreement could have been irksome to the peasants because the British landlords had entered into a long-term contract with the farmers according to which they compelled all tenants to plant 15% of their holdings with Indigo. The sharecroppers had to surrender the entire Indigo harvest as rent.

Ans. The servants of Rajendra Prasad thought Gandhi to be another peasant. They did not know him. They were not certain whether he was an untouchable or not. They feared that some drops from his bucket might pollute the entire well. So, he was not permitted to draw water from the well.

Ans. Gandhi calls staying at Malkani’s house an extraordinary thing because in those times an average Indian did not openly show their support to advocates of home rule and Malkani, a government school teacher was harbouring him.

Ans. The average Indians in smaller localities were scared to show sympathy for the advocates of home-rule due to the fear of British. They were not courageous enough to say or act anything against these rulers as they were afraid of the dire consequences of helping the advocates of home rule.

Ans. Charles Freer Andrews, the English pacifist, became a devoted follower of Gandhi. Before going on a tour to duty to Fizi islands he came to bid Gandhi farewell. Gandhi’s lawyer friends wanted him to stay and help them. Gandhi strongly opposed it. If they get an Englishman on their side it would show the weakness of their heart.

They must rely on themselves to win the battle.

Ans. Gandhi was ready to go to jail fighting against the injustice to the sharecroppers. Many prominent lawyers had come from all over Bihar to advise and help him. At first, they said they would go back if Gandhi went to prison. Later, they had consultations. They told Gandhi they were ready to follow him into jail. This support made Gandhi extremely happy and confident.

Ans. First, he did not want to set a bad example as a law breaker. Second, he wanted to render the “humanitarian and national service” for which he had come. He respected the lawful authority, but disregarded the order to leave to obey the voice of his conscience.

Ans. The Champaran movement that Gandhi led was a success. He could mobilise the masses there very successfully. The landlords who exploited the sharecropper’s peasants had to reach a settlement with Gandhi on behalf of the peasants. He was able to alleviate the distress of large numbers of poor peasants. So he considers this episode as a turning point in his life.

Ans. The lawyers realised that Gandhi was a stranger, yet he was ready to go to prison for the peasants. On the other hand, the lawyers were the residents of nearby districts. They also claimed to have served these peasants. It would be shameful desertion if they should go home then.

Ans. Gandhi choose to go to Muzaffarpur first before going on to Champaran to obtain more complete information about the conditions of the sharecropper peasants.

Ans. When Gandhiji was asked to appear in the court in Motihari, thousands of peasants held a demonstration around the courthouse. The officials felt helpless and the government was baffled. The trial was postponed, as the judge didn’t want to aggravate the situation. He held up the sentence for several days, after which Gandhiji was released without bail. All these events made the Lieutenant Governor drop the case against Gandhiji.

Ans. Gandhiji went to Lucknow in December 1916 to attend the annual convention of the Indian National Congress Party. Rajkumar Shukla, a peasant from Champaran met him there to complain about the injustice of the landlord system in Bihar.

Ans. Indigo’ is an excerpt of a biography and thus has features of fiction as well as non-fiction texts. Indigo being a biography consists of factual information; like the dates f events, mention of number of delegates in I.N.C, 15 percent of land agreed upon the Indigo harvesting by the landlords, bail being asked for 120 minutes, number of interviews held by Gandhi with the Lt. Governor, the mention of percentage of repayment agreed upon as 25 percent. The structure of non-fiction is also followed with explanations being provided for each happening. The text follows sequence of events as they occurred- from Rajkumar Shukla’s persistence to the settlement of repayment and the Gandhiji’s developmental work in Champaran: the comparison of expectations of the British and the surprise they get from Mahatma Gandhi’s perseverance: the actions of Mahatma and their results – portray the conflict resolution of non-fiction text structures.

Ans. Gandhiji never contented himself with large political and economic solutions. He saw the cultural and social backwardness in the villages of Champaran and wanted to do something about it immediately. So he continued his stay in Champaran even after Indigo sharecropping disappeared. He appealed to two young men, who were teachers and their wives to engage volunteers for improving conditions of health and hygiene. Since the health conditions were miserable in Champaran, Gandhiji got a doctor to volunteer his services for six months. He noticed the filthy state of women’s clothes and asked his wife, Kasturba to talk to them about it. During his long stay in Champaran Gandhiji also kept a long distance watch on the ashram. In everything Gandhiji did, he tried to mould a new free India that could stand on its own fee.

Ans. Gandhi made it clear that money and finance are secondary in the struggle in Champaran. For Gandhi, it was the removal of the fear amongst the peasants that was central. His persistent efforts, firm determination and resolution taught courage to the peasant who realised that they too, had certain rights. For him the successful challenge to the British tyranny was more important than the money and finance involved in the agreement.

Ans. There is no doubt about the fact that a good leader is one who has a strong concern for others. Not only does he have a mass appeal but he even rises from the masses. He is a man of principles and his life is an open book. Gandhiji’s sincere efforts to get justice for the Champaran sharecroppers and his efforts to uplift the backwardness there are proof enough of the true leadership qualities that he possessed. His primary concern was the welfare of the common man because Gandhiji never contented himself with large political or economic solutions. Seeing the cultural and social backwardness in the Champaran village he wanted to do something about it immediately. His politics was always associated the practical day-to-day problems of the millions and through his selfless actions he displayed what true leadership was all about.

Ans. There is no denying the fact that Gandhiji’s values and ideologies have been admired by one and all. In the lesson ‘Indigo’ we get a glimpse of his certain traits that we should adopt in our own life. When Gandhiji reached Champaran, his main aim was to solve the problem of the sharecroppers and he worked towards that cause relentlessly. This quality enabled him to overcome all obstacles. Despite his simple personality Gandhiji did not get intimidated by the British. He dared to face each situation fearlessly and nothing could deter him from his path. After having resolved the issue of compensation of the sharecroppers he focussed his attention on the social and cultural problems of the people of Champaran. Here too he displayed an extreme sense of sincerely towards this mammoth task. If we adopt these characteristics of Gandhiji in our life, we too are bound to achieve success in our endeavours.

Ans. Terror-stricken peasants had no voice to raise and no relief in the courts against the unfair dealings of the landlords. When Gandhiji came on scene, he viewed the entire situation and declared that there was no point in getting into litigations, as law courts would hardly be able to do justice to the peasants. He felt that it was necessary to teach these downtrodden farmers how to be courageous. Until and unless, they got over the terror of the Britishers, they would never experience any sense of relief, he realized. Therefore, he gave priority to empowering and emboldening the peasants rather than waging legal battles for them.

Ans. Gandhiji didn’t leave Champaran after his victory. During his stay there, he had realized that the people of Champaran were culturally and socially backward, so he decided to work on this front also. He decided to open primary schools and taught about personal hygiene, community cleanliness etc. to the people of Champaran. Gandhiji’s wife Kasturba joined him in this movement. Gandhiji’s appeal among the peasants was enhanced by his ascetic lifestyle, and by his use of the dhoti and the charkha. Thus, with his firm determination and persistent efforts, he was able to bring changes in the ordinary man’s life.

Ans. Rajkumar Shukla, the Champaran sharecropper, requested Gandhiji at a Congress Session in Lucknow, to fix a date to visit Champaran where the sharecroppers were being subjected to injustice. Until Gandhiji fixed a date to go with him, Shukla did not leave him, rather he accompanied him wherever he went. Gandhiji was impressed by his tenacity and determination and finally agreed to go there from Calcutta.

Ans. Gandhiji considered the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life because it was during this struggle that he decided to urge the departure of the Britishers. He had made the peasants learn courage and realise that they too had rights and can defend themselves. He made them get rid of their fear also. Apart from this, he also taught the Indians a lesson of self-reliance. In this way, Champaran episode was, in fact, a turning point in Gandhiji’s life.

Ans. Mr. Charles Freer Andrews was an Englishman and Gandhiji did not want his help. He did not believe in seeking help from him. Since, the cause was good, he believed that their victory was certain. He wanted that the lawyers must not take any help from an Englishman as their fight was against the English. That’s why Gandhiji wanted the lawyers to be self-reliant.

Ans. When Gandhi asked the lawyers what they would do if he went to jail, one of the senior lawyers replied that they would go back home. Gandhi then scolded the lawyers asking their obligation towards the poor peasants. He said that it would be shameful desertion on their part if they deserted the peasants in absence of Gandhi. So lawyers realised their mistake that if an outsider, Gandhi, was supporting the cause of the peasants, they had social duty towards them. Hence they said that they would accompany Gandhi to jail. Finally, getting support of educated Indians like lawyers, Gandhi gained confidence that now they would win against the British.

Ans. Gandhiji’s persistent efforts, firm determination, and resolution led to his success in Champaran. He went to Champaran at the request of an illiterate peasant and there he listened to the grievances of the sharecroppers and started the Civil Disobedience Movement. He became victorious and the landlords withdrew their claims over their estates and were reverted back to the farmers.

They learnt courage and realised that they too, can be defenders. The landlords obliged to surrender part of their money and prestige. Thus, Gandhiji broke the deadlock between farmers and landlords.

Ans. Gandhiji agreed to a settlement of mere 25 percent compensation from the British because he wanted them to part not only from money but also from their prestige. For him, breaking deadlock was more important than the amount of money.

Ans. Dear students, you are all leaders of social change. I see many bright and enthusiastic faces that assure me that our future is in good hands. I have learnt from my own experience that sweeping away prejudices gives new values for living. I stress the importance of Truth and Non-violence and called you to “Be Fearless”. I understand the feeling and sympathy of youth and called you as instruments of social change. I believe that only spiritual and ethical values can bring in changes to the social order. I want modern youth and students to become the means to form idealistic thoughts. I encourage young minds about self-reliance as a crucial necessity to success. I am open-minded and want all the young people to be the same. I insist on being tolerant of all religions. I emphasize on simplicity, kindness, truth, and non-violence as life’s mantra. These are the essential things that you as students have to learn and follow. Moreover, I want the youth of today to follow moral values. I wish Indian youth to follow my ideals to lead a peaceful India.

Thank you

Ans. In Champaran, the peasants were greatly in fear of the British government. The cause of the problem was indigo and the greed of the landlords. They had forced the tenants to plant 15% of their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire produce to the landlords. When synthetic indigo came, the landlords were ready to release the above condition. They demanded compensation, the repercussions of which the peasants did not know and agreed to it.

Later, when the peasants came to know about synthetic indigo, they asked for their money back. The British hired thugs to oppose them. Gandhiji realized that there was no need for lawyers. He realized that it was necessary to release them of their fear which was difficult to achieve as they were uneducated. However, with his determination, he championed their cause. Soon, he led a movement of non-violence and Satyagraha. Many farmers demonstrated around the courtroom where Gandhiji was summoned. This made the British feel challenged. Sharecroppers from Champaran came barefooted to see Gandhiji. Muzzaffarpur lawyers too called on him. He explained what he had done was an ordinary thing. He had simply told the Britishers that they could not order him in his own country. Gandhiji tried to mould new free Indians who could stand on their own feet.

This new realization gave him a direction to lead the freedom struggle and thus, proved to be a turning point in the course of India’s struggle for freedom. This was the first time Gandhiji realised that India was capable of mass movements and it was after this episode that he started the national struggle for freedom across the country

Ans. Gandhiji began his efforts at Champaran by trying to get the facts. For this purpose, he visited the secretary of the British Landlord’s Association, but he refused to give any information to an outsider. Next, he called upon the British official commissioner of the Tirhut division in which Champaran district lay. The commissioner bullied him and advised him to leave Tirhut but he stayed there. This shows that Gandhiji was a staunch seeker and believer of truth.

Gandhiji consulted the lawyers and chided them for collecting fee from the sharecroppers, However, Gandhiji disobeyed the court’s order and rather proceeded to Motihari, the capital of Champaran. He mobilized the support of the lawyers and peasants. He got an official notice to quit Champaran immediately. However, he disobeyed the order and was summoned to court. The spontaneous demonstration of thousands of farmers was their liberation from the fear of the British. Gandhiji just wanted the civil disobedience movement or Satyagraha in a non-violent manner. Later on, Satyagraha and non-violence became the main pillars of strength for India’s freedom struggle.

Ans. The peasants of Champaran were in great fear of the British government because they were forced to plant 15% of their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire produce to the landlords. When synthetic indigo came, the landlords released them from this condition after demanding compensation from them. The innocent peasants agreed without realising what they were doing. When Raj Kumar Shukla told Gandhiji about it, Gandhiji visited Champaran and realized that the peasants were greatly in fear of the British. He realized that it was necessary to rid them of their fear. He started the Civil Disobedience Movement. That is why the Champaran episode is considered to be the beginning of the Indian struggle for independence as everyone realized that they could stand against the British, and they could not order them around in their own country. The farmers learnt courage and realised that they too had rights just like the defenders. Thus, the Champaran episode was a landmark and is considered to be the beginning of Indian struggle for independence.

Ans. Rajkumar Shukla invited Gandhiji to Champaran to fight against the injustice meted out to the peasants in Champaran.

Gandhiji scolded the lawyers for collecting high fees from the sharecroppers. He telegraphed Dr. Rajendra Prasad to come from Bihar with his friends who conferred with Gandhiji, and advised Dr. Prasad and his friends what they would do if he was sentenced to prison. The senior lawyers replied that they had come to advise and help him. Being a stranger, Gandhiji was prepared to go to prison for the sake of the peasants. They also agreed to follow Gandhiji to jail.

Gandhiji and the lawyers had written down depositions by about ten thousand peasants and prepared notes based on other evidence. Gandhiji was served summons, but he remained firm. Then, he received a written communication from the magistrate that the Lt. Governor of the province had ordered the case to be dropped. Gandhiji agreed to a settlement of 25% refund to the farmers.