INDIGO

BY LOUIS FISCHER
Louis Fischer (29 February 1896 – 15 January 1970) was a Jewish-American journalist. Among his works
were a contribution to the ex-Communist treatise The God that Failed(1949), Life of Mahatma Gandhi
(1950), basis for the Academy Award-winning film Gandhi (1982), as well as Life of Lenin, which won the
1965 National Book Award in History and Biography
Summary
In this account, Louis describes Gandhi’s struggle for the poor peasants of Champaran who were the
sharecroppers working under the British planters. They led a miserable life and were forced to grow indigo
according to an ancient agreement. They suffered a great injustice due to the landlord system in Bihar.
Gandhi waged a war for about a year against their atrocities and brought justice to the poor peasants.
This account describes Gandhi’s struggle for the poor peasants of Champaran. In those days 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 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 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 requested him to visit
Champaran and resolve the issue. He patiently waited for days till Gandhi gave him a specific date. 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 mistake him
as another poor peasant. He surveyed before taking any vital step in order to get those peasants justice. It
was the time when the 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 fees from the sharecroppers. He stressed
on counselling as this would give the peasants enough confidence to fight their fear. He managed to get
justice after a year-long 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.
CHARACTERS
Mohandas Gandhi
Raj Kumar Shukla: A sharecropper
Charles Freer Andrews: A follower of Gandhi
Kasturba: Wife of Gandhi
Devdas: youngest son of Gandhi

CHAPTER IN A NUTSHELL or KEY POINTS

Role of Rajkumar Sukla

1. Poor, emaciated peasant from Champaran.
2. Contacted Gandhi in 1916 in Lucknow.
3. Gandhi dismissed him.
4. Shukla came to complain about the injustice and the landlord system in Bihar.
5. Shukla followed Gandhi to Cawnpore Later at Calcutta.
6. Impressed by the sharecropper’s tenacity and story Gandhi relented.
The Issue
1. Arable land in Champaran divided into estates owned by Englishmen, worked by Indian tenants.
2. Chief commercial crop indigo.
3. Tenants to plant indigo on 15% land.
4. To surrender entire indigo produce as rent.
5. Synthetic indigo in the market.
6. Landlords force new agreements.
7. Ask for 15% compensation.
8. Peasants resist, widespread unrest.
How Gandhi reached Champaran
1. Went to Muzaffarpur with Shukla.
2. Obtained complete information.
3. Discussed with Kripalani.
4. Met lawyers, chided them, understood legal angle.
5. Met peasants, sensed unrest.
6. Realised the extent of peasant fear
7. Felt he should arm them with the tool of courage, fearlessness.
Role of Lawyers
1. They represented cases in courts, collected fee.
2. Gandhi criticised them for misguiding the peasants.
3. They gave legal support.
4. However, they were non-committal in the event of Gandhi’s arrest
5. Gandhi appealed for justice for sharecroppers, when arrested.
6. Lawyers feel guilty of desertion.
7. They supported Gandhi’s Civil Disobedience Movement.
8. They helped him file grievances against landlords.
Steps taken by Gandhi
1. Approached British landlord association.
2. Commissioner, cold-shouldered.
3. Proceeded to Motihari, got mass support from peasants, continued investigation.
4. Served official notice to leave Champaran.
5. Signed, said he would disobey the order.
6. Served summons, Motihari black with peasants.
7. Peasants demonstrate outside the courtroom.
8. Officials powerless, Government baffled.
9. Gandhi was encouraged by mass support.
10. Courts arrest, says obeying the voice of conscience.
11. Convinces lawyers to join the movement.
12. Continues to collect legal evidence.
13. The government forced to set up the Inquiry Commission.
14. Meeting, the deadlock over compensation lifted
15. Agrees to 25%, landlords learned they were not above the law, peasants got courage.
16. Battle of Champaran won.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

I. Multiple Choice Questions

1. When did Gandhiji go to Lucknow?

(a)December1917 (b) October 1916 (c)February1917 (d) December 1916

2 Gandhi —–the lawyers for collecting big fees from the sharecroppers
(a)condoned (b) rebuffed (c)chided (d) admired

3 What were the places visited by Gandhi between his first meeting with Shukla and his arrival at
Champaran?
(a) Cawnpore, Ahmedabad, Calcutta, Patna, Muzaffarpur
(b) Calcutta, Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarnagar
(c) Cawnpore, Ahmedabad, Gaya, Calcutta, Patna, Muzaffarpur
(d) Cawnpore, Ahmedabad, Patna and Muzaffarnagar

4 Why did Gandhi appeal for teachers?

(a) to remove the cultural and social backwardness
(b) to increase the literacy standard
(c) he did not trust teachers of Champaran
(d) he contented himself with large political and economic solutions

5 What lesson did Gandhi teach by opposing Andrew’s stay in Champaran?

(a) British could not be trusted
(b) self-reliance
(c) civil disobedience
(d) a fight should always be amongst equals

6 What was the beginning of liberation from fear of the British?

(a) the people gathered in large numbers
(b) the support of lawyers
(c) Gandhi’s presence
(d) the prevailing laws

7 Why was Gandhi not permitted to draw water from Rajendra Prasad’s well?
(a) the servant thought Gandhi was another peasant
(b) as Rajendra Prasad was not at home
(c) Gandhi looked like a vagabond
(d) Gandhi was a Harijan

ANSWERS:
1 d; 2 c; 3a; 4a; 5b; 6a; 7a

II. Reference to Context

1. But Champaran did not begin as an act of defiance. It grew out of an attempt to alleviate the
distress of large numbers of poor peasants. This was the typical Gandhi pattern – his politics were
intertwined with the practical, day-to-day problems of the millions. His was not a loyalty to
abstractions; it was a loyalty to living human beings.
a) Choose the option which is the most appropriate example of an ‘act of defiance’.
i) In rage he hit the car in front and sped away.
ii) Inspite of her parents’ objection, Lata married Henry.
iii) There was a loud noise and Rajat ducked under the table.
iv) Though the man provoked him, Atul remained passive.

b) Choose the correct option with reference to the two statements given below.
Statement 1 : His was not a loyalty to abstraction; it was a loyalty to living, human
beings. Statement 2 : Gandhi was a humanitarian at heart.

i) Statement 1 is the cause of statement 2.

ii) Statement 2 is the effect of Statement 1.
iii) Statement 2 can be inferred from Statement 1.
iv) Statement 1 and Statement 2 are independent of each other.
c) The given extract does not talk about:
i) details of the daily problems faced by human beings.
ii) efforts to relieve suffering of the common people.
iii) the reason for the occurrence of the Champaran episode
iv) Gandhi’s principles in the field of politics

d) ‘Abstractions’ refers to:

i) a situation in which a subject is very general and not based on real situations.
ii) a situation in which a subject is very particular and based on real situations.
iii) a situation in which a subject is general and based on unreal situations.
iv) a situation in which a subject is particular and based on unreal situations.

e) Which of the following sentences uses the word ‘alleviate’ in the context as it is used in the
extract?
i) Mom suggested that ibuprofen and tea would perhaps alleviate some of the misery of my cold.
ii) sufferers of panic attacks may be given a higher dose of niacin to aaleviate the problem.
iii) You will be helping to alleviate human famine by taking lessout of the world’s finite resources.
iv) The natives were convinced of the supreme efforts the minister was taking to alleviate the plight of
the farmers.
Ans: a) ii, b) iii, c) i, d) i, e) iv

2. The government was baffled. The prosecutor requested the judge to postpone the trial. Apparently, the
authorities wished to consult their superiors. Gandhi protested against the delay. He read a statement
pleading guilty. He was involved, he told the court, in a “conflict of duties" - on the one hand, not to set a
bad example as a lawbreaker; on the other hand, to render the “humanitarian and national service” for
which he had come.
He disregarded the order to leave, “not for want of respect for lawful authority, but in obedience to the
higher law of our being, the voice of conscience”. He asked the penalty due. The magistrate announced
that he would pronounce sentence after a two-hour recess and asked Gandhi to furnish bail for those 120
minutes. Gandhi refused. The judge released him without bail.
a. What did the prosecutor request the judge?
Ans. The prosecutor requested the judge to postpone Gandhi's trial.

b. Why did Gandhi protest?

Ans. Gandhi protested against the delay.

c. According to Gandhi, what was the conflict of duties' in which he was involved?
Ans. Gandhi was involved in a “conflict of duties"— on the one hand, not to set a bad example as a
lawbreaker; on the other hand, to render the “humanitarian and national service” for which he had come.
d. Why did Gandhi disregard the order to leave?
Ans. Gandhi disregarded the order to leave in obedience to the higher law of their being, the voice of
conscience.

e. Find the word from the passage which means 'opposed'.

Ans. protested.

3. Gandhi stayed there for two days in the home of Professor Malkani, a teacher in a government school.
“It was an extraordinary thing in those days,” Gandhi commented, “for a government professor to
harbour a man like me”. In smaller localities, the Indians were afraid to show sympathy for advocates of
home-rule.
The news of Gandhi's advent and of the nature of his mission spread quickly through Muzzafarpur and
to Champaran. Sharecroppers from Champaran began arriving on foot and by conveyance to see their
champion. Muzzafarpur lawyers called on Gandhi to brief him; they frequently represented peasant
groups in court; they told him about their cases and reported the size of their fee.
Gandhi chided the lawyers for collecting big fee from the sharecroppers. He said, “I have come to the
conclusion that we should stop going to law courts. Taking such cases to the courts does little good.
Where the peasants are so crushed and fear-stricken, law courts are useless. The real relief for them is to
be free from fear.”

a. Where did Gandhi stay for two days?

Ans. Gandhi stayed for two days in the home of Professor Malkani, a teacher in a government school.

b. According to Gandhi, what was ‘an extraordinary thing in those days?

Ans. According to Gandhi, it was an extraordinary thing in those days for a government professor to
harbour a man like him.

c. Who was the champion of sharecroppers from Muzzafarpur?

Ans. Gandhi was the champion of sharecroppers from Muzzafarpur.

d. Why did Gandhi chide the lawyers?

Ans. Gandhiji chided the lawyers for collecting big fee from the poor peasants.

e. Find the word from the passage which means 'arrival.

Ans. advent.

f. Find the word from the passage which is opposite to

'bad'. Ans. good

III. Short Questions

Q1. Though the sharecroppers of Champaran receive only one fourth of the compensation, how can
the Champaran struggle still be considered a huge success and victory? (All India, 2018)
The Champaran episode began as an attempt to ease the sufferings of a large number of poor peasants.
Gandhiji admitted that what he had done was a very ordinary thing. He declared that the British could not
order him about his own country. He got spontaneous support from thousands of people. Moreover, he was
able to rid the poor peasants of their fear of the British. The efforts of Gandhi and support of the people
made the Champaran struggle a huge success.

Q2. What were the conditions of sharecroppers of Champaran?

Ans. The peasants of Champaran were tenants of the British landlords. Under long term sharecropping
arrangement, they were growing Indigo on 15 percent of their holding and surrendering the harvest as rent
to the British landlord. But when Indigo price fell due to synthetic Indigo developed in Germany, the
landlords obtained agreement from the peasants to pay them compensation which some of the peasants
resisted. They approached the Indian lawyers and engaged them to fight their case in court.

Q3. How did Gandhi make the peasants fearless and self-reliant?
Ans. Gandhi made the peasants fearless by letting them know about their rights, fighting their case and by
obtaining the refund of compensation made to the British landlords who were behaving as lords above the
law.

Q4. Why is Raj Kumar Shukla described as being ‘resolute’? (2020)

Ans. Raj Kumar Shukla was a poor, illiterate sharecropper from Champaran who having heard of Gandhi
came to Lucknow to seek his assistance. He was illiterate but resolute. He wished to bring the plight of the
sharecroppers of Champaran to the notice of Gandhi and followed him everywhere. Gandhi was impressed
by his tenacity and determination and finally agreed to go there from Calcutta.

Q5. Why do you think the servants thought Gandhi to be another peasant?
Ans. Gandhi was committed to accompany Raj Kumar Shukla to Champaran to address the tribulations of
the sharecroppers of that area. En route to Champaran from Calcutta, Raj Kumar Shukla made Gandhi stop
in Patna to meet a lawyer called Rajendra Prasad who later on became the first President of India. The
servants thought that Gandhi was another peasant as he had come with an illiterate peasant.

Q6. How was Gandhi able to influence the lawyers? Give instances.
Ans. Gandhi’s sincerity of purpose, convincing argumentation and a logical approach deeply influenced the
lawyers. Chiding them for over-charging the peasants, he encouraged them to court arrest for the poor
peasants’ cause, if he himself got imprisoned.

IV. Long Answer Type Questions

(The points given in the following questions may be elaborated with instances from the text)
Q1. Why was the share-cropping arrangement irksome? What was its fate?
Most of the cultivating land of Champaran district was divided into large estates owned by the Englishmen.
These were worked upon by Indian tenant peasants, for which they paid rent. Indigo was the chief
commerical crop. The English planters compelled all peasants to grow indigo in three-twentieths or 15 per
cent of their land holdings. The entire indigo harvest was to be surrendered as rent to the British landowners.
The landlords came to know that Germany had developed synthetic indigo. Thereupon they obtained an
agreement from the share-croppers to pay them the compensation. This share-cropping arrangement was
irksome to the peasants. Some signed it willingly and those who opposed engaged lawyers. The landowners
hired thugs who forcefully collected the compensation amount. It was at this point that Gandhi reached
Champaran. Gandhi’s civil disobedience and peasants’ spontaneous demonstration compelled the Lieutenant
Governor to appoint a commission of inquiry into the share-croppers situation. The official inquiry
concluded that the landlords had to refund a part of the money to the peasants. After a few years they
abandoned their estates. Indigo share-cropping disappeared completely.
Q2. How did Gandhi win the battle of Champaran?
After his arrival at Motihari, Gandhiji used a house as the headquarter so that he can have complete
investigation for the sharecroppers. At that time there came a report that a peasant had been maltreated. Next
morning Gandhiji went to see him but he was overtaken by the police superintendent’s messenger with an
order to come back. When he reached home, Gandhiji was asked to quit Champaran at once. Gandhiji
signed the order but wrote that he would disobey the order. Next day Gandhi appeared in the court. That
night Gandhiji telegraphed Rajendra Prasad to come with his influential friends. When the peasants came to
know that Gandhiji was in trouble with the authorities, thousands of peasants from nearby and distant areas
gathered on the court ground of Motihari .The officials felt powerless and they had to seek Gandhi’s help.
The trial was postponed but Gandhiji protested against the delay. In between he was left at liberty. Now
Gandhiji asked the prominent lawyers what they would do in case he was sent to jail. They told that they
would follow Gandhiji and court arrest. Gandhiji felt he had succeeded in making the peasants shed their
fear of the British and involving the lawyers in the cause of the peasants. This was a major victory and he
exclaimed "The battle of Champaran is won."

Q3. Leadership is all about a strong concern for others. What light does Champaran episode throw on
Gandhiji’s leadership? ( All India 2017) (CBQ)
There is no doubt about the fact that a good leader is one who has a strong concern for others. Not only does
he have a mass appeal but he even rises from the masses. He is a man of principles and his life is an open
book. Gandhiji’s sincere efforts to get justice for the Champaran sharecroppers and his conscientious
endeavours to uplift the condition of the people are proof enough of the true leadership qualities that he
possessed. His primary concern was the welfare of the common man because Gandhiji never contented
himself with large political or economic solutions. Seeing the cultural and social backwardness in the
Champaran village he wanted to do something about it immediately. His politics was always intertwined
with the practical day-to-day problems of the millions and through his selfless actions he displayed what
true leadership was all about.

Q4 Why do you think Gandhiji considered the Champaran episode to be a turning-point in his
life? (All India 2011)
Gandhiji came to Champaran to fight against the injustice of the landlord system there. Most of the
land in Champaran was divided into large estates owned by Englishmen who hired Indian tenants to
grow indigo there. The Indian peasants were sharecroppers and had to surrender 15 per cent of the
indigo harvest as rent to the British. After synthetic indigo was developed the Englishmen obtained
fresh agreements from sharecroppers to pay them compensation. Many refused to sign and others
wanted their money back. At this point Gandhiji arrived in Champaran with
an aim to free the peasants from fear. He collected all the facts and met the
commissioner who tried to bully him and advised him to leave the place.
Gandhiji did not leave. In the course of securing justice for the oppressed
farmers of Champaran, Gandhiji had to clash with the British authorities
several times before he could persuade them to agree to his viewpoint.
The Champaran episode turned out to be Gandhiji’s loud pronouncement
that the British could not order him about in his own country. It established
the effectiveness of non-cooperation as a means of fighting for justice. The
Champaran episode revealed Gandhiji’s principles in the political field.
Even after winning the peasants’ battle against the English landlords
Gandhiji stayed in Champaran for the cultural and social upliftment of the
poor and the backward of the villages of Champaran.

Q5 Exploitation is a universal phenomenon. The poor indigo farmers

were exploited by the British landlords to which Gandhiji objected.
Even after our independence, we find exploitation in unorganised
labour sector. What values do we learn from Gandhiji’s campaign to
counter the present day problems of exploitation? (CBQ)
The weak are exploited and the strong prey on them. This is a universal fact.
In the case of the poor illiterate indigo farmers, they were exploited by the
British landlords. Gandhiji objected to it and freed the farmers from the
agreement. With his courage, patience, dedication and rational thinking he
was able to bring an end to indigo sharecropping. In his manner of tackling
the issue, he went stepwise:
 he gathered information
 fearlessly he stated his points
 in the final negotiations, he did not bother about the money; it was
the submission of the opponent’s pride and prestige.
Similarly, we can proceed with present day issues as Gandhiji’s method of
solving the problem has universality about it. One must be fully aware of one’s
weaknesses and must try to overcome them, find ways of getting justice, never
give in to any kind of exploitation, if trapped, try to come out of the situation
wisely, get united when in trouble and seek help. Self- respect, values or dignity
should not be compromised at any cost. Try to come out of the darkness of
ignorance as soon as possible. Mistakes once made, must not be repeated.