Indigo

Indigo

1. Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being resolute?
Ans. Rajkumar Shukla was an illiterate farmer from Champaran. He wanted Gandhiji to come to his district and find a solution to the problems of peasants. Gandhiji was busy at that time and had several engagements. But Shukla never left Gandhiji's side. He followed him wherever he went. At last Gandhiji had to find time to go with him. It shows that he was very resolute.

2. What happened when Rajkumar took Gandhiji to the house of Rajendra Prasad in Patna?
Ans. At that time, Rajendra Prasad was out of town. However, the servants allowed the two to stay on the grounds of the house. The servants mistook Gandhijil for an untouchable. They did not permit him to draw water from the well.

3. Why do you think the servants thought Gandhiji to be another peasant?
Ans. Gandhiji was very simple in his dress and manners. He never showed himself as a great leader. Moreover, he was thin in body and black in color. That was why the servants thought him to be another peasant.

4. List the places that Gandhiji visited between his first meeting with Shukla and his arrival at Champaran.
Ans. Gandhiji's first meeting with Shukla took place in Lucknow. Then they both met in Calcutta. From there, the two went to Patna by train. Shukla took Gandhiji to Rajendra Prasad’s house but the latter was out of town. Now Gandhiji decided to go to Muzzafarpur. There he stayed at Professor Malkani’s house. Lastly, he went to Champaran.

5. 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 had to grow indigo on 15 percent of the land. All the produce went as rent. But when synthetic indigo was developed, the landlords did not want to grow natural indigo. The prices had fallen. Now the landlords wanted compensation for not growing indigo on their land.

6. Why did Gandhiji agree to a settlement of a 25 percent refund to the farmers?
Ans. The British planters wanted some excuse to prolong the dispute with the peasants. But Gandhiji proved too wise for them. He at once ended the deadlock by accepting what the planters wanted. Even so, the British had to compromise with their pride.

7. How did the episode change the plight of the peasants?
Ans. The peasants now gained courage. They saw that they had rights and they had also defenders of their rights. By and by, the British planters left their estates. These estates now came back to the peasants. Indigo sharecropping now disappeared forever.

8. Why do you think Gandhiji considered the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life?
Ans. Through this episode, Gandhiji declared it to the British that they could not order him about in his own country. He was ordered to leave the Champaran but he refused. At last, the government had to relent.

9. How was Gandhiji able to influence lawyers? Give instances?
Ans. The lawyers wanted Andrews to stay in Champaran and help them. But Gandhi opposed them. He said that it would be their weakness to take the help of an Englishman. They should learn to win the battle by their own strength. They should learn to be self-reliant.

10. What was the attitude of the average Indian in smaller localities towards advocates of 'home rule'?
Ans. The average Indian in smaller localities were not aware of the British supremacy. That was why they did not show any sympathy to those who advocated 'home rule'. They feared that would be troubled y the British rulers if they harboured such supporters.

11. How do you know that ordinary people too contribute to the freedom movement?
Ans. The ordinary people stood with Gandhiji at every juncture. At Motihari, they flocked in thousands when they came to know that the Mahatma had some trouble with the authorities. They were ready to do anything at his bidding. Thus the ordinary man’s contribution to the freedom movement was no less in any way.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q. Why do you think Gandhiji considered the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life?  (2011, 12)

Ans. Champaran episode was not an act of defiance against the authorities. It was an attempt to help large number of people.

The Champaran episode broke the myth of the dreadful British power. It showed that Gandhiji could not be ordered about in his own country. Gandhiji was ordered first to leave Tirhut but he refused. Again he got the notice to leave Champaran immediately. Gandhiji received the notice but wrote on it that he would disobey the order. At the court, he gave sound reasons for it. He said that he was no lawbreaker. But he had to do his moral duty to his people. Thousands of people gathered in support of Gandhiji. The government was confused. At last, the case against Gandhiji had to be dropped.

Champaran was a new experience for Gandhiji. In Champaran He understood the common Indian people and the British rulers in a better manner. He saw that the common Indians had the courage to fight for their rights. They followed him faithfully, they understood him well.

Champaran episode revealed that Gandhiji's politics was seeped into practical day to day problems of the people.  All his efforts were directed towards making a new, free Indian who would liberate India.

Thus we can say that Champaran episode was a turning point in Gandhiji’s life.

Q. Why did Rajkumar Shukla invite Gandhiji to Champaran? How did Gandhiji solve the problems of the indigo former?  (2012)

Ans.  The peasants of Champaran were sharecroppers.  They were bound by an ancient agreement with the British planters. Rajkumar Shukla was one of them.  He wanted Gandhiji to come to Champaran and help the poor peasants in their fight against the unjust landlord system in Bihar.

At Champaran, he listened to the peasants' problems.  He also met the secretary of the British landlords Association.  But the secretary gave him no information. Gandhiji was ordered into leave Tirhut but he refused.  Again he got the notice to leave Champaran immediately.  Gandhi received the notice but wrote on it that he would disobey the order.  At the court, he gave sound reasons for it.  He said that he was no lawbreaker. But he had to do his moral duty to his people. Thousands of people rallied in support of Gandhi.  The government was confused.  A last, the case against Gandhiji had to be dropped.  He started a dialogue with the planters.  They offered a twenty five percent refund of the money they had extracted illegally from the farmers. Gandhi at once agreed to this. Te British had to surrender pat of their money and also their prestige. By and by the british planter leave their estates. These estates came back to the peasants. Thus Gandhiji found that the Brtish could not order him about in his own country. The myth of their dreadful power was broken.