ACADEMIC YEAR 2024-25

STUDY MATERIAL
CLASS XII
FLAMINGO: INDIGO

By: LOUIS FISCHER

Louis Fischer (1896 — 1970) was a Jewish-American journalist. Among his works were a contribution to
the ex-Communist treatise The God that Failed (1949), Life of Mahatma Gandhi (1982), as well as Life of
Lenin, which won the 1965 National Book Award in History and Biography. The following is an excerpt
from his book the life of Mahatma Gandhi. The book has been reviewed as one of the best books ever written
on Gandhi by Times Educational Supplement

Theme / Central Idea of the Lesson. Analysis of Indigo

Theme
The leadership is shown by Mahatma Gandhi to secure justice for oppressed people through convincing
argumentation and negotiation.
The chapter ‘Indigo’ emphasizes the fact that effective leadership can solve any kinds of problems without
any harm to anybody. This chapter deals with the way Mahatma Gandhi solved the problem of poor
sharecroppers of Champaran in a non-violent way.

Justify the title of Indigo

Justification of Title
The title ‘Indigo’ focuses our attention on the issue of exploitation of indigo sharecroppers at the hands of
cruel British planters. The British compelled them through a long-term agreement to plant indigo on 15 per
cent of their land and surrender the entire harvest as rent. After the development of synthetic indigo by
Germany, the British planters extracted money from the peasants as compensation for being released from
the 15 per cent agreement. The peasants who wanted their money back filed civil suits. Rajkumar Shukla
persuaded Gandhi to take up the case of Indigo sharecroppers. So indigo sharecropping exemplifies the
injustice of the British and the Indians’ submission to British authority.
The Champaran movement that centred on indigo sharecropping led to the social and cultural upliftment of
the peasants. Thus the title ‘Indigo’ is highly suggestive and appropriate.

Moral/ Message of the lesson – Indigo

Message
The story ‘Indigo’ highlights the unequal economic system that existed during colonial British rule. It resulted
in Indian peasants suffering, while the British planters exploited them. It also highlights the importance of
Gandhi’s decision to take up their case, which exposed the unjust system.

CHAPTER NUTSHELL
Role of Rajkumar Sukla
1. Poor, emaciated peasant from Champaran.
2. Contacted Gandhi in 1916 in Lucknow.
3. Gandhi dismissed him.
4. Shukla came to complain about the injustice and the landlord system in Bihar.
5. Shukla followed Gandhi to Cawnpore Later at Calcutta.
6. Impressed by the sharecropper’s tenacity and story Gandhi relented.

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The Issue
1. Arable land in Champaran divided into estates owned by Englishmen, worked by Indian tenants.
2. Chief commercial crop indigo.
3. Tenants to plant on 15% indigo.
4. To surrender entire indigo as rent.
5. Synthetic indigo in the market.
6. Landlords force new agreements.
7. Ask for 15% compensation.
8. Peasants resist, widespread unrest.
How Gandhi reached Champaran
1. Went to Muzaffarpur with Shukla.
2. Obtained complete information.
3. Discussed with Kriplani.
4. Met lawyers, chided them, understood legal angle.
5. Met peasants sensed unrest.
6. Realised peasant fear-strikes.
7. Feels he should arm them with the tool of courage, fearlessness.
Role of Lawyers
1. They represented cases in courts, collected fee.
2. Gandhi criticised them for being duping/misguiding the peasants.
3. They gave legal support.
4. However, they were non-committal if he was arrested.
5. Gandhi appealed for justice for sharecroppers when arrested.
6. Lawyers feel guilty of desertion.
7. They supported Gandhi’s Civil Disobedience Movement.
8. They helped him file grievances against landlords.
Steps were taken by Gandhi
1. Approached British landlord association.
2. Commissioner, cold-shouldered.
3. Proceeded to Motihari, got mass support from peasants, continued investigation.
4. Served official notice to leave Champaran.
5. Signed, said would disobey the order.
6. Served summons, Motihari black with peasants.
7. Peasants demonstrate outside the courtroom.
8. Officials powerless, Government baffled.
9. Gandhi was encouraged by mass support.
10. Court arrest, says obeying the voice of conscience.
11. Convinces lawyers to join the movement.
12. Continues to collect legal evidence.
13. The government forced to set up the Inquiry Commission.
14. Meeting, the deadlock overcompensation.
15. Agrees to 25%, landlords learned they were not above the law, peasants got courage.
16. Battle of Champaran won.
Qualities of Gandhi
1. Appreciates loyalty/commitment.
2. Understands the issue e.g., meets Kriplani/lawyers/peasants.
3. Connect with masses.
4. Organised e.g., civil disobedience plan.
5. Fairleader e.g. won lawyers’ support.
6. Visionary e.g., improves social, the cultural backwardness of Champaran.

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In Brief: Rajkumar Shukla- A poor sharecropper from Champaran wishing to meet Gandhiji - an illiterate but
resolute hence followed Gandhiji Lucknow, Cawnpore, Ahemdabad, Calcutta, Patna, Muzzafarpur & then
Champaran-Servants at Rajendra Prasad’s residence thought Gandhiji to be an untouchable -Gandhiji
considered as an untouchable because of simple living style and wearing, due to the company of Rajkumar
Shukla. He decided to go to Muzzafarpur first to get detailed information about Champaran share-cropper.
Sent telegram to J B Kriplani &stayed in Prof Malkani home- a government servant. Indians afraid to show
sympathy to the supporters of home rule -The news of Gandhiji’s arrival spread- sharecroppers gathered in
large number to meet their champion. Gandhiji chided the Muzzafarpur lawyer for taking high fee.
Champaran district was divided into estate owned by English people, Indians only tenant farmers. Landlords
compelled tenants to plant 15% of their land with indigo and surrender their entire harvest as rent. In the
meantime Germany had developed synthetic indigo –British landlords freed the Indian farmers from the 15%
arrangement but asked them to pay compensation.

Many signed, some resisted engaged lawyers, and landlords hired thugs. Gandhiji reached Champaran-
visited the secretary of the British landlord association to get the facts but denied as he was an outsider.
Gandhiji went to the British Official Commissioner who asked him to leave Trihut, Gandhiji disobeyed, went
to Motihari the capital of Champaran where a vast multitude greeted him, continued his investigations.
Visited maltreated villagers, stopped by the police superintendent but disobeyed the order. Motihari black
with peasants spontaneous demonstrations, Gandhiji released without bail CivilDisobedience triumphed.
Gandhiji agreed to 25% refund by the landowners, it symbolized the surrender of the prestige. Gandhiji
worked hard towards social economic reforms, elevated their distress aided by his wife, Mahadev Desai,
Narhari Parikh. Gandhiji taught a lesson of self-reliance by not seeking help of an English man Mr. Andrews.

Short Answer Questions:

Q1 Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being ‘resolute’?
Q2.Why do you think the servants thought Gandhiji to be another peasant?
Q3. List the places that Gandhi visited between his first meeting with Shukla and his arrival at Champaran.
Q4.What did the peasants pay to the British landlords as rent? What did the British now want instead and
why? What would be the impact of synthetic indigo on the prices of natural indigo?
Q5.Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of 25 percent refund to the farmers?
Q6.How did the episode change the plight of the peasants?
Q7. How was Gandhi able to influence lawyers? Give instances.
Q8. What was the conflict of duties in which Gandhi was involved?
Q9.When did Gandhi say ‘The battle of Champaran is won?
Q10. “Civil disobedience had triumphed the first time in India”. How did it happen?

Long Answer Questions:

Q1 Why do you think Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life?
Q2. How do we know that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement?
Q3. How did Gandhi use Satyagraha and non-violence to achieve his goal?
Q4.How did Rajkumar Shukla prove to be an important link between Gandhi and his Champaran
campaign?
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