Indigo

Summary: - Louis Fischer met Gandhi in 1942 at his ashram in

Sevagram. Gandhi told him how he initiated the departure of the
British from India. He recalled that it in 1917 at the request of
Rajkumar Shukla, a sharecropper from Champaran, he visited the
place. Gandhi had gone to Lucknow to attend the annual meeting of
the Indian National Congress in the year 1916. Shukla told him
that he had come from Champaran to seek his help in order to
safeguard the interests of the sharecroppers. Gandhi told him that
he was busy so Shukla accompanied him to various places till he
consented to visit Champaran. His firm decision impressed
Gandhiji and he promised him that he would visit Calcutta at a
particular date and then Shukla could come and take him along to
Champaran. Shukla met him at Calcutta and they took a train to
Patna. Gandhi went to lawyer Rajendra Prasad’s house and they
waited for him. In order to grab complete knowledge of the
situation, he reached Muzzafarpur on 15th April 1917. He was
welcomed by Prof. J.B Kriplani and his students. Gandhi was
surprised to see the immense support for an advocate of home rule
like him. He also met some lawyers who were already handling
cases of sharecroppers. As per the contract, 15 percent of the
peasant’s landholding was to be reserved for the cultivation of
indigo, the crop of which was given to the landlord as rent. This
system was very oppressive. Gandhi wanted to help the
sharecroppers. So he visited the British landlord association but he
was not given any information because he was an outsider. He then
went to the commissioner of the Tirhut division who threatened
Gandhi and ask him to leave Tirhut. Instead of returning, he went
to Motihari. Here he started gathering complete information about
the indigo contract. He was accompanied by many lawyers. One day
as he was on his way to meet a peasant, who was maltreated by the
indigo planters, he was stopped by the police superintendent’s
messenger who served him a notice asking him to leave. Gandhi
received the notice but disobeyed the order. A case was filed against
him. Many lawyers came to advise him but when he stressed, they
all joined his struggle and even consented to go to jail in order to
help the poor peasants. On the day of trial, a large crowd gathered
near the court. It became impossible to handle them. Gandhi
helped the officers to control the crowd. Gandhi gave his statement
that he was not a lawbreaker but he disobeyed so that he could
help the peasants. He was granted bail and later on, the case
against him was dropped. Gandhi and his associates started
gathering all sorts of information related to the indigo contract and
its misuse. Later, a commission was set up to look into the matter.
After the inquiry was conducted, the planters were found guilty and
were asked to pay back to the peasants. Expecting refusal, they
offered to pay only 25 percent of the amount. Gandhi accepted this
too because he wanted to free the sharecroppers from the binding of
the indigo contract. He opened six schools in Champaran villages
and volunteers like Mahadev Desai, Narhari Parikh, and his son,
Devdas taught them. Kasturbai, the wife of Gandhi used to teach
personal hygiene. Later on, with the help of a volunteer doctor, he
provided medical facilities to the natives of Champaran, thus
making their life a bit better. A peacemaker, Andrews wanted to
volunteer at Champaran ashram. But Gandhi refused as he wanted
Indians to learn the lesson of self-reliance so that they would not
depend on others. Gandhi told the writer that it was Champaran’s
incident that made him think that he did not need the Britisher’s
advice while he was in his own country.

THINK AS YOU READ

Q1. Strike out what is not true in the following:
(a)Rajkumar Shukla was:
(i)a sharecropper (ii)a politician
(iii)delegate (iv)a landlord.
(b) Rajkumar Shukla was:
(i) poor (ii)physically strong
(iii) illiterate.
Ans: (a) (ii) a politician
(b) (ii) physically strong
Q2. Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being ‘resolute’?
Ans: He had come all the way from Champaran district in the
foothills of Himalayas to Lucknow to speak to Gandhi. Shukla
accompanied Gandhi everywhere. Shukla followed him to the
ashram near Ahmedabad. For weeks he never left Gandhi’s side till
Gandhi asked him to meet at Calcutta.

Q3. Why do you think the servants thought Gandhi to be

another peasant?
Ans: Shukla led Gandhi to Rajendra Prasad’s house. The servants
knew Shukla as a poor yeoman. Gandhi was also clad in a simple
dhoti. He was the companion of a peasant. Hence, the servants
thought Gandhi to be another peasant.

THINK AS YOU READ

Q1. List the places that Gandhi visited between his first
meeting with Shukla and his arrival at Champaran.
Ans: Gandhi’s first meeting with Shukla was at Lucknow. Then he
went to Cawnpore and other parts of India. He returned to his
ashram near Ahmedabad. Later he went to Calcutta, Patna and
Muzaffarpur before arriving at Champaran.

Q2. What did the peasants pay 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?
Ans: The peasants paid the British landlords indigo as rent. Now
Germany had developed synthetic indigo. So, the British landlords
wanted money as compensation for being released from the 15 per
cent arrangement. The prices of natural indigo would go down due
to the synthetic Indigo.

THINK AS YOU READ

Q1. The events in this part of the text illustrate Gandhi’s
method of working. Can you identify some instances of this
method and link them to his ideas of Satyagraha and non-
violence?
Ans: Gandhi’s politics was intermingled with the day-to-day
problems of the millions of Indians. He opposed unjust laws. He
 was ready to court arrest for breaking such laws and going to jail.
The famous Dandi March to break the ‘salt law’ is another instance.
The resistance and disobedience was peaceful and a fight for truth
and justice…This was linked directly to his ideas of Satyagraha and
non-violence.

THINK AS YOU READ

Q1. Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of 25 per cent refund
to the farmers?
Ans: For Gandhi the amount of the refund was less important than
the fact that the landlords had been forced to return part of the
money, and with it, part of their prestige too. So, he agreed to
settlement of 25 per cent refund to the farmers.

Q2. How did the episode change the plight of the peasants?
Ans: The peasants were saved from spending time and money on
court cases. After some years the British planters gave up control of
their estates. These now reverted to the peasants. Indigo
sharecropping disappeared

UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

Q1.Why do you think Gaffdhi considered the Champaran episode
to be a turning- point in his life?
Ans: The Champaran episode began as an attempt to ease the
sufferings of large number of poor peasants. He got spontaneous
support of thousands of people. Gandhi admits that what he had done
was a very ordinary thing. He declared that the British could not order
him about in his own country. Hence, he considered the Champaran
episode as a turning- point in his life.

Q2. How was Gandhi able to influence lawyers? Give instances.

Ans: Gandhi asked the lawyers what they would do if he was
sentenced to prison. They said that they had come to advise him. If he
went to jail, they would go home. Then Gandhi asked them about the
injustice to the sharecroppers. The lawyers held consultations. They
came to the conclusion that it would be shameful desertion if they
went home. So, they told Gandhi that they were ready to follow him
into jail.
Q3. “What was the attitude of the average Indian in smaller
localities towards advocates of ‘home rule’?
Ans: The average Indians in smaller localities were afraid to show
sympathy for the advocates of home-rule. Gandhi stayed at
Muzaffarpur for two days at the home of Professor Malkani, a teacher
in a government school. It was an extraordinary thing in those days for
a government professor to give shelter to one who opposed the
government.

Q4. How do we know that ordinary people too contributed to the

freedom movement?
Ans: Professor J.B. Kriplani received Gandhi at Muzaffarpur railway
station at midnight. He had a large body of students with him.
Sharecroppers from Champaran came on foot and by conveyance to
see Gandhi. Muzaffarpur lawyers too called on him. A vast multitude
greeted Gandhi when he reached Motihari railway station. Thousands
of people demonstrated around the court room. This shows that
ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement in India.

TALKING ABOUT THE TEXT

Discuss the following:
Q1. “Freedom from fear is more important than Legal justice for
the poor.”
Do you think that the poor of India are free from fear after
Independence?
Ans: For the poor of India means of survival are far more important
than freedom or legal justice. I don’t think the poor of India are free
from fear after Independence.The foreign rulers have been replaced by
corrupt politicians and self-serving bureaucracy. Power- brokers and
moneylenders have a field day. The situation has improved in cities
and towns for the poor but the poor in the remote villages still fear the
big farmers and moneylenders. The police and revenue officials are still
objects of terror for them.
The poor, landless workers have to still work hard to make both ends
meet. Peasants and tenant-farmers have to borrow money from rich
moneylenders on exorbitant rates of interest, which usually they fail to
repay due to failure of monsoon or bad crops. Cases of small farmers
committing suicide are quite common. If this is not due to fear, what is
the reason behind it?
Q2. The qualities of a good leader.
Ans: A good leader has a mass appeal. He rises from the masses,
thinks for them and works for them. He is sincere in his approach. He
is a man of principles. Truth, honesty, patriotism, morality, spirit of
service and sacrifice are the hallmarks of a good leader. He never mixes
politics with religion or sect. He believes in working for the welfare of
the nation and does not think in the narrow terms of class, caste or
region. Corruption and nepotism are two evils that surround a leader
in power. The life of a good leader is an open book. There is no
difference between his words and actions. Such good leaders are very
rare. What we find today are practical politicians, who think of
achieving their end without bothering about . the purity of means. The
law of expediency gets the better of morality.

WORKING WITH WORDS

1.List the words used in the text that are related to legal
procedures.
For example: deposition
Ans: Notice, summons, prosecutor, trial, plead, guilty, order, penalty,
sentence, bail, judgement, prison, case, inquiry, evidence, commission.
•List other words that you know that fall into this category.
Ans. Complaint, complainant, decree, defendant, witness, prosecution,
defence, sessions, jury, verdict, decision.

THINKING ABOUT LANGUAGE

Q1. Notice the sentences in the text which are in ‘direct speech’.
Why does the author use quotations in his narration?
Ans: The following sentences in the text are in ‘direct speech’.
(а)He said, “I will tell you how it happened that I decided to urge the
departure of the British. It was in 1917.”
(b)Gandhi recounted. “A peasant came up to me looking like any other
peasant in India, poor and emaciated, and said, ‘I am Rajkumar
Shukla. I am from Champaran, and I want you to come to my district!”
(c)Gandhi said, “I have to be in Calcutta on such-and-such a date.
Come and meet me and take me from there”.
(d)“It was an extraordinary thing ‘in those days,” Gandhi commented,
Tor a government professor to harbour a man like me.’
(e)He said, “I have come to the conclusion that we should stop going to
law courts. Taking such cases to the courts does little good. Where the
peasants are so crushed and fear-stricken, law courts are useless. The
real relief for them is to be free from fear.”

(f) “The commissioner,” Gandhi reports, “proceeded to bully me and

advised me forthwith to leave Tirhut”.
(g)‘But how much must we pay?’ they asked Gandhi.
(h)One woman took Kasturbabai into her hut and said, “Look, there is
no box or cupboard here for clothes. The sari I am wearing is the only
one I have”.
(i) “What I did”, he explained, “was a very ordinary thing. I declared
that the British could not order me about in my own country”.
(j) He said, “You think that in this unequal fight it would be helpful if
we have an Englishman on our side. This shows the weakness of your
heart. The cause is just and you must rely upon yourselves to win the
battle. You should not seek a prop in Mr ‘ Andrews because he
happens to be an Englishman”.
(k) “He had read our minds correctly,” Rajendra Prasad comments,
“and we had no reply … Gandhi in this way taught uS a lesson in self-
reliance”.
The choice of the direct form strengthens the effectiveness of
narration. The author uses quotations to highlight certain points
which may not appear so effective in reporting indirectly.

Q2. Notice the use or non-use of the comma in the following

sentences:
(a) When I first visited Gandhi in 1942 at his ashram in Sevagram,
he told me what happened in Champaran.
(b) He had not proceeded far when the police superintendent’s
messenger overtook him. (c) When the court reconvened, the
judge said he would not deliver the judgement for several days.
Ans: (i) When the subordinate clause comes before the main clause, a
comma is used to separate it from the main clause.
(ii) No comma is used when the main clause comes before the
subordinate clause.

Extract-based questions
A. They thought he would demand repayment in full of the money
which they had illegally and deceitfully extorted from the
sharecroppers. He asked only 50 per cent. “There he seemed
adamant,” writes Reverend J. Z. Hodge, a British missionary in
Champaran who observed the entire episode at close range.
“Thinking probably that he would not give way, the representative of
the planters offered to refund to the extent of 25 per cent, and to his
amazement Mr. Gandhi took him at his word, thus breaking the
deadlock.” This settlement was adopted unanimously by the
commission.
1. Gandhi knew that he would not get an agreement on the
demand for 50% repayment.
Choose the option that offers the correct justification for the
assumption made above.
A) He had anticipated the negotiating tactics of the planter’s
representative.
B) He had been informed about the depleting funds of the planters.
C) He had taken the advice of the Reverend on board.
D) He had evaluated the commission’s attitude towards Indians
Ans. A) He had anticipated the negotiating tactics of the planter’s
representative.
2 Given below are four real-life situations. Choose the option
that perfectly describes a deadlock.

A) Situation 1
B) Situation 2
C) Situation 3
D) Situation 4
Ans. B) Situation 2
3 Based on the given context, choose the option that
exemplifies a deceitful extortion, out of the examples given
below.
1. The artisans demonstrated for 2. The head of the artisan union
their rights, peacefully, on the pretended to address all the
streets. problems faced by them.
 4. The artisans in Hafr Gunj
3. The head of the artisan union
decided to sell their wares
came with goons and took all the
directly to the government
assets of the poor artisans.
outlets
A) Option 1
B) Option 2
C) Option 3
D) Option 4
Ans. C) Option 3

4 The deadlock broke because

A) Gandhi’s settlement offer was worth considering.
B) All commission members agreed to adopt the representative’s offer.
C) Reverend J. Z. Hodge’s intervention brought both parties together.
D) The sharecroppers refused to be convinced by the commission.
Ans. B) All commission members agreed to adopt the representative’s
offer.

B. But Champaran did not begin as an act of defiance. It grew out of

an attempt to alleviate the distress of large numbers of poor
peasants. This was the typical Gandhi pattern — his politics were
intertwined with the practical, dayto-day problems of the millions.
His was not a loyalty to abstractions; it was a loyalty to living,
human beings. In everything Gandhi did, moreover, he tried to mold a
new free Indian who could stand on his own feet and thus make
India free.
1 Choose the option listing the sentence that is the most
appropriate example of an ‘act of defiance’, from the following:
A) She picked up the telephone terrified of what was about to come.
She could hear nobody on the other side.
B) Meanwhile, there was a thud at the door loud enough to scare
her.
C) Curious as she was, she wanted to open it as soon as possible.
D) Her mother tried to stop her several times but she went ahead
nevertheless.
Ans. D) Her mother tried to stop her several times but she went
ahead nevertheless.
2 Choose the correct option with reference to the two
statements given below.
Statement 1: His was not a loyalty to abstractions; it was a loyalty
to living, human beings.
Statement 2: Gandhi was a humanitarian at heart.
A) Statement 1 is the cause of Statement 2.
B) Statement 2 is the effect of Statement 1.
C) Statement 2 can be inferred from Statement 1.
D) Statement 1 and Statement 2 are independent of each other.
Ans. C) Statement 2 can be inferred from Statement 1.
3 The given extract DOES NOT talk about
A) details of the daily problems faced by human beings.
B) efforts to relieve suffering of the common people.
C) the reason for the occurrence of Champaran.
D) Gandhi’s principles in the field of politics.
Ans. A) details of the daily problems faced by human beings.
4 Which option showcases an example of action (A) -result (R),
from the passage?
(1) A= defiance R= poor peasants
(2) A= free Indians R= free India
(3) A= free India R= defiance
(4) A= defiance R= free Indians
A) Option 1
B) Option 2
C) Option 3
D) Option 4
Ans. B) Option 2
C. There Shukla led him to the house of a lawyer named Rajendra
Prasad who later became President of the Congress party and of
India. Rajendra Prasad was out of town, but the servants knew
Shukla as a poor yeoman who pestered their master to help the
indigo sharecroppers. So they let him stay on the grounds with his
companion, Gandhi, whom they took to be another peasant. But
Gandhi was not permitted to draw water from the well lest some
drops from his bucket pollute the entire source; how did they know
that he was not an untouchable?
1 What does the word ‘Yeoman’ mean?
A. Man holding and cultivating a small land
B. Man who looks at others repulsively
C. Man who bothers everyone
D. None of these
Ans. (A) Man holding and cultivating a small land
2 Name the author of this chapter.
A Louis Updike
B Louis Fishing
C Louis Fischer
D Louis Fisherman
Ans. C Louis Fischer
3 Why was Gandhi not permitted to draw water from the well?
A For he was considered as a touchable
B For he was considered as an untouchable
C For he was accompanied by Shukla
D None of these
Ans. B For he was considered as an untouchable
4 Whom was Gandhi accompanied by?
A Louis Updike
B Raj Kumawat Shukla
C Raj Kumar Shukla
D Kasturbai Gandhi
Ans. C Raj Kumar Shukla
D. The Champaran episode was a turning-point in Gandhi’s life.
‘‘What I did,” he explained, “was a very ordinary thing. I declared
that the British could not order me about in my own country.” But
Champaran did not begin as an act of defiance. It grew out of an
attempt to alleviate the distress of large numbers of poor peasants.
This was the typical Gandhi pattern — his politics were intertwined
with the practical, day-to-day problems of the millions. His was not a
loyalty to abstractions; it was a loyalty to living, human beings. In
everything Gandhi did, moreover, he tried to mold a new free Indian
who could stand on his own feet. (CBSE Sample Paper 2022)
1 In the extract, the phrase ‘loyalty to abstractions’ refers to a
strong commitment to __________.
A. selected groups
B. simple pleasures
C. certain ideologies
D. governmental authorities
Ans. C. certain ideologies
2 Select a suitable word from the extract to complete the
following analogy:
change: transform :: relieve: __________.
Ans. alleviate
3 Select the correct option to fill in the blank.
The primary motive of Gandhi’s actions was to _________.
A. make Indians self-reliant
B. eradicate peasant poverty
C. unite the people of Champaran
D. expose the incompetence of the British
Ans. A. make Indians self-reliant
4 Which of these best describes the primary purpose of the
extract?
A. It highlights Gandhi’s intention to use peasants to overthrow
colonial power.
B. It points out why the Champaran episode is still relevant in free
modern India.
C. It explains the differences between the political strategies of
Gandhi and the British.
D. It shows how Gandhi’s position in the Champaran struggle
reflected his political views.
Ans. D. It shows how Gandhi’s position in the Champaran struggle
reflected his political views.
5 Identify the textual clue that allows the reader to infer
Gandhi’s view of his own accomplishments (clue: a word).
Ans. Ordinary
6 Complete the sentence with an appropriate explanation, as
per the extract. Gandhi uses the words ‘turning point’ to refer
to the Champaran incident because it __________.
Ans. was Gandhi’s first instance of civil disobedience.
E. They had merely heard that a Mahatma who wanted to help them
was in trouble with the authorities. Their spontaneous
demonstration, in thousands, around the courthouse was the
beginning of their liberation from fear of the British. The officials felt
powerless without Gandhi’s cooperation. He helped them regulate the
crowd. He was polite and friendly. He was giving them concrete proof
that their might, hitherto dreaded and unquestioned, could be
challenged by Indians. The government was baffled. The prosecutor
requested the judge to postpone the trial. Apparently, the authorities
wished to consult their superiors.(CBSE Sample Paper 2020)
1 . The officials felt powerless because
A. of Gandhi’s refusal to cooperate with them.
B. of Gandhi’s polite and friendly behavior.
C. The crowd was listening only to Gandhi.
D. the crowd was getting violent.
Ans. C. The crowd was listening only to Gandhi.
2 The demonstration proved that the
A. policies of the British had failed.
B. dread instilled in the hearts of Indians had begun to lessen.
C. dealings with the Indian citizens had been unsuccessful.
D. might of the British had not been understood by Indians.
Ans. B. dread instilled in the hearts of Indians had begun to lessen.
3 Which style, from those given below, is being used by the
author, when he says, “Apparently, the authorities wished to
consult their superiors.”?
A. humorous
B. dramatic
C. sarcastic
D. persuasive
Ans. C. sarcastic
4 Gandhiji’s behavior towards the British prior to the proposal
of postponement of the trial was that of
A. indifference.
B. calm acceptance.
C. ignorance of consequences.
D. polite helpfulness.
Ans. B. calm acceptance.
F. Sharecroppers from Champaran began arriving on foot and by
conveyance to see their champion. Muzaffarpur lawyers called on
Gandhi to brief him; they frequently represented peasant groups in
court; they told him about their cases and reported the size of their
fee.
Gandhi chided the lawyers for collecting big fee from the
sharecroppers. He said, ‘‘I have come to the conclusion that we
should stop going to law courts. Taking such cases to the courts does
little good. Where the peasants are so crushed and fear-stricken, law
courts are useless. The real relief for them is to be free from fear.’’
 1. Which of the following can be termed as a conveyance?
A. Horse Cart
B. Bus
C. car
D. All of these
Ans. D. All of these
2. Sharecroppers were ______
A. Farmers
B. Landlords
C. both a and b
D. None of these
Ans. A. Farmers
3. “chided “ means
A. Requested
C. Scolded
C. prohibited
D. None of these
Ans. B. Scolded
4. Gandhi wanted that the sharecroppers should _____________
A. Go to court
B. Pay the high fee
C. be free from fear
D. All of these
Ans. C. be free from fear

G. The official inquiry assembled a crushing mountain of evidence

against the big planters, and when they saw this they agreed, in
principle, to make refunds to the peasants. “But how much must we
pay?” they asked Gandhi.
They thought he would demand repayment in full of the money which
they had illegally and deceitfully extorted from the sharecroppers. He
asked only 50 per cent. “There he seemed adamant,” writes Reverend J.
Z. Hodge, a British missionary in Champaran who observed the entire
episode at close range. “Thinking probably that he would not give way,
the representative of the planters offered to refund to the extent of 25 per
cent, and to his amazement Mr. Gandhi took him at his word, thus
breaking the deadlock.”
1. Crushing mountain means ____________
A. To be crushed under a big thing
B. A lot of
C. very important
D. Both b and c
Ans. B. A lot of
2. Find a synonym of cheating
Ans. Deceitfully
3. Who is a missionary?
A. Government official
B. Religious priest
C. land owner
D. Farmer
Ans. B. Religious priest
4. “Mr. Gandhi took him at his word” means –
A. He accepted the offer there and then
B. He believed his words
C. both a and b
D. None of these
Ans. A. He accepted the offer there and then

Short Answer Questions

Q1. Why did Gandhiji feel that taking the Champaran case to court
was useless?
Ans. When Gandhiji learned about the plight of the peasant groups in
Champaran from his discussions with lawyers, he concluded that the
poor peasants were so crushed and terrified that the law courts were
useless in their case. Going to court cost the sharecroppers a lot of
money in legal fees. What was really needed was to free them from
their fear.
Q2. How did the Champaran peasants react when they heard that
a Mahatma had come to help them?
Ans. When the Champaran peasants learned that a Mahatma had
arrived to assist them, a large crowd gathered in Motihari. Thousands
of peasants demonstrated outside the courthouse where Gandhiji was
scheduled to appear. The crowd was so unruly that the officials felt
powerless, and Gandhiji himself assisted the authorities in keeping the
crowd under control.
Q3. Why did Gandhiji object to CF Andrews’ stay in Champaran?
Ans. CF Andrews, an English pacifist, was a devoted Gandhiji follower.
The lawyers believed that Andrews, as an Englishman, could be of
great assistance to them in their battle of Champaran. Gandhiji, on the
other hand, was opposed because he believed that enlisting the
assistance of an Englishman demonstrated weakness. Their cause was
just, and they needed to win by relying on themselves. This would
enable them to be self-sufficient.
Q4. Why do you think Gandhi considered the Champaran episode
to be a turning point in his life?
Ans. The Champaran incident began as an attempt to relieve the
suffering of poor peasants. It was ultimately a watershed moment in
Gandhiji’s life because it was a loud proclamation that made the
British realize Gandhiji could not be ordered around in his own
country. It instilled in the masses the courage to question British
authority and laid the groundwork for non-cooperation as a new tool
for fighting the British tooth and nail.
Q5. Why do you think the servants thought Gandhi to be another
peasant?
Ans. Rajkumar Shukla, the servants knew, was a poor farmer who
pestered their master to help the indigo sharecroppers. They mistook
Gandhiji for a peasant because he accompanied Shukla and was
dressed simply. Gandhiji’s modesty and lack of assertiveness led to the
misconception that he was a peasant.
Q6. The peasants were themselves the most crucial agents in the
success of the Champaran Civil Disobedience. Expand.
Ans. The peasants played a critical role in the Champaran Civil
Disobedience’s victory. This is because the movement would have been
a disaster if they had not stood up to Gandhiji and trusted him.
Gandhiji could not have won Champaran by himself; the peasants were
the movement’s supporters.
Q7. Gandhi makes it clear that money and finance are a secondary
aspect of the struggle in Champaran. Comment on the aspect that
you think was most important for Gandhi.
Ans. Gandhiji’s perseverance, determination, and resolve led to his
success in Champaran. He went to Champaran at the request of an
illiterate peasant, where he listened to sharecroppers’ grievances and
launched the Civil Disobedience Movement. He was victorious, and the
landlords relinquished their claims to their estates, which were
returned to the farmers. They gained courage and realized that they,
too, could defend themselves. The landlords were forced to give up
some of their money and prestige. As a result, Gandhiji broke the
impasse between farmers and landlords.
Q8. Gandhi was a lawyer himself. Examine how his professional
expertise helped in Champaran.
Ans.Terrorized peasants had no voice and no recourse in court against
the landlords’ unfair dealings. When Gandhiji arrived on the scene, he
assessed the situation and declared that there was no point in
engaging in litigation because law courts would be unable to provide
justice to the peasants. He felt it was necessary to teach these
oppressed farmers how to be brave. He realized that they would never
feel relieved until and unless they got over their fear of the Britishers.
As a result, he prioritized peasant empowerment and empowerment
over legal battles for them.
Q9. Explain the possible reasons for Gandhi’s quick popularity
among the peasants of Champaran. (CBSE QB,2021)
Ans. Gandhiji stayed in Champaran after his victory. During his stay,
he realized that the Champaran people were culturally and socially
backward, so he decided to work on this front as well. He decided to
open primary schools and teach the people of Champaran about
personal hygiene, community cleanliness, and other topics. Kasturba
Gandhi, Gandhi’s wife, joined him in this movement. Gandhiji’s ascetic
lifestyle, as well as his use of the dhoti and charkha, contributed to his
popularity among peasants. Thus, through his firm determination and
consistent efforts, he was able to effect change in the lives of ordinary
people.
Q10. “The battle of Champaran is won!.” What led Gandhiji to
make this remark?
OR
When Gandhi got the whole hearted support of the lawyers, he
said, „The battle of Champaran is won‟. What was the essence
behind his statement?
Ans. If Gandhiji was arrested, the lawyers first decided to return home.
But they quickly realized their error. When they declared that they
would fight for the peasants’ cause if Gandhiji was arrested and
volunteered to go to court for the sharecroppers’ cause, Gandhiji was
overjoyed and exclaimed, “The battle of Champaran is won!”
Q11. As the host of a talk show, introduce Rajkumar Shukla to the
audience by stating any two of his defining qualities. You may
begin your answer like this: Meet Rajkumar Shukla, the man who
played a pivotal role in the Champaran Movement. He ……
Ans. Meet Rajkumar Shukla, an important figure in the Champaran
Movement. He was determined to meet Gandhiji and protest the
injustice of the landlord system in Bihar. His persistence persuaded
Gandhiji to look into the matter and resolve the sharecroppers’ issue.
Q1. Biographies include features of non-fiction texts – factual
information and different text structures such as description,
sequence, comparison, cause and effect, or problem and solution.
Examine Indigo in the light of this statement, in about 120-150
words.
Ans. The story is based on an interview with Mahatma Gandhi
conducted by Louis Fischer. In order to write about him, he went to his
ashram, Sevagram, in 1942, and was told about Gandhiji’s Indigo
Movement. The plot revolves around Gandhi and other prominent
leaders’ struggle to protect sharecroppers from landlord atrocities.
Indigo, as a biography excerpt, contains elements of both fiction and
nonfiction texts. The facts and information are described in this
chapter. It also has a text structure that is appropriate for nonfiction.
The facts are from the pre-independence era of history. The
Champaran incident was a significant part of the freedom struggle.This
factual information is beautifully described while keeping the sequence
of events in mind. The issue of sharecroppers is accurately depicted.
Gandhi took up the Champaran farmers’ case after determining that
their cause was just. He then used the principle of civil disobedience to
defy British orders to restrain him politely. This incident influenced
Gandhi, who decided that the British should leave India. The
Champaran case’s victory fueled the Civil Disobedience Movement. As
a result, everything described in the chapter is true.
Q2. How did Gandhiji succeed in getting justice for the Indigo
sharecroppers?
Ans. Gandhiji stayed in Muzaffarpur, where he met with lawyers and
concluded that fighting through the courts would not solve the problem
of Champaran’s poor sharecroppers. He declared that the greatest
relief for them would be to be free of fear. He arrived in Champaran
with this intention and contacted the Secretary of the British
Landlords Association. The Secretary flatly refused to give him any
information. Following this, Gandhiji met with the Commissioner of the
Tirhut division, who served him with a notice to leave Tirhut
immediately. Gandhiji signed the notice and wrote on it that he would
not obey the order. He was even willing to go to jail for the sake of the
peasants’ cause.
Following four rounds of negotiations with the Governor, an official
commission of inquiry was formed, with Gandhiji appointed as the sole
representative of the peasants. Through this commission, Gandhiji was
able to obtain from British landowners 25% of the compensation award
for poor sharecroppers. The peasants realized they had rights and
advocates. They gained courage.
Q3. How did the court scene at Motihari change the course of
India’s struggle for freedom?
Ans. The peasants in Champaran were terrified of the British
government. The problem was caused by indigo and the landlords’
greed. They had forced the tenants to plant indigo on 15% of their land
and hand over the entire harvest to the landlords. The landlords were
ready to release the above condition when synthetic indigo arrived.
They demanded compensation, unaware of the consequences, and the
peasants agreed.When the peasants learned about synthetic indigo,
they demanded their money back. Thugs were hired by the British to
oppose them. Gandhiji realized that lawyers were unnecessary. He
realized that releasing them from their fear would be difficult due to
their lack of education.
He did, however, champion their cause with his tenacity. He soon
became the leader of a nonviolent and Satyagraha movement. Many
farmers gathered outside the courtroom where Gandhiji had been
summoned. The British felt challenged as a result of this. Champaran
sharecroppers came barefoot to see Gandhiji. Lawyers from
Muzzaffarpur also contacted him. He explained that what he had done
was nothing out of the ordinary. He’d simply informed the Britishe that
he couldn’t be ordered in his own country. Gandhiji attempted to
create new free Indians capable of standing on their own.
This new realization provided him with a direction to lead the freedom
struggle and thus proved to be a turning point in India’s struggle for
independence.
Q4. Imagine Gandhi were to deliver a speech to students in
present day India showing them the path to becoming responsible
world leaders. Based on your understanding of Gandhi’s own
leadership skills, write a speech, as Gandhi, addressing the
students about the qualities that every leader and politician
should nurture. (CBSE QB,2021)
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……………(continue)………….
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 call you to “Be Fearless”. I understand the
feelings and sympathies of youth and have designated you as agents of
social change. Only spiritual and ethical values, I believe, can bring
about social change. I want today’s youth and students to be the
means to form idealistic thoughts. I encourage your minds about self-
reliance as a critical requirement for success, I am open-minded and
want all young people to be the same.
I insist on being religiously tolerant of all faiths. As a life mantra, I
emphasize simplicity, kindness, truth, and nonviolence. These are the
most important things for you to learn and follow as students.
Furthermore, I want today’s youth to adhere to moral values. I hope
that Indian youth will follow my ideals in order to lead a peaceful India.
Thank you.
Q5. Let us assume it was Rajendra Prasad who informed Charles
Freer Andrews of Gandhi’s decision and the reasons for other
leaders’ support of him. Thinking creatively of how Andrews would
have responded and pen down the discussion you think would
have taken place between Rajendra Prasad and Andrews.(CBSE
QB,2021)
Ans. Charles Freer Andrews, an English pacifist who had become a
devoted follower of Gandhi, came to bid Gandhi farewell before
departing for a tour of duty in the Fiji Islands early in the Champaran
action. Gandhi’s legal associates thought Andrews should stay in
Champaran and assist them. Andrews agreed if Gandhi agreed.
Gandhi, on the other hand, was vehemently opposed. “You think that
having an Englishman on our side would be beneficial in this unequal
fight,” he said. This demonstrates your heart’s weakness. The cause is
just, and you must rely on yourself to prevail. “And we had no reply…
Gandhi taught us a lesson in self-reliance in this way,” Rajendra
Prasad says.
“I understand your point, Mr. Prasad,” Andrews said. “Gandhi’s politics
were intertwined with the daily lives of millions of Indians. This was
not devotion to abstractions. It was a devotion to living humans.
Gandhi attempted to shape a new free Indian who could stand on his
own two feet and thus free India in everything he did “He stated.
“To obtain justice for oppressed people, persuasive argumentation and
negotiation are required. A good leader should have a magnetic
personality and strong persuasive abilities. He had the ability to attract
people of all social classes to himself “Rajendra Prasad stated.
“To emerge as a champion of the oppressed and downtrodden, rural
upliftment should be prioritized. Gandhi performs humanitarian and
national service in obedience to our higher law, the voice of conscience.
As a result, he comes across as polite and friendly “Andrews stated.
“His ability to read people’s minds renders them speechless. He
believes in self-sufficiency, just cause, and the purity of means to
achieve success and triumph over evil!” Rajendra Prasad exclaimed.
Q6. Why is the Champaran episode considered to be the beginning
of the Indian struggle for independence? (All India 2014 Modified)
Ans. The Champaran episode was a pivotal moment in the
independence struggle. Gandhiji decided to urge the British to leave
India during the course of this small but significant movement.
A close examination of the Champaran peasants’ problems opened
Gandhiji’s eyes to the British’s unjust policies. He realized that people
had to be free of fear before they could be free of foreign oppression.
The people’s spontaneous demonstration demonstrated that Gandhiji
had the nation’s support in his fight against the British. It also instilled
patriotism in the hearts of Indians. During the freedom movement, the
victory of civil disobedience at Champaran motivated the large-scale
launch of the movement. Gandhiji’s victory in the sharecroppers’ case
demonstrated that British authority could be challenged. As a result,
the Champaran incident served as a stepping stone in India’s struggle
for independence.
Q7. The Champaran episode was a turning point in Gandhiji’s life.
Elucidate.
Ans. Gandhiji himself acknowledged that the Champaran incident was
a watershed moment in his life. It was then that he decided to urge the
British to leave India.
In fact, the Champaran episode was India’s first instance of civil
disobedience. On his way to Champaran, Gandhiji stopped in
Muzaffarpur and met the lawyers who were fighting cases for
sharecroppers. Gandhiji concluded that law courts were useless
because the peasants were crushed and terrified. The greatest relief for
them was being free of fear. The peasants’ spontaneous demonstration
demonstrated that they had been instilled with new strength and
spirit. With Satyagraha,Gandhiji demonstrated to the poor peasants
how to fight the British. He made them realize their own power as well
as the power of ahimsa.
All of this laid the groundwork for his future movements and served as
a source of inspiration and strength for all Indians.
Q8. Give an account of Gandhiji’s efforts to secure justice for the
poor indigo sharecroppers of Champaran.
Ans. During his journey to Champaran with Rajkumar Shukla,
Gandhiji stayed in Muzaffarpur, where he met lawyers and concluded
that fighting through the courts would not solve the problem of
Champaran’s poor sharecroppers. He declared that the greatest relief
for them would be to be free of fear.
He arrived in Champaran with this intention and contacted the
Secretary of the British Landlords Association. The Secretary flatly
refused to give him any information. Following this, Gandhiji met with
the Commissioner of the Tirhut division, who served him with a notice
to leave Tirhut immediately.
Gandhiji signed the notice and wrote on it that he would not obey the
order. He was even willing to go to jail for the sake of the peasants’
cause.
Following four rounds of negotiations with the Governor, an official
commission of inquiry was formed, with Gandhiji appointed as the sole
representative of the peasants.
Through this commission, Gandhiji was able to obtain from British
landowners 25% of the compensation award for poor sharecroppers.
Q9. Describe how, according to Louis Fischer, Gandhiji succeeded
in his Champaran campaign.
Ans. The Champaran campaign sought to liberate the poor peasants of
Champaran from British injustice and exploitation. Gandhiji was
successful in this campaign by employing his satyagraha and
nonviolent tactics. He went to Muzaffarpur to learn everything he could
about the sharecroppers’ current situation. He first approached the
relevant authorities, but when no response was forthcoming, he
organized a mass civil disobedience movement with the support of the
peasants.
Gandhiji’s main goal was to remove the fear of British landlords from
the hearts of the poor peasants and create a new free Indian who could
participate in the country’s freedom movement.He educated the
peasants on their rights and instilled in them newfound confidence in
fighting their own battles. He also taught them to be self-sufficient by
refusing to accept assistance from his English friend, CF Andrews.
Q10. Gandhiji’s loyalty was not a loyalty to abstractions; it was a
loyalty to living human beings. Why did Gandhiji continue his stay
in Champaran even after indigo sharecropping disappeared?
Ans. Gandhiji remained in the region after the Champaran battle was
won and the land was returned to the peasants. His loyalty was
towards the living human beings, and he realized that much needed to
be done for the upliftment of the peasants in Champaran’s villages.
Gandhiji took the initiative and began working to eliminate their
cultural and social backwardness. Primary schools were established to
educate poor peasants and their children. Gandhiji made an appeal to
teachers, and many of his followers, including his wife and son,
volunteered for the job.
The area’s health conditions were also deplorable. Gandhiji persuaded
a doctor to volunteer his services for six months.
All of this demonstrates that Gandhiji’s loyalty was not to abstractions,
but was always intertwined with the practical day-to-day problems of
millions.