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English Project

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SHREE NIKETAN PATASALA

VARADARAJAPURAM, CHENNAI – 600048

ENGLISH PROJECT WORK


On
EMANCIPATION OF SHARECROPPERS BY
MAHATMA GANDHI

By
NAME: AVANTIKA S
CLASS: XII

With the guidance of


Ms. Aishwarya
INTRODUCTION

This is about the struggle of Mahatma Gandhi against the Britishers for
the peasants of Champaran, Bihar
This war lasted a whole year but didn’t come empty handed. Britishers
agreed to meet the demands of the peasants. Gandhi didn’t stop after the
victory; he took social matters in his hand.
He helped them with education, personal hygiene, their health and
worked to build their self-confidence. In the end, he taught the peasants
a very important lesson of self-confidence and self-sufficiency.
OBJECTIVE

The objective of this English project is to explore and analyse Gandhi's


advocacy for the emancipation of sharecroppers in India during the pre-
independence era.
Through in-depth research and critical examination of primary and
secondary sources, this project aims to understand Gandhi's philosophy
of nonviolent resistance and its application in addressing socio-
economic injustices faced by sharecroppers.
Additionally, the project seeks to elucidate the historical context,
challenges, and outcomes of Gandhi's efforts in advocating for the rights
and dignity of sharecroppers, while also examining the relevance of his
principles in contemporary struggles for social justice.
METHODOLOGY

Define the project's scope to examine Gandhi's role in advocating for


the emancipation of sharecroppers in India.

Review relevant scholarly articles, books, and historical documents


focusing on Gandhi's activities and principles related to sharecropper
rights.

Copyrights – NCERT
What is Indigo Sharecropping?
The sharecropping system required the tenants to grow indigo, a major
commercial crop, on 15 percent of their landholdings. Every year, the
grown indigo harvest was given as rent to the landlord. However, on
hearing about the German synthetic indigo, the British decided to draw
a new agreement with peasant. The British landlords freed the Indian
farmers from this 15% agreement but demanded the farmers to pay
compensation.

(Photo Credit: Freepik)


History And Significance of Indigo Cultivation
in India:
1. Ancient Roots: Indigo cultivation in India dates back to ancient
times, with evidence of its use in the Indus Valley Civilization
(around 2500-1500 BCE). It was also known in ancient texts like the
Vedas.

2. Medieval Period: Indigo cultivation and the trade of indigo dye


became more prominent during the medieval period in India. It
was used for dyeing cotton and silk textiles, which were highly
sought after in international trade.

3. British Colonial Era: The British East India Company played a


significant role in promoting indigo cultivation in India during the
18th and 19th centuries. They established indigo plantations,
primarily in Bengal (present-day West Bengal and Bangladesh),
and forced local farmers to cultivate indigo under a system known
as the "indigo sharecropping system" or the "ryotwari system."
This system was exploitative and led to widespread discontent
among Indian farmers.

4. Indigo Revolt: The harsh practices of the British indigo planters


led to the Indigo Revolt of 1859-1860, also known as the "Indigo
Mutiny." Indian farmers protested against the oppressive indigo
cultivation practices and demanded better treatment and fair
compensation. The revolt was one of the many factors contributing
to the Indian freedom struggle.

5. Decline and Independence: After India gained independence


from British rule in 1947, the indigo cultivation industry declined
significantly. Synthetic indigo dyes became more popular and
cost-effective, leading to a decline in the cultivation of natural
indigo plants.
Natural indigo harvesting
SEEDING THE INDIGO CROP

Indigo seeds soaked overnight to initiate the germination process


are set into troughs or directly into well tilled earth, prepared in a
nourishing combination of fresh soil, peat and cow dung. Watered
diligently, the seeds begin to show signs of sprouting in a few days.
The crop requires instinctive and attentive care of regular de-
weeding to ensure the saplings are not over-run by wild grass and
weeds.

The crop is estimated to grow to its harvest-ready height in 90 days.

HARVEST

The first harvest is after 90 days of sowing. The plants in the first
harvest are smaller in comparison to the second and third harvest
and are cut about 10 cms above the ground to allow for re-growth.

In another 90 days, the plants are tall enough for a second harvest.
It's only in the second harvest the seeds start to sprout.

After the second harvest, crops such as groundnuts or corn are


grown following the crop rotation process so as to increase soil
fertility and yield better crop.

Same cycle is repeated the following year.

Some of the indigo plants are left to flower to collect seeds to be


planted the following year.

Indigo dye is extracted from freshly harvested plants through


fermentation and oxidation. As soon as the plants are cut, they are
brought to the processing centre and processed immediately
thereafter.
The use of electricity or chemicals are not involved in the process
and this produces a pure form of Indigo dye extracted in an eco-
friendly manner.

Copyrights - Willem van schendel


Role of Rajkumar Shukla

Raj Kumar Shukla (23 August 1875 – 20 May 1929) was the person who
convinced Mahatma Gandhi to visit Champaran which later led to
the Champaran Satyagraha. Shukla at the time worked under Hafiz Din
Mohammad and was sent to meet Gandhi.

During the 31st session of the Congress in Lucknow in 1916, Gandhiji


met Raj Kumar Shukla, a representative of farmers from Champaran,
who requested him to come and see for himself the miseries of the
indigo ryots (tenant farmers) there. Gandhi later wrote in his
autobiography “I must confess that I did not then know even the name,
much less the geographical position, of Champaran, and I had hardly
any notion of indigo plantations.” Shukla thus met Gandhi to make him
aware of the plight of the cultivators in Champaran and persuaded him
to go there.
He was a known Indigo cultivator of the area as he was a money lender
from village Murli Bharahwa near Narkatiyaganj in West Champaran,
earning, according to his own statement before the enquiry committee
set up by the provincial government, a sum of two thousand rupees a
month from interest

Copyrights – Wikipedia
Gandhis efforts to secure justice for the poor
indigo sharecroppers of Champaran.
Gandhi went to Champaran on receiving reports of exploitation of the poor
sharecropper peasants at the hands of British planters. He began by trying to
get the facts. The British landlords as well as the Commissioner of Tirhut
were non-cooperative. Lawyers from Muzaffarpur briefed him about the
court cases of these peasants.
Gandhi and the lawyers collected depositions by about ten thousand
peasants. Notes were made on other evidence. Documents were collected.
The whole area throbbed with the activities of the investigators and forceful
protests of landlords.
The lieutenant governor summoned Gandhi. After four protracted interviews
an official commission of inquiry was appointed to look into the indigo
sharecroppers’ condition. Gandhi was the sole representative of the peasants.
The official inquiry assembled huge quantity of evidence against the big
planters. They agreed, in principle, to make refunds to the peasants. After
consultation, a settlement of 25 per cent refund to the farmers was agreed on.
This was a moral victory of the peasants. They recognised their rights and
learned courage.
Within a few years the British planters gave up their estates. These now went
back to the peasants. They became the masters of land. Thus, indigo
sharecropping disappeared.

Copyrights - Photo:
Oscar Mallitte
Conclusion

In conclusion, the project teaches us how Gandhiji was constantly


fighting for the development of his countrymen from the very
beginning, not only helping to free India.
The message conveyed by the story is that it is not impossible to conquer
and win over the powerful. If the people get together and fight against
injustice, no power in the world can stop them from achieving what they
desire.
REFERENCES

1. www.doubtnut.com
2. https://www.toppr.com/
3. NCERT – text
4. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/

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