INDIGO – LOUIS FISCHER

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.

2. Strike out what is not true in the following.

b. Rajkumar Shukla was _____________

(i) poor. (ii) physically strong. (iii) illiterate.

3. Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being 'resolute'?

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.

4. Why do you think the servants thought Gandhi to be another peasant?

Gandhi was a simple and humble man dressed in a plain 'dhoti' (loincloth). To the
servants, he must have looked like just another poor farmer in this country. Moreover, he was
accompanied by Rajkumar Shukla whom they knew to be a poor indigo sharecropper. Thus,
when the servants saw them both together, they mistook Gandhi to be another peasant.

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

After his first meeting with Shukla, Gandhi visited Cawnpore, his ashram near
Ahmedabad, Calcutta, Patna and Muzzafarpur before he reached Champaran.

6. 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?

According to the long-term contract, the peasants were forced to plant fifteen percent
of their holdings with indigo and pay the entire harvest as rent. Now, with the development of
synthetic indigo in Germany, the British landlords did not want indigo from these plantations.
Hence, the shrewd landlords decided to release the peasants of Champaran from the fifteen
percent arrangement on the payment of compensation. Development of synthetic indigo
would lead to an increase in the price of natural indigo.

7. 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?
There are many instances in the narrative that can be linked to Gandhi's idea of
noncooperation 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".

8. Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of 25 per cent refund to the farmers?

For Gandhi, it was not the money but the principles that were of utmost importance.
He believed that the very fact that the British landlords surrendered was of more significance
than the percentage of refund. He wanted the poor farmers to realize that they too had rights
and that they need not really live in fear of the British landlords. Therefore, although he had
initially quoted a 50 percent refund, he later agreed to a settlement of 25 percent refund to the
farmers. Besides, Gandhi was interested in long term solutions rather than immediate
benefits. His decision was proved right when, years later, the British landlords decided to
leave their estates, putting an end to the sharecropping arrangement.

9. How did the episode change the plight of the peasants?

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, realized 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.

Understanding the text – Book back Questions and Answers

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

Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life because he
realised that civil disobedience, which had triumphed for the first time, could go a long way
in the freedom struggle. Moreover, he had succeeded in making the peasants aware of their
rights and becoming confident. This success, thus, proved the effectiveness of Gandhi's
method of non-violence and non-cooperation.

2. How was Gandhi able to influence lawyers? Give instances.

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'?

During those times, the average Indian in smaller localities lived in fear of the British.
They were afraid of the dire consequences of helping the advocates of "home-rule". Hence,
though they were supportive of people like Gandhi, they were afraid of showing it explicitly
and only a few could actually dare to come out openly. In the story, we find people, like
Professor Malkani, who had the courage to give shelter to Gandhi on the latter's visit to
Muzzafarpur.

4. How do we know that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement?

In the chapter 'Indigo' Louis Fischer writes of how a small farmer Rajkumar Shukla
from a small district, Champaran, helps bring about a very prominent change. Likewise,
many other peasants from the villages fought courageously and contributed in their own way
to the movement. Their cumulative effort eventually resulted in their winning the battle of
Champaran and to finally free themselves of the sharecropping arrangement.

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS

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?

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 globalization and the craze for the foreign
products. This leaves them in the fear of further destitution.

2. The qualities of a good leader.

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.