5 INDIGO Long n Short
Content
INDIGO
(Q.) Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being ‘res lu!e"# ($ %arks) (&ns)
Rajkumar Shukla was a man with a strong will power and determination. He had come all the way from Champaran district to Lucknow to speak to Gandhiji. He accompanied Gandhiji e erywhere! e en to the ashram near "hmeda#ad. $or weeks he ne er left Gandhiji%s side till he asked him to meet him at Calcutta. (Q.) Why d y u !hink !he ser'an!s !h ugh! Gandhiji ! be an !her (easan!#
($ %arks) (&ns)
Shukla took Gandhiji to Rajendra &rasad%s house as a poor yeoman. Gandhi was dressed in a simple dhoti and was accompanying a poor peasant. Hence the ser ants mistook him to #e a peasant. (Q.) )is! !he (laces !ha! Gandhi 'isi!ed be!*een his +irs! mee!ing *i!h Shukla and his arri'al a! ,ham(aran.
($ %arks) (&ns)
Gandhi first met Shukla at Lucknow. 'hen he was in Cawnpore and other parts of (ndia. He returned to his ashram near "hmeda#ad. Later he isited Calcutta! &atna and )u*affarpur #efore arri ing at Champaran. (Q.) Wha! did !he (easan!s (ay ! !he -ri!ish landl rds as ren!# Wha! did !he -ri!ish n * *an! ins!ead and *hy# Wha! * uld be !he im(ac! + syn!he!ic indig n !he (rices + na!ural indig #
($ %arks) (&ns)
'he peasants used to pay indigo as rent to the +ritish landlords. Germany had now de eloped synthetic indigo. So the +ritish landlords wanted money as compensation for #eing released from natural arrangement. 'he prices of natural (ndigo would go down due to the synthetic indigo. (Q.) .he e'en!s + !his (ar! + !he !e/! illus!ra!e Gandhi"s me!h d + * rking. ,an y u iden!i+y s me ins!ances + !his me!h d and link !hem ! his ideas + Sa!yagraha and n n0'i lence#
($ %arks) (&ns)
Gandhiji opposed unjust laws. His politics was intermingled with the day to day pro#lems of millions of (ndians. He was willing to oppose the unjust laws and go to jail. 'he famous ,andi )arch is an e-ample of his law.#reaking action. He #roke the salt law. His diso#edience was always peaceful and a fight for truth and justice. 'his had a direct link to his ideas of Satyagraha and non. iolence.
(Q.) Why did Gandhi agree ! ($ %arks) (&ns)
a se!!lemen! + $1 (ercen! re+und ! !he +armers#
$or Gandhi the amount of the refund was less important than the fact that the landlords had #een forced to return part of the money and with it! part of their prestige. So he agreed to the settlement of /0 percent refund to the farmers. (Q.) 2 * did !he e(is de change !he (ligh! + !he (easan!s#
($ %arks) (&ns)
'he peasants were sa ed from spending time and money on court cases. "fter some years the +ritish planters ga e up control of their estates.1henthese re erted to the peasants! indigo sharecropping disappeared. (Q.) Why d y u !hink Gandhi c nsidered !he ,ham(aran e(is de ! be a !urning
( in! in his li+e#
($ %arks) (&ns)
'he Champaran episode #egan as an attempt to ease the sufferings of large num#er of poor peasants. He got the whole hearted support of thousands of people. Gandhiji admitted that he had done a ery ordinary thing. He declared that the +ritish could not order him a#out in his own country. Hence he considered the Champaran episode as a turning point in his life. (Q.) 2 * *as Gandhi able ! in+luence la*yers# Gi'e ins!ances.
($ %arks) (&ns)
Gandhi asked the lawyers what they would do if he was sentenced to prison. 'hey said that they had come to ad ise him. (f he went to jail! they would return. 'hen Gandhi asked them a#out the injustice to the sharecroppers. 'he lawyers held consultations. 'hey concluded that it would #e a shameful desertion if they returned home. So they told Gandhi that they were ready to follow him into jail. (Q.) Wha! *as !he a!!i!ude + !he a'erage Indian in smaller l cali!ies ! *ards ad' ca!es + ‘h me rule"#
($ %arks) (&ns)
'he a erage (ndians in smaller localities were afraid to show sympathy for the ad ocates of home.rule. Gandhi stayed at )u*affarpur for two days in the home of professor )alkani! a teacher in a go ernment school. (t was an e-traordinary thing in those days for a go ernment professor to gi e shelter to one who opposed the go ernment. (Q.) 2 * did !he de'el (men! + syn!he!ic indig a++ec! !he 3nglish es!a!e *ners#
($ %arks) (&ns)
)ost of the ara#le land in Champaran #elonged to the 2nglish landlords who had signed a long term contract with the peasants. 'he farmers planted 304 of their holdings with indigo and surrendered it as rent. 1ith the de elopment of synthetic indigo! its culti ation was no longer profita#le. 'he landlords wanted to release the peasants of the contract and take money from them as compensation. (Q.) Why did Gandhi mee! !he Secre!ary + !he -ri!ish landl rds ass cia!i n n arri'ing in ,ham(aran# Wha! *as !he secre!ary"s res( nse#
($ %arks) (&ns)
1hen Gandhi arri ed in Champaran! he first set out to ascertain the facts. He wanted the iewpoints of the landlords and the peasants. He isited the secretary of the +ritish Landlords "ssociation to get to know their point of iews. 'he secretary told him that he could gi e no information to an outsider. Gandhi%s efforts pro ed futile. (Q.) Why did Gandhi mee! !he -ri!ish ++icial c mmissi ner + !he .irhu! di'isi n#
($ %arks) (&ns)
'o understand the situation at Champaran! Gandhi wanted the iewpoints of the landlords and the peasants. 'he secretary of the +ritish landlords association refused to impart any information. Gandhi! then! called on the +ritish official commissioner of the 'irhut di ision. 'he commissioner #ullied Gandhi and ad ised him to lea e 'irhut. (Q.) Wha! *as !he c n+lic! + du!ies in *hich Gandhi *as in' l'ed#
($ %arks) (&ns)
(n court! Gandhi pleaded guilty for ha ing diso#eyed the official notice to 5uit Champaran. He read out a statement claiming he was in ol ed in a conflict of duties. He clarified that he diso#eyed not to #reak law and set a #ad e-ample #ut to render the humanitarian and national ser ices for which he had come to Champaran. (Q.) Why did Gandhi s!ay n in ,ham(aran e'en a+!er !he sharecr ((er"s (r blems *ere s l'ed#
($ %arks)
(&ns)
Gandhi aimed at impro ing Champaran culturally and socially. 'he pro#lems were many. Health conditions were misera#le. 'here was po erty! illiteracy and lack of sanitation. So he stayed on e en after the sharecropper%s pro#lems were sol ed. (Q.) 2 * did Gandhi !each his + ll *ers a less n in sel+ reliance#
($ %arks) (&ns)
Charles $reer "ndrews! the 2nglish pacifist and follower of Gandhi came to #id him farewell. Gandhi%s lawyer friends asked "ndrews to stay on and support them. Gandhi ehemently opposed the suggestion and asked them to face the crisis independently. (f their cause was just! Gandhi said! they would win the #attle #y relying on themsel es. (Q.) ,i'il dis bedience had !rium(hed !he +irs! !ime in m dern India. Rela!e !he e'en!s during Gandhi"s s!ay in ,ham(aran !ha! led ! !he !rium(h.
($ %arks) (&ns)
Gandhi isited Champaran to look into the pro#lems of the poor peasants. "t )otihari! he was greeted #y thousands of peasants. 'his was the #eginning of the peasant li#eration from fear of the +ritish. " peasant had #een maltreated in a near#y illage. Gandhi set out to see him. 'he police superintendent%s messenger o ertook him and ordered him to return. Gandhi complied. "t home! he was ser ed an official notice to 5uit Champaran. Gandhi signed the receipt and wrote on it that he would diso#ey the order. 'his was the #eginning of Ci il diso#edience. Gandhi recei ed summons to appear in court the ne-t day. 'he peasants thronged the courtroom. 'hey wanted to help the 6)ahatma% who was in trou#le with the authorities for trying to help them. 'he officials were powerless. Gandhi helped them regulate the crowd. 'his #affled the officials. 'he magistrate postponed announcing the sentence #y two hours and asked Gandhi to furnish #ail. Gandhi declined. 'he judge released him without #ail. 'he judge said he would not deli er the judgment for se eral days. Later! the case was dropped #y the Lt. Go ernor himself. Ci il diso#edience had triumphed. (Q.) Why did Gandhi c nsider +reed m +r m +ear m re im( r!an! !han legal jus!ice + r !he ( r (easan!s + ,ham(aran#
(45 %arks) (&ns)
'he poor peasants were ruthlessly e-ploited #y the landlords of Champaran. Germany had de eloped synthetic indigo which resulted in a steep fall in indigo prices. 'he landlords had a long term contract #y which peasants grew indigo in 304 land and handed it o er as rent. 'he landlords no longer needed indigo and ery cle erly wished to gi e up this arrangement for compensation. 1hen the news of synthetic indigo reached the peasants! they demanded their money #ack and engaged lawyers to fight their #attles. 'here was no respite for the farmers under the unjust system. 1hen Gandhi came to Champaran! he realised that the fear stricken peasants got no help from courts. 'he real relief for them was to #e free from fear of the +ritish. Gandhi was summoned to appear in court for ha ing refused the official notice to 5uit Champaran. 'he news of Gandhi #eing in trou#le with the authorities spread fast. 'he peasants gathered in thousands around the court house. 'hey shook off their fear and held demonstrations. 'he officials were #affled and helpless. 'his oluntary uprising of the peasants was their li#eration from fear. $or them! the +ritish power was no longer unchallengea#le. 'his was made important than legal justice as re ealed in the future e ents. (Q.) Wha! idea d y u ge! ab u! Gandhiji +r m !he ,ha(!er ‘Indig "#
(45 %arks) (&ns)
'he chapter 6(ndigo% highlights the greatness of Gandhiji who was simple! unassuming and yet a force to #e reckoned with. His humility is re ealed #y his comment on the ictory of
ci il diso#edience 61hat ( did was a ery ordinary thing%. He was mistaken as a peasant #y ,r. Rajendra7s ser ant. "t the same time! Gandhi was firm and resolute. He faced the officials and with con iction disregarded the orders to lea e Champaran. 'he case against him had to #e dropped. He fearlessly faced four protracted inter iews with the Lt. Go ernor for the justice of the indigo sharecroppers. 2 en though he was the sole representati e of the peasants! he pro ed his point. He #roke the deadlock settling for only /04 refund. He was wise and judicious. He agreed #ecause the refund instilled courage in the peasants as the landlords were o#liged to surrender part of their money and prestige. Gandhi demonstrated #y his actions an important lesson of self reliance in the freedom struggle. He refused the help of )r. "ndrews and claimed that if the cause was just one must rely on oneself.
(Q.) Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being ‘res lu!e"# ($ %arks) (&ns)
Rajkumar Shukla was a man with a strong will power and determination. He had come all the way from Champaran district to Lucknow to speak to Gandhiji. He accompanied Gandhiji e erywhere! e en to the ashram near "hmeda#ad. $or weeks he ne er left Gandhiji%s side till he asked him to meet him at Calcutta. (Q.) Why d y u !hink !he ser'an!s !h ugh! Gandhiji ! be an !her (easan!#
($ %arks) (&ns)
Shukla took Gandhiji to Rajendra &rasad%s house as a poor yeoman. Gandhi was dressed in a simple dhoti and was accompanying a poor peasant. Hence the ser ants mistook him to #e a peasant. (Q.) )is! !he (laces !ha! Gandhi 'isi!ed be!*een his +irs! mee!ing *i!h Shukla and his arri'al a! ,ham(aran.
($ %arks) (&ns)
Gandhi first met Shukla at Lucknow. 'hen he was in Cawnpore and other parts of (ndia. He returned to his ashram near "hmeda#ad. Later he isited Calcutta! &atna and )u*affarpur #efore arri ing at Champaran. (Q.) Wha! did !he (easan!s (ay ! !he -ri!ish landl rds as ren!# Wha! did !he -ri!ish n * *an! ins!ead and *hy# Wha! * uld be !he im(ac! + syn!he!ic indig n !he (rices + na!ural indig #
($ %arks) (&ns)
'he peasants used to pay indigo as rent to the +ritish landlords. Germany had now de eloped synthetic indigo. So the +ritish landlords wanted money as compensation for #eing released from natural arrangement. 'he prices of natural (ndigo would go down due to the synthetic indigo. (Q.) .he e'en!s + !his (ar! + !he !e/! illus!ra!e Gandhi"s me!h d + * rking. ,an y u iden!i+y s me ins!ances + !his me!h d and link !hem ! his ideas + Sa!yagraha and n n0'i lence#
($ %arks) (&ns)
Gandhiji opposed unjust laws. His politics was intermingled with the day to day pro#lems of millions of (ndians. He was willing to oppose the unjust laws and go to jail. 'he famous ,andi )arch is an e-ample of his law.#reaking action. He #roke the salt law. His diso#edience was always peaceful and a fight for truth and justice. 'his had a direct link to his ideas of Satyagraha and non. iolence.
(Q.) Why did Gandhi agree ! ($ %arks) (&ns)
a se!!lemen! + $1 (ercen! re+und ! !he +armers#
$or Gandhi the amount of the refund was less important than the fact that the landlords had #een forced to return part of the money and with it! part of their prestige. So he agreed to the settlement of /0 percent refund to the farmers. (Q.) 2 * did !he e(is de change !he (ligh! + !he (easan!s#
($ %arks) (&ns)
'he peasants were sa ed from spending time and money on court cases. "fter some years the +ritish planters ga e up control of their estates.1henthese re erted to the peasants! indigo sharecropping disappeared. (Q.) Why d y u !hink Gandhi c nsidered !he ,ham(aran e(is de ! be a !urning
( in! in his li+e#
($ %arks) (&ns)
'he Champaran episode #egan as an attempt to ease the sufferings of large num#er of poor peasants. He got the whole hearted support of thousands of people. Gandhiji admitted that he had done a ery ordinary thing. He declared that the +ritish could not order him a#out in his own country. Hence he considered the Champaran episode as a turning point in his life. (Q.) 2 * *as Gandhi able ! in+luence la*yers# Gi'e ins!ances.
($ %arks) (&ns)
Gandhi asked the lawyers what they would do if he was sentenced to prison. 'hey said that they had come to ad ise him. (f he went to jail! they would return. 'hen Gandhi asked them a#out the injustice to the sharecroppers. 'he lawyers held consultations. 'hey concluded that it would #e a shameful desertion if they returned home. So they told Gandhi that they were ready to follow him into jail. (Q.) Wha! *as !he a!!i!ude + !he a'erage Indian in smaller l cali!ies ! *ards ad' ca!es + ‘h me rule"#
($ %arks) (&ns)
'he a erage (ndians in smaller localities were afraid to show sympathy for the ad ocates of home.rule. Gandhi stayed at )u*affarpur for two days in the home of professor )alkani! a teacher in a go ernment school. (t was an e-traordinary thing in those days for a go ernment professor to gi e shelter to one who opposed the go ernment. (Q.) 2 * did !he de'el (men! + syn!he!ic indig a++ec! !he 3nglish es!a!e *ners#
($ %arks) (&ns)
)ost of the ara#le land in Champaran #elonged to the 2nglish landlords who had signed a long term contract with the peasants. 'he farmers planted 304 of their holdings with indigo and surrendered it as rent. 1ith the de elopment of synthetic indigo! its culti ation was no longer profita#le. 'he landlords wanted to release the peasants of the contract and take money from them as compensation. (Q.) Why did Gandhi mee! !he Secre!ary + !he -ri!ish landl rds ass cia!i n n arri'ing in ,ham(aran# Wha! *as !he secre!ary"s res( nse#
($ %arks) (&ns)
1hen Gandhi arri ed in Champaran! he first set out to ascertain the facts. He wanted the iewpoints of the landlords and the peasants. He isited the secretary of the +ritish Landlords "ssociation to get to know their point of iews. 'he secretary told him that he could gi e no information to an outsider. Gandhi%s efforts pro ed futile. (Q.) Why did Gandhi mee! !he -ri!ish ++icial c mmissi ner + !he .irhu! di'isi n#
($ %arks) (&ns)
'o understand the situation at Champaran! Gandhi wanted the iewpoints of the landlords and the peasants. 'he secretary of the +ritish landlords association refused to impart any information. Gandhi! then! called on the +ritish official commissioner of the 'irhut di ision. 'he commissioner #ullied Gandhi and ad ised him to lea e 'irhut. (Q.) Wha! *as !he c n+lic! + du!ies in *hich Gandhi *as in' l'ed#
($ %arks) (&ns)
(n court! Gandhi pleaded guilty for ha ing diso#eyed the official notice to 5uit Champaran. He read out a statement claiming he was in ol ed in a conflict of duties. He clarified that he diso#eyed not to #reak law and set a #ad e-ample #ut to render the humanitarian and national ser ices for which he had come to Champaran. (Q.) Why did Gandhi s!ay n in ,ham(aran e'en a+!er !he sharecr ((er"s (r blems *ere s l'ed#
($ %arks)
(&ns)
Gandhi aimed at impro ing Champaran culturally and socially. 'he pro#lems were many. Health conditions were misera#le. 'here was po erty! illiteracy and lack of sanitation. So he stayed on e en after the sharecropper%s pro#lems were sol ed. (Q.) 2 * did Gandhi !each his + ll *ers a less n in sel+ reliance#
($ %arks) (&ns)
Charles $reer "ndrews! the 2nglish pacifist and follower of Gandhi came to #id him farewell. Gandhi%s lawyer friends asked "ndrews to stay on and support them. Gandhi ehemently opposed the suggestion and asked them to face the crisis independently. (f their cause was just! Gandhi said! they would win the #attle #y relying on themsel es. (Q.) ,i'il dis bedience had !rium(hed !he +irs! !ime in m dern India. Rela!e !he e'en!s during Gandhi"s s!ay in ,ham(aran !ha! led ! !he !rium(h.
($ %arks) (&ns)
Gandhi isited Champaran to look into the pro#lems of the poor peasants. "t )otihari! he was greeted #y thousands of peasants. 'his was the #eginning of the peasant li#eration from fear of the +ritish. " peasant had #een maltreated in a near#y illage. Gandhi set out to see him. 'he police superintendent%s messenger o ertook him and ordered him to return. Gandhi complied. "t home! he was ser ed an official notice to 5uit Champaran. Gandhi signed the receipt and wrote on it that he would diso#ey the order. 'his was the #eginning of Ci il diso#edience. Gandhi recei ed summons to appear in court the ne-t day. 'he peasants thronged the courtroom. 'hey wanted to help the 6)ahatma% who was in trou#le with the authorities for trying to help them. 'he officials were powerless. Gandhi helped them regulate the crowd. 'his #affled the officials. 'he magistrate postponed announcing the sentence #y two hours and asked Gandhi to furnish #ail. Gandhi declined. 'he judge released him without #ail. 'he judge said he would not deli er the judgment for se eral days. Later! the case was dropped #y the Lt. Go ernor himself. Ci il diso#edience had triumphed. (Q.) Why did Gandhi c nsider +reed m +r m +ear m re im( r!an! !han legal jus!ice + r !he ( r (easan!s + ,ham(aran#
(45 %arks) (&ns)
'he poor peasants were ruthlessly e-ploited #y the landlords of Champaran. Germany had de eloped synthetic indigo which resulted in a steep fall in indigo prices. 'he landlords had a long term contract #y which peasants grew indigo in 304 land and handed it o er as rent. 'he landlords no longer needed indigo and ery cle erly wished to gi e up this arrangement for compensation. 1hen the news of synthetic indigo reached the peasants! they demanded their money #ack and engaged lawyers to fight their #attles. 'here was no respite for the farmers under the unjust system. 1hen Gandhi came to Champaran! he realised that the fear stricken peasants got no help from courts. 'he real relief for them was to #e free from fear of the +ritish. Gandhi was summoned to appear in court for ha ing refused the official notice to 5uit Champaran. 'he news of Gandhi #eing in trou#le with the authorities spread fast. 'he peasants gathered in thousands around the court house. 'hey shook off their fear and held demonstrations. 'he officials were #affled and helpless. 'his oluntary uprising of the peasants was their li#eration from fear. $or them! the +ritish power was no longer unchallengea#le. 'his was made important than legal justice as re ealed in the future e ents. (Q.) Wha! idea d y u ge! ab u! Gandhiji +r m !he ,ha(!er ‘Indig "#
(45 %arks) (&ns)
'he chapter 6(ndigo% highlights the greatness of Gandhiji who was simple! unassuming and yet a force to #e reckoned with. His humility is re ealed #y his comment on the ictory of
ci il diso#edience 61hat ( did was a ery ordinary thing%. He was mistaken as a peasant #y ,r. Rajendra7s ser ant. "t the same time! Gandhi was firm and resolute. He faced the officials and with con iction disregarded the orders to lea e Champaran. 'he case against him had to #e dropped. He fearlessly faced four protracted inter iews with the Lt. Go ernor for the justice of the indigo sharecroppers. 2 en though he was the sole representati e of the peasants! he pro ed his point. He #roke the deadlock settling for only /04 refund. He was wise and judicious. He agreed #ecause the refund instilled courage in the peasants as the landlords were o#liged to surrender part of their money and prestige. Gandhi demonstrated #y his actions an important lesson of self reliance in the freedom struggle. He refused the help of )r. "ndrews and claimed that if the cause was just one must rely on oneself.
