Indigo [AHSEC Class 12 English Notes for 2025 Exam]

Indigo 

[AHSEC Class 12 English Notes for 2025 Exam] 

About the Author

Louis Fischer was an American journalist and wrote for several American, Asian, and European publications. He wrote many books on the Soviet Union. He was a faculty member at Princeton University. The book, 'The Life of the Mahatma' has been reviewed as one of the best books ever written on Gandhi by Times Educational Supplement.

Brief Summary of the Lesson

The lesson is an excerpt from Louis Fischer's book 'The Life of Mahatma Gandhi.' This extract deals with how Gandhi helped the peasants in Champaran who were exploited by their landlords. The incident shows the triumph of civil disobedience, and it was a turning point in Gandhi's life. After dedicating time and efforts, Gandhi and his associates can get justice for the peasants. He also focuses on education and health concerns in the villages of Champaran. In all that Gandhi did, he tried to mould an Indian, who could stand on his own feet, thus enabling India to be free.

Paragraph wise Summary:

Shukla’s Persistence

Fischer writes about the time when he first visited Gandhi in 1942, at his ashram in Sevagram. Gandhi recounts to him an incident that took place in 1917. This incident prompted him to urge the British to quit India. Gandhi had been attending the annual convention of the Indian National Congress party in Lucknow in December 1916. Rajkumar Shukla, a peasant from Champaran, came to meet him and invited him to visit his district. Shukla was a sharecropper, and he had come to complain about the injustice of the landlord system in Bihar. Gandhi refused to go with him, saying that he had appointments in other parts of the country. Shukla resolutely followed Gandhi everywhere, refusing to take no for an answer. Impressed by his persistence, Gandhi told Shukla to meet him in Calcutta on a particular date, and from there, they could go to Shukla's district.

Arrival at Champaran

At the appointed time, Shukla escorts Gandhi to Patna in Bihar. There they go to the house of a lawyer, Rajendra Prasad. He was out of town, but the servants allowed Shukla to stay on the grounds with his companion. Untouchability was being practiced there. Gandhi decided to go to Muzzafarpur to collect more information about Shukla's problem. He sent a telegram to J. B. Kripalani, of the Arts College in Muzzafarpur. Kripalani was waiting for Gandhi at the station with a large body of students. Gandhi stayed for two days with Professor Malkani, a teacher in a government school. Gandhi's arrival attracted the presence of the sharecroppers and their lawyers. He scolded the lawyers for charging hefty fees from the poor peasants.

Indigo Agreement

Most of the cultivable land in Champaran was owned by Englishmen and worked by Indian tenants. The main crop for commercial purposes was indigo. All tenants were forced by the landlords to cultivate indigo on 15% of the land they worked on and surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent. On knowing that Germany had developed synthetic indigo, the landlords took an undertaking from the tenants to pay them and be released from the 15% arrangement. Most of the tenants signed willingly, and the landlords used force in other cases that did not agree. The peasants got to know about synthetic indigo, and they wanted their money back.

Gandhi’s efforts

On arrival in Champaran, Gandhi tried to get hold of the facts of the case, from official sources. They refused to give him information, bullied him, and asked him to leave the place. Instead of leaving, he proceeded to Motihari, the capital of Champaran, and continued his investigations. News of a peasant in a nearby village being maltreated reached him. He set out on the back of an elephant to see the matter. He was ordered to return to town by the police superintendent's orders, and he obeyed. On reaching home, he was served with an official notice to leave Champaran immediately. He defied the order and was summoned to court the next day. He telegraphed Rajendra Prasad to come from Bihar, sent instructions to the ashram, and wired a full report to the Viceroy.

At the Court

In the morning, Motihari was filled with thousands of peasants demonstrating around the courthouse. The officials could do nothing without Gandhi's cooperation. Here was proof that their might, till now feared and unquestioned, could be challenged by Indians. The trial was postponed as the authorities wished to consult their superiors. Gandhi protested against the delay. He pleaded guilty and said he was involved in a conflict of duties as a lawbreaker on one hand and, on the other hand, to render the humanitarian service for which he had come. He did not leave. The magistrate said that the sentence would be pronounced after a two-hour recess. When the court reconvened, the judge said he would not deliver the judgement for several days. He allowed Gandhi to remain free.

The victory of Civil Disobedience

Several prominent lawyers, including Rajendra Prasad, had come from Bihar. Gandhi asked them about the injustice meted out to the sharecroppers. The lawyers thought that Gandhi being a stranger, was prepared to go to prison for the cause of the sharecroppers. If they, being the residents of nearby districts, deserted the peasants, it would be shameful. They informed Gandhi that they too were ready to face arrest. Gandhi divided the group into pairs and drew up the order in which each pair should seek to be arrested. Several days later, the magistrate wrote to Gandhi, saying that the Lieutenant- Governor had ordered the case to be dropped. Modern India saw the victory of civil disobedience.

Justice for the Sharecroppers

Gandhi and the lawyers now started conducting inquiries into the farmers' complaints. Depositions were written down, notes made, and documents collected. In June, Gandhi was summoned by the Lieutenant Governor. Before leaving, he discussed detailed plans, with his leading associates, for civil disobedience in case he did not return. He had four protracted interviews with the Lieutenant Governor, who appointed an official commission of inquiry into the indigo sharecroppers' situation. Gandhi's casual visit to Champaran saw him in the place for almost a year. The inquiry found evidence against the landlords, and they agreed to refund the peasants. Gandhi asked for 50% of the money to be restored to the peasants. The landlords' representative offered to refund 25%. Gandhi agreed and explained that more than the actual amount, what was more important was that the landlords were forced to refund part of the money and some amount of their prestige too. The poor peasants learned that they too had rights. In a few years, the Britishers abandoned their estates, which went back to the peasants, and indigo sharecropping vanished.

Education and Health Measures

Seeing the cultural and social backwardness in the villages of Champaran, Gandhi wanted to do something about it. He appealed to teachers. Primary schools were opened in six villages. Kasturbaitaught personal cleanliness and community sanity. Since health conditions were not good, Gandhi got a doctor to volunteer for six months. Three medicines were available, castor oil, quinine, and sulphur ointment. Noticing the filthy state of women's clothes, he asked Kasturbai to talk to them.

The Gandhian Way

Even though Gandhi was away from his ashram, for a long time, he kept a watch on it. He sent instructions by mail, asked for accounts, and reminded them of things that needed to be done. What happened at Champaran was a turning point in Gandhi's life. He decided that the British could not order him in his own country. This came out as a result of trying to help the burdened peasants get justice. He was concerned with the practical day to day problems of the millions in the country. He tried to mould a free Indian who could be independent and make India free. Before relief could be acquired in the Champaran case, Charles Andrews, an English pacifist, and a devoted Gandhian was willing to stay in Champaran and help Gandhi. Gandhi said that they should rely on themselves and not use Mr Andrews as a prop. In this way, he taught self-reliance to his associates.

Also Read: English AHSEC Class 12 Chapterwise Notes

Question and Answer

Very Short Answer Type Questions         (1 Mark each)

1. Who is the author of the lesson, ‘Indigo’?

Ans. Louis Fischer is the author of the lesson, ‘Indigo’.

2. Which book by Louis Fischer has been reviewed as one of the best books ever written on Gandhi by Times Educational Supplement?

Ans. The book, ‘The Life of Mahatma Gandhi’ by Louis Fischer has been reviewed as one of the best books ever written on Gandhi by Times Educational Supplement.

3. When did Gandhi decide ‘to urge the departure of the British?

Ans. Gandhi decided to urge the departure of the British in 1917.

4. Who was Rajkumar Shukla?         2012, 2016

Ans. Rajkumar Shukla was a sharecropper from Champaran.

5. Where was Rajkumar Shukla from?

Ans. Rajkumar Shukla was from Champaran, located in the foothills of the Himalayas, near Nepal.

6. What did Shukla want Gandhi to do?          2015

Ans. Rajkumar Shukla wanted Gandhi to visit his district and address the problem faced by the sharecroppers.

7. Where was Champaran?         2014, 2018

Ans. Champaran located in the foothills of the Himalayas, near Nepal.

8. Where did Gandhi and Shukla board a train to?

Ans. Gandhi and Shukla boarded a train to Patna in Bihar.

9. Whom did Gandhi and Shukla want to meet at Patna?         2013

Ans. Gandhi and Shukla wanted to meet a lawyer named Rajendra Prasad at Patna.

10. Where did Gandhi decide to go first from Patna?

Ans. Gandhi decided to go to Muzaffarpur first to get more information about the sharecroppers’ conditions.

11. Which country had developed synthetic indigo?          2019

Ans. Germany had developed synthetic indigo.

12. What was the capital of Champaran?

Ans. Motihari was the capital of Champaran.

13. What happened when Gandhi refused to furnish bail at the Muzaffarpur Court?

Ans. When Gandhi refused to furnish bail at the Muzaffarpur court, the judge released him without bail.

14. Who is Sir Edward Gait?           2012, 2015

Ans. Sir Edward Gait was the Lieutenant Governor of the province who appointed an official commission of inquiry into the indigo sharecroppers' situation.

15. Why was Gandhi visiting Lucknow in 1916?            2013

Ans. Gandhi visited Lucknow in December 1916, for attending the annual convention of the Indian National Congress party.

16. What was Gandhi’s politics intertwined with?     2016

Ans. Gandhi’s politics was intertwined with the practical day to day problems of the millions.

17. Where did Gandhi stay in Muzzafarpur?          2019

Ans. In Muzaffarpur, Gandhi stayed at the residence of Professor Malkani who was a teacher in a Government school.

18. Where and why did Gandhi go to in December 1916?          2020

Ans. Gandhi went to Lucknow in December 1916 to attend the annual convention of the Indian National Congress party.

19. Did Gandhi know about Champaran before he met Shukla?

Ans. Gandhi did not know about Champaran before he met Shukla. He had never heard of that place.

20. What is Sharecropper?

Ans. A sharecropper is a person who enters an agreement with a landowner to farm the land and then pay a portion of the produce as rent. 

21. Why did Shukla come to the Congress session of 1916?

Ans. Shukla had come to the Congress session of 1916 to complain about the injustice of the landlord system in Bihar.

22. Did Gandhi give an immediate audience to Shukla?

Ans. Gandhi did not give an immediate audience to Shukla.

23. For how long did Shukla have to wait before he was able to speak to Gandhi?

Ans. Shukla had to wait several months before speaking to Gandhi.

24. Who did the servants of Rajendra Prasad take Gandhi to be?

Ans. The servants of Rajendra Prasad took Gandhi to be a peasant.

25. When did Gandhi reach Muzaffarpur? How was he greeted at the station?

Ans. Gandhi reached Muzaffarpur at midnight on 25 April 1917. He was greeted at the station by Professor J. B. Kripalani and a large body of students.

26. What, according to Gandhi was the real relief for the peasants?

Ans. According to Gandhi, the real relief for the peasants was to be free from fear.

27. What did Gandhi do when he received an official notice to ‘quit' Champaran?

Ans. When Gandhi received an official notice to ’quit' Champaran, he signed a receipt for the notice and wrote on it that he would disobey the order.

28. Name the persons who came from Bihar to Motihari to help Gandhi.

Ans. Rajendra Prasad, Brij Kishore BabuBabu and Maulana Mazharul Huq came from Bihar to Motihari to help Gandhi.

29. What was the gist of the conversation between Gandhi and the lawyers who wished to return home at the event of Gandhi’s imprisonment?

Ans. The lawyers felt ashamed that Gandhi being a stranger was ready to be imprisoned for the sake of the peasants, while they were the residents of the nearby districts and also claimed to have served the peasants, wanted to go home. They told Gandhi that they were willing to follow him to jail.

30. What were the tree medicines with which Gandhi tried to improve the health conditions of Champaran?

Ans. The tree medicines with which Gandhi tried to improve the health conditions of Champaran were castor oil and quinine.

Answer the following questions : 2 Marks each

1. Who was Rajkumar Shukla? Why was he described as being resolute?

                                          Or

Why was Gandhi impressed with Rajkumar Shukla?

Ans. Rajkumar Shukla was a poor peasant from Champaran. He met Gandhi and requested him to visit his district to address the problem faced by the sharecroppers, working on the estates of the British landlords. Gandhi refused to go as he had appointments in other parts of the country. Shukla was resolute and refused to take no for an answer. He followed Gandhi everywhere for weeks. Gandhi was impressed by Shukla’s persistence and agreed to go with him on a particular date in the future.

2. Why did servants Rajendra Prasad’s house mistake Gandhi to be and why?

                                            Or

Why was Gandhi not allowed to draw water from the well?

Ans. Rajendra Prasad’s servants knew Shukla as a yeoman who urged their master to help the indigo sharecroppers. As Gandhi accompanied him, they thought him to be another farmer. Gandhi was not allowed to draw water from the well, because they were not sure whether he was an untouchable or not. If he was untouchable, the entire water in the well would be defiled. 

3. What was the incident that prompts Gandhi to raise his voice of protest against the British? 2013, 2017

Ans. The incident of indigo sharecroppers at Champaran, suffering injustice at the hands of the British landlords prompted Gandhi to raise his voice of protest against the British. Gandhi got involved in the matter at the persistence of Rajkumar Shukla a peasant from Champaran, who sought his intervention in the matter.

4. Why was Gandhi decided to go to Muzzafarpur first before going to Champaran?   2018

Ans. Gandhi decided to go to Muzaffarpur first before going to Champaran to get more information about the case of the indigo sharecroppers. He did not want to act blindly. He met sharecroppers and the lawyers handling their case and tried to gain a better understanding of the problem.

5. Why did Gandhi chide the lawyers?

Ans. Gandhi chided the lawyers for charging the poor sharecroppers hefty fees. He pointed out that in the event of the peasants being crushed and afraid, courts of law were useless. The real relief for them was to be free from fear.

6. What did the British commissioner of Tirhut division in Champaran district ask Gandhi to do?

Ans. The British commissioner of Tirhut division in Champaran district bullied Gandhi. He also advised him to leave Tirhut immediately.

7. Why was Professor Malkani’s action of offering shelter to Gandhi ‘extraordinary’?     2020

Ans. Professor Malkani’s action of offering shelter to Gandhi was extraordinary because in smaller localities, Indians were afraid of the Britishers and they hesitated to show sympathy for people like Gandhi who advocated Indian rule.

8. Why do you think Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life? 2012

Ans. Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life because his strategy of civil disobedience got immense success and secured a victory for the suppressed peasants. It had begun as an attempt to provide relief to the peasants facing injustice from the landlords. It wiped out the moral fear of the Britishers from the hearts of the simple farmers.

9. Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of 25% refund to the farmers?

                                                   Or

Why did Gandhi agree to the planter’s offer of a 25% refund to the farmers?

Ans. When the landlords agreed to pay a refund of only 25%, they wanted to create a deadlock, which would prolong the dispute. To everybody's surprise, Gandhi accepted the offer. According to him, the amount of refund was less important than the fact that the landlords had been obliged to surrender part of their money and with it, part of their prestige.  The peasants saw that they too had rights and defenders.

10. Why did Rajkumar Shukla want to take Gandhiji to Champaran?

Ans. Rajkumar Shukla had come to the Congress session of 1916 to complain about the injustice of the landlord system in Bihar. He wanted Gandhi to take up the cause of the peasants, for which he required Gandhi to accompany him to Champaran.

11. 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. As rent the peasants paid the British landlords, the entire harvested indigo cultivated on 15% of their holdings. Now the British wanted money instead of the harvested indigo because Germany had developed synthetic indigo. The presence of synthetic indigo had a negative impact on the price of natural indigo. 

12. List the places that he visited between his first meeting with Shukla and his arrival at Champaran.

Ans. After his first meeting with Shukla, Gandhiji did not visit Champaran immediately because he had prior commitments in other parts of the country. He was expected to visit Kanpur after which he returned to his ashram near Ahmadabad. It was only after his visit to Calcutta he was able to attend to the problem highlighted by Shukla. 

13. Why did Gandhiji oppose when his friend Andrews offered to stay in Champaran and help the peasants?

                                                        Or

Why did Gandhiji object to CF Andrews’ stay in Champaran?

Ans. Charles Andrews, English pacifist, and a devoted Gandhian was willing to stay in Champaran and help Gandhi. Gandhi said that they should rely on themselves and not use Mr Andrews as a prop. He said that they were fighting for a just cause and should learn to be self-reliant in fighting the battle.

14. What made the Lieutenant-Governor drop the case against Gandhiji?

Ans. There was massive support for Gandhi when he arrived at the courthouse on having received a summon. There were thousands of peasants outside the courthouse, and the authorities could not regulate the crowd without his cooperation. The pressure of the people was mounting. The judge did not want to aggravate the situation. The massive public outcry made the Lieutenant Governor drop the case against Gandhi. 

15. Why did Gandhi tell the court that he was involved in a 'conflict of duties'?

Ans. Gandhi told the court that he was involved in a 'conflict of duties,' as he was breaking the law (by refusing to comply with the eviction order). However, at the same time, he must also render the humanitarian and national service for which he had come to Champaran.

16. ‘The battle of Champaran is won!’ What led Gandhiji to make this remark?

Ans.When Gandhi was in Motihari, obeying summons by the court there, thousands of peasants showed up outside the courthouse to support him. The British authorities were shaken at this large crowd gathered for Gandhi and could not do anything without his support. Rajendra Prasad and several other lawyers, too, had come there to support him. They assured him that they were ready to follow him to jail. This show of solidarity and unity made Gandhi remark that"The battle of Champaran is won! "

17. Why was the Champaran episode so significant in Gandhi’s life?       2016

Ans. The Champaran episode was very significant in Gandhi’s life because his strategy of civil disobedience got immense success and secured a victory for the suppressed peasants. It had begun as an attempt to provide relief to the peasants facing injustice from the landlords. It was at this point that he declared that the British could not order him about in his own country.

18. How was a solution to the problem of indigo sharecroppers of Champaran found?     2019

Ans. Gandhi's persistent efforts compelled the Lieutenant Governor of the province to set up an inquiry commission to look into the problems of the sharecroppers. The committee found the British landlords to be guilty of fleecing the poor peasants. The landlords were asked to give the money back to the peasants. Gandhi asked that 50% of the money be restored to the sharecroppers after that the planters suggested for 25% to be refunded. Gandhi agreed to this amount and thus a solution was found.

19. Whom did Gandhi send a telegram to in Muzzafarpur?

Ans. Gandhi sent a telegram to Prof. J. B. Kripalani, a professor of the Arts College of Muzzafarpur, whom he had seen at Tagore’s Shantiniketan School. He wished to go to Muzzafarpur to obtain more information about the sharecroppers’ situation than Shukla could provide him.

20. What do you know about the arable lands in the Champaran district?

Ans. Most of the arable land in the Champaran district was owned by Englishmen and worked on by Indian tenants. The landlords forced all tenants to grow indigo on 15% of their holdings and surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent.

21. How did Gandhi prepareed himself after receiving a summon to appear in court?

Ans. Before appearing in court the next day, Gandhi stayed awake the whole night. He telegraphed Rajendra Prasad to come from Bihar with his influential friends. He sent instructions to the ashram. He also wired a full report to the Viceroy.

22. What proved to be the beginning of the liberation of the peasant of Motihari, from fear of the British?

Ans. When Gandhi was summoned to appear in court, thousands of peasants arrived in Motihari. This spontaneous demonstration of the peasants, around the courthouse, proved to be the beginning of the liberation of the peasants of Motihari from fear of the British.

23. What is the ‘concrete proof’ that Gandhi gave to the British to show that they might be challenged by Indians?

Ans. When Gandhi was summoned to appear in court, thousands of peasants arrived in Motihari and demonstrated around the court-house. The officials were powerless in front of such a huge gathering, and they could not do anything without Gandhi's cooperation. He was polite and friendly and helped them to regulate the crowd. This was concrete proof that they could be challenged by Indians.

24. Where and when was the annual convention of the Indian National Congress Party referred to in ‘Indigo’ held?

Ans. The annual convention of the Indian National Congress Party, referred to in 'Indigo', was held in December 1916 in Lucknow. It was attended by 2,301 delegates and many visitors.

25. What did Gandhi tell Rajkumar Shukla?

Ans. Rajkumar Shukla was a poor peasant from Champaran. He met Gandhi and requested him to visit his district to address the problem faced by the sharecroppers, working on the estates of the British landlords. Gandhi told Rajkumar Shukla that he had an appointment in Cawnpore and other parts of India. He was too busy to accompany Shukla to Champaran.

26. What had spread through Muzzafarpur and to Champaran?

Ans. On the persistence of Rajkumar Shukla, Gandhi accompanied him to Champaran. The news of Gandhi’s arrival and the nature of his mission spread through Muzzafarpur and to Champaran.

27. Who was the 'Champion' of the sharecroppers?

Ans. Gandhi was the 'Champion' of the sharecroppers. Sharecroppers looked up to him as their champion as he had taken up their cause and was striving to get justice for them.

28. What did the Muzzafarpur lawyers do?

Ans. The Muzzafarpur lawyers called on Gandhi to brief him about the situation. They had represented the peasants in court, and they told him about their case and how much they charged for the case.

29. Why did Gandhi decide to stop going to law court?

Ans.  Gandhi decided to stop going to law court as it did little good. It was useless to go to court. The peasants were suppressed and afraid. Only freedom from fear would bring them relief.

30. Whom did Gandhi meet after reaching Champaran?

Ans. After arriving in Champaran, Gandhi visited the secretary of the British landlords' association to get information. He was denied to provide any information on the pretext of being an outsider.

31. Whom did Gandhi meet in the Tirhut division of the Champaran district?

Ans. Gandhi met the British official commissioner of the Tirhut division of the Champaran district. The commissioner bullied him and asked him to leave Tirhut.

32. Where did Gandhi proceed from Tirhut?

Ans. From Tirhut Gandhi proceeded to Motihari, the capital of Champaran. He was accompanied by several lawyers and greeted by a vast multitude at the railway station. He went to a house and used it as his headquarters to continue the investigations.

33. What was the sharecropping arrangement drawn up between the landlords and the peasants after the development of synthetic indigo?

Ans. After the development of synthetic indigo, the price of natural indigo was adversely impacted. The British landlords took an undertaking from their Indian tenants to pay them compensation to be released from the 15% arrangement of surrendering the harvested indigo. Most of the tenants signed willingly, and the landlords used force in other cases that did not agree. When the sharecroppers got to know about synthetic indigo, and they protested demanding their money back

Long Answer Type Questions (5 Marks)(80-100 words)

1. 'The battle of Champaran is won,' he exclaimed. Explain the context in which this was said. 2015,2016

Ans. This statement has been taken from the lesson ‘Indigo’ by Louis Fischer. These words are uttered by Gandhi to Rajendra Prasad and the other lawyers.

When Gandhi was in Motihari, obeying summons by the court there, thousands of peasants showed up outside the courthouse to support him. The British authorities were shaken at this large crowd gathered for Gandhi and could not do anything without his support. Rajendra Prasad and several other lawyers, too, had come there to support him. Gandhiji asked the lawyers what they would do if he was arrested. They replied that if he was arrested, they would go back to their homes. Gandhi reminded them of the injustice faced by the sharecroppers. The lawyers thought that Gandhi being a stranger, was so concerned and they, despite being from the nearby district were indifferent. This realization made them ashamed and they assured him that they were ready to follow him to jail. This show of solidarity and unity made Gandhi remark that "The battle of Champaran is won! "

2. “Civil disobedience had triumphed the first time in modern India”. How? Explain with reference to the chapter “Indigo.”

Ans. This statement has been taken from the lesson 'Indigo' by Louis Fischer. When Gandhi was in Motihari, obeying summons by the court there, thousands of peasants showed up outside the courthouse to support him. The British authorities were shaken at this large crowd gathered for Gandhi and could not do anything without his support. Gandhi pleaded guilty and asked for the penalty due. The judge said that he would pass judgement after several days, and till then, Gandhi could remain at liberty. Rajendra Prasad and several other lawyers, too, had come there to support him. He asked them about their plan of action if he faced arrest. They said that if he was arrested, they would go back to their homes. Gandhi reminded them of the injustice faced by the sharecroppers. The lawyers thought that Gandhi being a stranger, was so concerned, and they, despite being from the nearby district were indifferent. This realization made them ashamed, and they assured him that they were ready to follow him to jail.

After several days, Gandhi received a communication from the magistrate that the Lieutenant Governor of the province had ordered the case against Gandhi to be dropped. This was the first triumph of civil disobedience in India.

3. Give an account of the problems faced by the Indigo sharecroppers. What was Gandhiji’s role in solving the problem?

Or

Describe the exploitation of the indigo sharecroppers by the English landlords. Did Gandhi help them to get an honourable statement?         2013 ,2017, 2019

Ans. Most of the cultivable land in Champaran was owned by Englishmen and worked on by Indian tenants. The main crop for commercial purposes was indigo. All tenants were forced by the landlords to cultivate indigo on 15% of the land they worked on and surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent. On knowing that Germany had developed synthetic indigo, the landlords took an undertaking from the tenants to pay them compensation to be released from the 15% arrangement. Most of the tenants signed willingly, and the landlords used force in other cases that did not agree. The peasants got to know about synthetic indigo, and they wanted their money back.

Gandhi came to Champaran at the insistence of Rajkumar Shukla. Gandhi's persistent efforts compelled the Lieutenant Governor of the province to set up an inquiry commission to look into the problems of the sharecroppers. The committee found the British landlords to be guilty of fleecing the poor peasants. The landlords were asked to give the money back to the peasants. Gandhi asked that 50% of the money be restored to the sharecroppers whereupon the planters suggested for 25% to be refunded. Gandhi agreed to this amount, and thus a solution was found. This restored the dignity of the sharecroppers, who finally realized that they, too, had rights and defenders. It also battered the prestige of the British landlords who thought that they could get away with anything.

4. Describe the efforts made by R. K. Shukla to persuade Gandhi to go to Champaran. 2014

Ans. Rajkumar Shukla, a peasant from Champaran met Gandhi at the annual convention of the Indian National Congress Party in Lucknow in December 1916. He had come to complain about the injustice of the landlord system in Bihar. He invited him to visit his district. Gandhi refused to go with him, saying that he had appointments in other parts of the country. Shukla resolutely followed Gandhi everywhere, from Cawnpore to Ahmedabad. He refused to take no for an answer. Impressed by his persistence, Gandhi told Shukla to meet him in Calcutta on a particular date, and from there, they could go to Shukla's district.

5. What was the long term contract between the English landlords and the sharecroppers of Champaran? Why did the sharecroppers protest against this arrangement?

Ans. Most of the cultivable land in Champaran was owned by Englishmen and worked by Indian tenants. The main crop for commercial purposes was indigo. All tenants were forced by the landlords to cultivate indigo on 15% of the land they worked on and surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent. This was done by a long term contract.

On knowing that Germany had developed synthetic indigo, the landlords took an undertaking from the tenants to pay them and be released from the 15% arrangement. Most of the tenants signed willingly, and the landlords used force in other cases that did not agree. When the sharecroppers got to know about synthetic indigo and they protested wanting their money back.

7. Why was the town of Motihari full of peasants in the morning? What was this spontaneous development reflective of?

Ans. The town of Motihari was full of thousands of peasants who had gathered there to express solidarity with Gandhi. Gandhi had been given an official notice to leave Champaran. He defied the order and was summoned to court. This spontaneous demonstration of the peasants, around the courthouse, proved to be the beginning of the liberation of the peasants of Motihari from fear of the British. This was reflective of the fact that the British till now feared and unquestioned could be challenged by Indians.

8. What was the conflict of duties involving Gandhi? Why did the lawyers of Muzaffarpur ultimately decide to join Gandhi?

Ans. Gandhi was involved in a conflict of duties. On one hand, he was a lawbreaker, since he denied the official notice to leave Champaran. On the other hand, he was performing a humanitarian service by fighting for the cause of the sharecroppers.

Rajendra Prasad and several other lawyers, too, had come there to support him. He asked them about their plan of action if he faced arrest. They replied that if he was arrested, they would go back to their homes. Gandhi reminded them of the injustice faced by the sharecroppers. The lawyers thought that Gandhi being a stranger, was so concerned, and they, despite being from the nearby district, were indifferent. This realization made them ashamed, and they assured him that they were ready to follow him to jail. (You can refer the chart in q. no-1 as some points are similar)

9. How did Gandhi teach self-reliance to the people of Champaran?

Ans. Before relief could be acquired in the Champaran case, Charles Andrews, an English pacifist, and a devoted Gandhian was willing to stay in Champaran and help Gandhi. Gandhi said that they should rely on themselves and not use Mr. Andrews as a prop. He said that if they thought that by having an Englishman on their side, it would be helpful, it only reflected the weakness in their heart. When they were fighting for a just cause, they should rely only on themselves to win the battle. In this way, he taught self-reliance to the people in Champaran.

Exam Questions From 2012-2024

1 Marks Questions

        1. Who is Sir Edward Gait?         2012 2015

        2. Who was Rajkumar Shukla?      2012 2016

        3. Where is Champaran situated?      2014 2018

       4. What did Shukla want Gandhi to do?      2015

       5. Who was Rajkumar Shukla?     2012 2016

       6. What was Gandhi’s politics intertwined with?     2016

       7. Whom did Gandhi and Shukla propose to meet at Patna?     2013 2017

       8. Why was Gandhi visiting Lucknow in 1916?     2013 2020

       9. Which country had developed synthetic indigo?      2019

       10. Where did Gandhi stay in Muzzafarpur?      2019

2 Marks Questions:

       1. Why do you think Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life? 2012

      2. What was the incident that prompted Gandhi to raise his voice of protest against the British? 2013, 2017

       3. Why was the Champaran episode so significant in Gandhi’s life? 2012 2016 (Same as q.no 1 above)

       4. Why did Gandhi choose to go to Muzzafarpur first before going on to Champaran?     2018

       5. How was a solution to the problem of indigo sharecroppers of Champaran found?     2019

       6. Why was Professor Malkani’s action of offering shelter to Gandhi ‘extraordinary’?     2020

Long Questions- 5 marks

      1. Describe the efforts made by RK Shukla to persuade Gandhi to go to Champaran.  2014

     2. Describe the exploitation of the indigo sharecroppers by the English landlords. Did Gandhi help them to get an honourable statement?     2013 2017  2019

     3. 'The battle of Champaran is won,' Gandhi exclaimed. Explain the context in which this was said.  2015