INDIGO ___________Louis Fischer
INTRODUCTION -
This chapter is taken from the book -The Life of Mahatma Gandhi, where a true picture of british colonialism and expliotation is found in detail. The place where the episode of sharecropping occcured is Champaran district of Bihar. By the time the british was looting the poor peasants of Bhar in the name of zamindari system and sharecropping, gandhiji was not so much popular in India.He just came back from England after becoming a barrister. However, this chapter gives us a real picture- how Gandhiji defetated the British in Bihar and become a popular freedom fighter across India. Besides this, he worked as an active social worker along with his disciples, wife, son and his followers both Indian and european. Overall, this chapter makes us understand the Gandhian way of fighting for fredom of the country.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Louis Fischer was born in 1896. His birthplace is Philadelphia. He worked in the british army, a journalis and also as a faculty member in Princeton University. He died in 1970.
TEXTUAL QUESTION ANSWERS
(Think as you read)
1.strike out what is not true in the following:-
A.Rajkumar Shukla was:
I) A sharecropper ii) a politician
Iii) delegate iv) a landlord
Ans:- except (i) , all three false
B. Rajkumar Shukla was :
I) poor ii) physically strong
Iii) illiterate.
Ans :ii - not true.
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2. Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being resolute .
Answer- Rajkumar Shukla is described as resolute, because he wanted gandhi to take up the case of the Champaran peasants with a view to getting help. As he wanted gandhi in Champaran, So he accompanied Gandhi until he was free. Finally, being impressed by his tenacity Gandhi agreed and came to Champaran of Bihar with Shukla.
3.Why do you think the servants thought gandhi to be another peasant >
Answer- In Patna, Shukla led gandhi to the house of Rajendra Prasad, a lawyer.The servants knew that Shukla was a poor peasant.So, the person who accompanied Shukla (Gandhi) was also supposed to be a peasant by them. Hence, both of them were let to stay on the ground.
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1.List the places that gandhi visited between his first meeting with Shukla and his arrival at Champaran.
Answer- Rajkumar Sukla, at first met Gandhi in Lucknow. Then, after visiting many places of India, Gandhi returned to his Ashram in Ahmedabad. Shukla accompanied him there. Later, Gandhi went to Kolkata and boarded a train bound for Patna.Finally he visited Muzaffarpur and Motihari and reached Champaran.
2. 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 ?
Answer- The peasants of Champaran were forced to plant 15% of their holdings with indigo plantation. They had to surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent at last.
Actually, the british changed their policy of agreement since they came to know that cheap German synthetic indigo was available in the market.The indian natural indigo could not compete with that of German. So, the british wanted compensation from the poor peasants so as to make themselves free.
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1.The events in this part of the text illustrate Gandhiji's method of working. Can you identify instances of this method and link them to his ideas od satyagraha and nn violence ?
Answer- Gandhi was issued a court order to leave Champaran. He disobeyed the order after signature even if he had deeply respected the british legal system.
Howevrer, having arrived at Champaran, gandhi realised that the british officials were violating natural justice. Whereas he wanted to render humaniratian service to the exploited peasants. He put forwarded his view that nothing is superior to 'the voice of conscience'. In this way, gandhiji linked his method to his idea od satyagraha and non-violance.
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1.why did gandhi agree to a settlement of 25% refund to the farmers ?
Answer- The british thought that gandhi would ask for 100% refund of what they exploited from peasants. But gandhi asked just 50% refund. As the planters offered 25%, gandhi agreed immediately. To him the amount was not important. Rather, the british landlords were obliged to surrender part of their money and part of their prestige- gandhi argued.
2.How did the episode change the plight of the peasants ?
Answer- After the Champaran episode the peasants understood their rights. They become more confident and brave. Moreover, as soon as the british landlords abandoned their plantations the peasants got back their lands. Indigo sharecropping disappeared from India for ever.
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UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT
1.Why do you think Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning -point in his life ?
Answer- The Champaran movement was the first indian mass movement aginst the british. It united the common Indian and also made them aware of rights in own country. This movement taught them political and economic liberty.Also this was the first victory (civil disobedience) against the british. This movement under Gandhi's leadership forced the british to give back indian money and lose their own prestige.
Therefore, it was a turning point in gandhi's life.
2.How was gandhi able to influence lawyers ? Give instances.
Answer- As soon as the news of gandhi's arrival spread, the lawyers of Muzaffarpur called on (meet) him.They requested him to brief them. But Gandhi chided (told negatively) them for taking huge fees from the poor peasants.
Again after gandhi received summon (court order) from the british lawful authority to appear in the court, he requested Rajendra Prasad to bring influencial lawyers and persons.He conferred with them and finally commented that if all of them support him then they would win the 'battle of Champaran'.
3. What was the attitude of the average Indian in smaller localities towards advocates of 'Home rule' ?
Answer- The average indian were indifferent to the advocates of home rule. They did not have goodwll towards them. In fact, they did not rely on the advocates since they charged huge fees from the cliants or peasants.
4. How do you know that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement ?
Answer- We know that with the support of people/peasant the Champaran episode was won. The same happened in case of Indian freedom struggle. The episode was the beginning and rising of the common indian. They understood their rights,unity.and worked together therafter. This , in the long run led to Independence from the british rule in 1947.
ADDITIONAL/ EXTRA QUESTION ANSWERS
1.What is Indigo ?
Answer- Indigo means akind of dark blue dye obtained from the indigo plants
2.Who is the author of this chapter ?
Answer - Louis Fischer
3. What was the event where Shukla met gandhiji ?
Answer- In the annual convention of the Indian National Congress in Lucknow,in December-1916
4. Why did Shukla meet gandhi ?
Answer- To discuss and get solution to the problem of Champaran peasants related to share cropping.
5. Who was Edward Gait ?
Answer- The Lieutenant Governor who summoned gandhi while in Champaran.
6.When did the author visit the ashram of gandhi ?
Answer- in 1942.
7.How many delegates participated in the INC convention in Lucknow in 1916 ?
Answer- Altogether 2,301 delegates.
8.Who was J.B.kripalani ?
Answer- A professor of the Arts college in Muzafforpur, Bihar.
9.Who was Professor Malkani ?
Answr- A teacher of a govt. School in Bihar.
10.What is arable land ?
Answer- The land which is capable of being ploughed and grown crops.
11. Which british official commissioner did gandhi meet ?
Answer- The commissioner of Tirhut divison.
12. Name two influencial leaders mentioned.
Answer- Rajendra Prasad and Brij Kishore Babu.
13.What is civil disobediance ?
Answer- The refusal to comply with certain British laws by Indian. It is kind of political protest.
14.Name Gandhi's wife.
Answer- kastuba Gandhi.
15. Name son of Gandhi.
Answer- Devdas.
16.What are the common medicines used in Champaran /
Answer- Castor oil, Quinine and sulphur.
17. Who was Charles Freer Andrews ?
Answer- An english pacifist who had become a devoted follower of Gandhi.
18. How long did gandhi stay in Champaran ?
Answer- Initially seven months and ltogether one year.
19. Who was Reverend J.Z.Hodge ?
Answer- A british Missionary who stayed in Champaran and observed the episode of Charecroppers.
20. What amount did gandhi demand and finally accepted ?
Answer- Gandhi demaneded 50% and agreed to accept only 25%.
21.Who were the two disciple of gandhi in Champaran ?
Answer- Narahari Parikh and Mahadev Desai.
22.In how many villages did Gandhi open school in Bihar ?
Answer- In six villages.
23. What did Ksturba teach to the women of Bihar ?
Answer- Ashram rules, personal cleanliness and community sanitation.
24.Why did gandhi visit Muzafforpur ?
Answer- To get the real picture of Zamindari system under the british.
25.Why did gandhi chide the lawyers of Bihar ?
Answer- For charging huge fees from the poor farmers.
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