Indigo (The Life of Mahatma Gandhi by Louis Fischer)

 

Indigo

This account by Louis Fischer describes Gandhi’s struggle for the poor peasants of Champaran. In those days most of arable land in the Champaran district was divided into large estate owned by Englishmen and worked by Indian tenants. The chief commercial crop was Indigo. The landlords compelled all tenants to plant 15% of their Indigo and surrender the entire Indigo harvest as rent. This was done by long term contract.

The British didn’t need the Indigo crop any more when Germany had developed synthetic Indigo. Just to release the peasants from the 15% agreement they demanded compensation. Some illiterate peasants agreed but the others refused. One of the sharecroppers named Raj Kumar Shukla met Gandhi in this regard and compelled him to visit Champaran because of the long term injustice of landlords. Then the two of them boarded a train for the city of Patna in Bihar. From there Shukla led him to the house of a lawyer named Rajendra Prasad. Mahatma Gandhi’s humble and simple attire made the servants mistook him as another poor peasant. He surveyed before taking any vital step in order to get those peasants justice. It was the time when British government punished those who in any condition gave shelter to national leaders or protesters.

Gandhi’s arrival and the nature of his mission spread like a wildfire. Many lawyers and peasant groups came in large numbers to support him. The lawyers accepted the fact that their charges were high and for a poor peasant it will be irksome. Gandhi rebuked them for collecting big fee from the sharecroppers. He stressed on counseling as this would give the peasants enough confidence to fight their fear. He managed to get justice after a yearlong battle for the peasants. He also made arrangements for the education, health, and hygiene for the families of the poor peasants. He gave them the lesson of self-reliance.

NCERT Book Solution  

Page No: 47

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) a delegate.
(iv) a landlord.

Answer: (i) a landlord.

b. Rajkumar Shukla was 
(i) poor.
(ii) physically strong.
(iii) illiterate.
Answer:  (ii) physically strong.
2. Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being ‘resolute’?
OR

How did Rajkumar Shukla establish that he was resolute? 

Answer: Rajkumar Shukla is described as being ‘resolute’ because even after being told about the prior engagements of Gandhi at Cawnpore and other parts across the county, he does not quit. He continues to accompany Gandhi everywhere. Furthermore, he persistently asks Gandhi to fix a date for his visit to his native district of Champaran. His resolution and determination finally impresses Gandhi and the latter complies with his request.
3. Why do you think the servants thought Gandhi to be another peasant?
 Answer: The servants knew that Rajkumar Shukla was a poor farmer who pestered their master to help the indigo sharecroppers. Since Gandhiji accompanied Shukla and was dressed simply, they mistook him for a peasant. Gandhiji’s modesty and unassertiveness also led to the assumption that he was a peasant.
Page No: 49
1. List the places that Gandhi visited between his first meeting with Shukla and his arrival at Champaran.
Answer: Gandhi first met Shukla at Lucknow. Then he was in Cawnpore and other parts of India. He returned to his ashram near Ahmedabad. Later he visited Calcutta, Patna and Muzaffarpur before arriving at 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 used to pay indigo as rent to the British landlords. Germany had now developed synthetic indigo. So the British landlords wanted money as compensation for being released from natural arrangement. The prices of natural Indigo would go down due to the synthetic indigo.
Page No: 51
1. 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?
Answer: There are many instances in the narrative that can be linked to Gandhi’s idea of non-cooperation and satyagraha. One such instance is Gandhi’s refusal to obey the court order asking him to leave Champaran immediately. Besides that, Gandhi’s protest against the delay of the court proceedings is also an instance of his belief in civil disobedience.
Furthermore, Gandhi does not falter to plead guilty in front of the court. He accepts his guilt but presents a rational case as to what made him disobey the law. For him, truth is above everything and, thus, he decides to follow the voice of conscience and obey the “higher law of our being”.
Page No: 53
1. Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of 25 per cent refund to the farmers?

Answer: 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. So he agreed to the settlement of 25 percent refund to the farmers.
2. How did the episode change the plight of the peasants?
Answer: The episode of Champaran brought more than one change in the plight of the peasants of that district. These peasants gained confidence which was evident in their spontaneous demonstration on the morning of Gandhi’s trial. After the successful refund of the compensation, the peasants, for the first time, realised their own rights and were liberated from the fear that had plagued them.
This episode brought an end to the fifteen percent arrangement of sharecropping. However, the most radical change that the episode brought about was in their social and cultural standard. Gandhi opened schools in six villages. His wife took pains to make the peasants aware of the importance of general sanitation and personal hygiene. He even appointed a doctor.
Page No: 54
Understanding the Text
1. Why do you think Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning-point in his life?

OR

The Champaran episode was a turning point in Gandhiji’s life. Elucidate. 
Answer: The Champaran episode became a turning point for Gandhiji because it had Gandhiji about the effectiveness of Non-Cooperation, and Satyagraha. He had succeeded in teaching the peasants a lesson in courage; he had been able to pass on a message to the British that they could not order him about in his own country. He had proved to the landlords that they were not above the law, and most important of all he had taught the share-croppers that they had rights. The battle was fought and the peasants were victorious, all through a revolution that was based not on blood-shed, but on the tenets of Non-Cooperation, Satyagraha and Non-Violence.

2. How was Gandhi able to influence lawyers? Give instances.
Answer: Gandhi was able to influence the lawyers through his conviction, earnestness and pertinent questioning. Gandhi reproached the lawyers of Muzzafarpur for charging a large sum of money as fee from the peasants. Later, the lawyers from Bihar opined that they would return to their own places in the event of his imprisonment. But, Gandhi made them realise that it would be impudent for them, being lawyers from a neighbouring place, to return when a stranger was ready to get himself imprisoned for the peasants. So, they agreed to follow him to jail. Gandhi also convinced the lawyers not to seek support from an Englishman and be self-reliant.
3. What was the attitude of the average Indian in smaller localities towards advocates of ‘home rule’?
Answer: The average Indians in smaller localities were afraid to show sympathy for the advocates of home-rule. Gandhi stayed at Muzaffarpur for two days in 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.
4. How do we know that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement?
Answer: 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.
Page No: 55
Talking about the Text
Discuss the following.
1. “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?
Answer:  In the story, Gandhi makes it possible for the sharecroppers of Champaran to shed their fear of the British landlords. According to Gandhi, freedom from fear is the first step towards self-reliance. However, it is unfortunate that the poor of the country are not free from fear, even decades after the independence. Their actions, work, etc. are still under pressure; they are under the mercy of the bureaucratic system. Furthermore, the poor live in a continual fear of the police, who instead of taking care, often end up maltreating them. The already poor farmers are becoming poorer, because of globalisation and the craze for the foreign products. This leaves them in the fear of further destitution.

2. The qualities of a good leader.
Answer:   A leader is someone who leads the minds of others and convinces them into following his set of ideas and beliefs. As such, there are some qualities inherent in the persona of the leader that sets him apart from the rest. One of these qualities includes dedication to one’s work. His enthusiasm is evident in his work and life, and this inspires others to follow him. A good leader is courageous in the face of adversity and is never a quitter. He motivates and encourages others, bringing out the best in them. He appreciates the efforts of others and is not biased or impartial.

Additional Questions

Answer the following questions in about 20-30 words each:

 (1) Why did Raj kumar Shukla approach Gandhiji?

Raj Kumar Shukla approached Gandhiji to seek help to the problems of sharecroppers of Champaran. He wanted Gandhiji help against the injustice of landlords of indigo estates.

(2) What were the terms of the contract between British landlords and peasants?

The Indian peasants were sharecroppers. They were compelled by the British landlords to plant 15%  of their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent.

(3) Why did Gandhiji not agree to proceed to Champaran with Raj Kumar Shukla immediately?

Gandhiji did not agree to proceed to Champaran with Raj Kumar Shukla immediately because he had a prior appointment in Cawnpore. He was also committed to visit several other parts of the country.

(4) What happened when Gandhiji and Raj Kumar Shukla wanted to meet Rajendra Prasad?

When Gandhiji and Raj Kumar Shukla reached Rajendra Prasad’s house, he was out of town. The servants took both of them as peasants who pestered their master’s house to seek help. They were asked to sit down on the ground and warned not to fetch water from the well.

(5) Why did Gandhiji plan to go to Muzzafarpur?

 Gandhiji planned to go to Muzzafarpur to obtain more information on the plight of the sharecroppers. He thought being an illiterate Raj Kumar could not provide him more information.

(6) What was the effect of synthetic indigo on the natural indigo crop?

When the British landlords learnt that Germany had developed synthetic indigo, they realised indigo farming was not that profitable for them. They demanded compensation from the Champaran sharecroppers to release them from long term contract.

(7) How did British landlords compel poor peasants?

The British landlords had long term contract with sharecroppers compelling them to plant with 15% of their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent.

(8) Why did Gandhiji scold the lawyers?

 Gandhiji scolded the lawyers for charging a big amount of fees from the poor peasants. Gandhiji believed that taking such cases to the law courts was meaningless as the peasants were fear- stricken.

(9) How did the Champaran episode prove to be a turning point in the political career of Gandhiji?

The Champaran episode was first civil disobedience movement of India’s freedom struggle. It proved that the British could not order the Indians what to do in their own country.

(10) What did Gandhiji do for social upliftment of poor families of peasants?

Gandhiji opened primary schools in the villages of Champaran. A doctor volunteered to give his services for six months. Kasturba taught the people rules on personal cleanliness adn community sanitation.

Answer the following questions in about 60-80 words each:

 (1) How did Gandhiji help the peasants in Champaran?

In the course of his journey to Champaran with Rajkumar Shukla, Gandhiji stayed at Muzaffarpur where he met the lawyers and concluded that fighting through courts was not going to solve the problem of the poor sharecroppers of Champaran. He declared that the real relief for them was to be free from fear.

With this intention, he arrived in Champaran and contacted the Secretary of the British Landlord’s association. The Secretary refused to provide him any information. After this, Gandhiji met the Commissioner of the Tirhut division who served a notice on him to immediately leave Tirhut. He was even willing to court arrest for the cause of the peasants.

After four rounds of talks with-the Governor, an official commission of inquiry was appointed in which Gandhiji was made the sole representative of the peasants.

Through this commission Gandhiji succeeded in getting 25% of the compensation award for the poor sharecroppers from the British landowners.

(2) Explain in your own words, how Raj Kumar Shukla convinced Gandhiji to proceed to Champaran.

Rajkumar shukla was a poor and emaciated sharecropper from Champaran. Though he was poor and illiterate he was determined to oppose the injustice of the British planters. He used to seek legal recourse to get justice and was in constant touch with Rajendra Prasad ,an eminent lawyer. He came to December 1916 annual convention of the Indian National Congress party in Lucknow to meet Gandhi as someone had told him that Gandhi could give a solution to their problems. He complained about the injustice of landlord system in Bihar and invited Gandhi to visit his district.

When Gandhi mentioned about his prior engagements to go to Cawnpore and other parts of India, Shukla showed tremendous patience and perseverance and accompanied him everywhere. He also followed Gandhi to his ashram and stayed there for weeks. Impressed by his determination and tenacity Gandhi promised to meet him at Calcutta on a particular date. Few months later Shukla arrived at Calcutta and took him to Champaran.

So, Rajkuma Shukla’s strong will power and painstaking efforts were instrumental in arranging Gandhi’s visit to Champaran and thus improving the plight of the poor peasants.

(3) Why did Gandhiji decide to consult Prof Malkani and Dr Rajendra Prasad?

Gandhiji decided to consult Prof. Malkani and Dr. Rajendra Prasad as being illiterate Raj Kumar Shukla was incapable of imparting more information about the plight of the sharecroppers. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was a renowned lawyer and used to represent the cases of Champaran peasants in the law court frequently. Gandhiji thought that he would be able to provide more information about the legal aspects of the contracts between the British landlords and peasants.

Gandhiji stayed in the home of Prof. Malkani for two days. It was an extra ordinary thing in those days for a government professor to harbour a man like Gandhji. In smaller localities, the  Indians were afraid to show sympathy for advocates of home-rule.

(4) What were the old terms and conditions of the contract between British landlords and peasants?

Under an ancient arrangement, the Champaran peasants were sharecroppers. Rajkumar Shukla was one of them. Most of the arable land in the Champaran district was divided into large estates owned by Englishmen and worked by Indian tenants. The chief commercial crop was indigo. The landlords compelled all tenants to plant three twentieths or 15 per cent of their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent. This was done by long-term contract. The sharecropping arrangement was irksome to the peasants. The landlords learned that Germany had developed synthetic indigo. They, thereupon, obtained agreements from the sharecroppers to pay them compensation for being released from the 15 per cent arrangement. Most of the sharecroppers signed willingly.

(5) What was the impact of le Champaran episode on the peasants and the British government?

During the stay at Muzzafarpur Gandhi ji found the sharecroppers crushed and fear stricken since fear and oppression are our two greatest enemies. The sharecropping agreement was irksome to them even some many of the peasants had signed willingly. There were others who had signed lawyers. But the British were very cunning. They had taken the help of ‘thugs’ and were subjecting the peasants to torture in every possible way. Fear was rampant in the minds of common men. In smaller localities the Indians were afraid to show sympathy for the advocates of Home rule. When the peasants knew about Gandhi ji, they reached Muzzafarpur. Gandhi ji was ordered to appear in the Motihari court on the following morning.

People knew that Gandhi ji was in trouble with the authorities. So they reached Motihari in the morning and surrounded the court. The government was baffled and the officials had to seek the help of Gandhi ji to regulate the crowd. Gandhi ji provided ample proofs that their powers could now be challenged by the Indians. It was the starting of the peasants liberation from fear of the British. It showed miraculous results. The British landlords had to refund their part of money along with their indigo prestige. The British left their estates and the peasants became owners of their land.