Indigo

Indigo (Exercise Answers)

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

Rajkumar Shukla is described as being 'resolute' because he did not quit from bringing Gandhi to Champaran even after being told about the prior engagements of Gandhi. He accompanies Gandhi everywhere. Moreover, he continuously requests Gandhi to fix a date for his visit to Champaran. His determination and grit finally affects Gandhi and he complies with his request.

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

The servants of Rajendra Prasad thought Gandhi to be another peasant due to his ordinary attire. Moreover, Gandhi had gone to the house of Rajendra Prasad with Rajkumar Shukla whom they knew to be a poor peasant who pestered their master.

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

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

4. 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?

The peasants were forced to plant fifteen percent of their land with indigo and pay the entire harvest as rent. Now, when they heard that synthetic indigo is developed in Germany, they did not want indigo from these plantations. So, the clever landlords decided to release the peasants of Champaran from the fifteen percent arrangement on the payment of a compensation.

5.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 text that can be linked to Gandhi's idea of non-violence and satyagraha. When the British faced an uncontrollable mob in Motihari, Gandhi helped them to control them. Furthermore, Gandhi does not hesitate to plead guilty in front of the court. For him, truth is above everything and, thus, he decides to follow the voice of conscience and obey the "higher law of our being".

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

Gandhi 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 realise that they too had rights and that they need not really live in fear of the British landlords. Therefore,  Gandhi agreed to a settlement of 25 percent refund to the farmers.  

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

The  Champaran episode changed the plight of the peasants in many ways. The peasants gained confidence which was evident in their demonstration in the morning of Gandhi's trial. For the first time, theyrealised their own rights and were liberated from the fear.

This episode brought an end to the fifteen percent arrangement of sharecropping. However, the most fundamental change that the episode brought about was in their social and cultural standard. Gandhi opened schools in six villages. Kasturba Gandhi made the peasants aware of the importance of general sanitation and personal hygiene. He even appointed a doctor.

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

Q 1 Why do you think Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life?

Ans. The Champaran episode began as an attempt to alleviate the distress of a large number of poor peasants. But it became a turning point in Gandhi’ life. It build up Gandhi confidence that the British rulers could be made to bend and concede a popular demand. He declared that British could not order him in his own country. His readiness to go to jail for the sake of seeking justice instilled courage among ordinary people and motivated the lawyers for court arrest . Civil disobedience triumphed for the first time when the case for disregarding the official order against him was dropped. Britisher’s agreement to pay 25 percent of the compensation made him and the peasants confident. It made the peasants realise that they had rights and defenders and he established that the authority of the British could be challenged. He taught the lawyers a lesson of self-reliance by dissuading them from seeking the assistance from an English man, Charles Andrews.

Q2- How was Gandhi able to influence lawyers? Give instances.

Ans. Gandhi asked the lawyers about their course of action if he was sentenced to jail. They answered that they would return back. He then asked them about the plight of the peasants. This made them realize their duty towards the social issue and they decided to go to jail with Gandhi.

 Q3- What was the attitude of the average Indian in smaller localities towards advocates of ‘home rule’?

Ans. The average Indians in smaller localities did not support the advocates of Home Rule as they feared to go against the British government.

Q4.How do we know that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement?

Ans. The author mentions several ordinary people who contributed to the freedom movement. Rajkumar Shukla was instrumental in arranging Gandhi’s visit to Champaran. Proffesssor Malkani , despite being a government servant, provided shelter to Gandhi when he arrived at Muzzafarpur. When the news of Gandhi’s advent spread through Muzzafarpur and Champaran , peasants from Champaran began arriving on foot to see their champion. Their gathering in huge number at Motihari was the beginning of their freedom from the fear of the British. The lawyers also agreed to court arrest in case Gandhi went to Jail.

Moreover the masses volunteered to help in bringing cultural and social reforms in the village. The two young men ,Mahadev Desai and Narihari Parikh volunteered to work. Several people came from Bombay, Poona and other distant parts of the land along with their families.