( Please note : The notes here are for a quick recapitulation of the lesson and can’t replace a

thorough reading of the lesson itself. Using value points from your self-reading and class
discussions in addition will complete them.)

CHAPTER 5 - INDIGO

- Louis Fischer (1896-1970)

THEME : The leadership shown by Mahatma Gandhi to secure justice for oppressed people
through convincing argumentation and negotiation.

SUB-THEME: Contributions made by anonymous Indians to the freedom movement.

MAIN POINT OF THE STORY

1. Raj kumar Shukla apprised Gandhi of injustice of the landlord system in Bihar

2. Raj kumar Shukla- one of the share-croppers.

3 Gandhi- busy - but Rajkumar followed him till he promised to visit Champaran.

4. Gandhi on his way to Muzaffarpur stopped at the house of Rajendra Prasad,a lawyer.
Rajendra Prasad - out of town. Servants knw Shukla as a poor yeoman, took Gandhi to be
another peasant- didn’t permit Gandhi to draw water from the well- thought he could be an
untouchable.

5. Met J.B Kripalani. Stayed for two days in the home of Professor Malkani, a teacher in a
government school- “an extraordinary thing in those days”

6. Champaran sharecroppers began arriving to see see their champion. Gandhi met advocates
in Mujjafarpur and chided them for charging big fee from poor sharecroppers.

7. Share-cropping system oppressed the farmers.

8. Introduction of Synthetic Indigo in Germany led to extortion of money from the peasants by
landlords.

9. Gandhi's arrival in Champaran- meeting with the representative of landlords and

British official Commissioner of Tirhut.

10. His clash with police superintendent and summons to appear in the court his plea.

11. Spontaneous demonstration by thousands of peasants around the couthouse - helplessness

of the British government - their might challenged by Indians.
12. Gandhi pleaded guilty- explained “conflict of duties” - respect for law clashing with
“humanitarian and national service”, “higher law of our being, the voice of conscience”.
Motivated lawyers to continue supporting sharecroppers, court arrest, if Gandhi went to jail.

13. Gandhi ji said-“The battle of Champaran won.” British dropped case against him. Civil
disobedience had triumphed, the first time in modern India.

14. Report of official commission inquiry. Refund of 25% of money. Gandhi explained it as
surrendering part of their prestige.

15.British planters abandoned their estates, and peasant gained courage, learnt he had
defenders and rights.

16. Gandhi never contented with political or economic solutions, wanted to fight the cultural and
social backwardness in Champaran villages. Education, health and cleanliness in the villages
addressed by Gandhi.

17. Champaran episode became a turning point in Gandhi 's life.

18. Refused to seek a prop in Charles Freer Andrews, an Englishman who had become a
devoted follower. Told his lawyer friends- “The cause is just and you must rely upon yourselves
to win the battle” Developed an attitude of self-reliance among the people/Lawyers.

19. Self-reliance, Indian independence, help to sharecroppers were all bound together.

A.EXERCISE :
Rearrange the following points in the sequence of their narration in the lesson-

1. Inquiry into peasants grievances

2. Motihari black with Peasants 3. At the house of Rajendra Prasad

4. Gandhi at Champaran

5. Apprising Louis Fischer about the departure of the British

6. Social Backwardness in Champaran

7. Englishmen owned large Estates

8. Champaran episode- a turning point for Gandhi

9. To Muzzafarpur, en route to Champaran

10. The Battle of Champaran is won

B.SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS

Q1. Who was Raj Kumar Shukla? Why did he come to Lucknow?

Ans. Rajkumar Shukla was a poor peasant from Champaran district in Bihar. He had come to
Lucknow, where a Congress session was being held, to complain about the
injustice of the landlord system in Bihar.

Q2. Why did Gandhi chide the lawyers? What according to him was the real relief for the
sharecroppers?

Hint-
collecting big fee
Court not any good for the fear stricken peasants
Freedom from fear

Q3. What according to Gandhi was the beginning of the poor peasants 'liberation from fear of
the British"?

Hint-
Gandhi ji's trouble with the authorities.
Action of protest - spontaneous demonstration outside the court.

Q4. What was 'conflict of duties' in which Gandhi was involved?

Gandhi explained his conflict that he didn't want to be termed as a law breaker but he had to
listen to the voice of conscience and help his fellow countrymen.

Q5."Civil disobedience had triumphed the first time in modern India". How?

Hint-
case against
Gandhi ji (disobedience of authorities) Released without bail
Case against Gandhi ji dropped

Q6. What amount of repayment did the big planters think Gandhi would demand? What did
Gandhi ask? What amount was finally settled?

Hint- planters thought full repayment

Gandhi asked 50 percent but settled for 25%

Q7. How did Gandhi teach his followers a lesson of self-reliance?

Hint-idea of staying back of C.F Andrews proposed by lawyers.
Gandhi ji opposed the idea
1. If the cause is just they do not require outside help.
2. Peasents must rely upon themselves.

C. LONG-ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q1. Why was Gandhi summoned to appear in the court? How did civil disobedience triumph for
the first time in India?

Ans. Gandhi had reached Motihari, the capital of Champaran, to study the problems of the
sharecropper peasants. He was on his way to a neighbouring village, where a peasant was
ill-treated. On the way, he was stopped by the police superintendent's messenger and ordered
to return to town. When he reached home, he was served with an official notice to quit
Champaran at once. Gandhi wrote on the receipt that he would disobey the order. So Gandhi
received a summon to appear in the court the next day.

Next morning the town of Motihari was black with peasants. Thousands of peasants
demonstrated voluntarily outside the court. The prosecutor requested the judge to postpone the
trial. Gandhi protested against the delay. He read out the statement pleading guilty. He asked
the penalty. The judge announced that he would pronounce the sentence after a two-hour
recess. He asked Gandhi to furnish bail for that period. Gandhi refused. The judge released him
without bail. After the recess, the judge said that he would not deliver the judgment for several
days. Meanwhile he allowed Gandhi to remain at liberty. Several days later Gandhi received a
letter. The case against him had been dropped. Thus, civil disobedience had triumphed, for the
first time in India.

Q2. How did Gandhi work for rural upliftment during his stay in Champaran?

Hint- Gandhi ji appealed for teachers and doctors Primary schools were opened

Mrs Kasturba Gandhi and several other volunteers helped - Narhari Parikh, Mahadev

Desai, Devdas (Youngest son of Gandhi) personal and community cleanliness stressed

Q3.'Self-Reliance, Indian independence and help to sharecroppers were all bound together!

Elucidate on the basis of reading 'Indigo' by Louis Fischer.

Hint - root cause of problem-fear

Gandhi ji tried to eradicate the fear of peasants

Voluntary demonstration against government

Lesson of self reliance

Q4. Why is the Champaran episode considered to be the beginning of the Indian struggle for

Independence?

Hint - Attempt to ease the sufferings of peasants Gets support of people

Peasants became aware of their rights

Method of non-violence used by Gandhi

Won battle of Champaran

D. QUESTIONS BASED ON EXTRACT

•(Solved)
Gandhi was not permitted to draw water from the well, lest some drops from his bucket pollute
the entire source.

a) Name the lesson and the author.

b) Who did not allow Gandhi to draw water from the well?

c) What did they think of Gandhi?

d) Who did Gandhi go with?

Answers

a) Lesson-Indigo, Author-Louis Fischer

b) Rajendra Prasad's servants did not allow Gandhi to draw water from the well.

c) They thought Gandhi was an untouchable.

d) Gandhi went there with Rajkumar Shukla.

•( for practice)
1.Under an ancient arrangement, the Champaran peasants were sharecroppers. Rajkumar
Shukla was one of them. He was illiterate but resolute. He had come to the Congress session to
complain about the injustice of the landlord system in Bihar, and somebody had probably said,
"Speak to Gandhi.” Gandhiji told Shukla he had an appointment in Cawnpore and was also
committed to go to other parts of India. Shukla accompanied him everywhere.

i. Rajkumar Shukla was:

(a) a sharecropper.
(b) a landlord
(c) delegate.
(d) Congressman

ii. What does Shukla's following Gandhiji everywhere reflect about his nature?

(a) tenacity
(b) obsequiousness
(c) obstinacy
(d) shamelessness

iii.Shukla spoke to Gandhi because _____ .

(a )Shukla was poor and illiterate
(b) Gandhiji was at the Congress session
(c) Shukla wanted to fight injustice
(d) somebody probably told him so

iv. Which of the following is the most appropriate description of Shukla :

(a) meticulous and resolute

(b) emancipated and persistent
(c)unlettered but determined
(d) respectful but complaining