CH5-INDIGO

Question-answers:

1.       Why was Gandhiji impressed with Rajkumar Shukla’s tenacity and determination?
Ans. Rajkumar Shukla the Champaran-Sharecropper requested Gandhiji in Congress Session in Lucknow to fix a date to visit Champaran where the sharecroppers were subjected to injustice. Till Gandhiji fixed a date he did not leave him rather he accompanied him wherever he went. Gandhiji was impressed by his tenacity and determination and finally agreed to go there from Calcutta.

2.       Why did Gandhi chide the lawyers who represented the interests of group of sharecroppers of Champaran?
Ans. Gandhiji chided the lawyers for collecting big fees from the sharecroppers to fight their case in law courts. He felt taking their case to law courts would do little good when they were so crushed and fear stricken. So his first priority was to free them from fear.

3.       What were the conditions of sharecroppers of Champaran?
Ans. The peasants of Champaran were tenants of 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 peasant to pay them compensation which some of the peasants resisted and fought their case in court.

4.       What made the British realise that the Indians could challenge their might hither to unquestioned?
Ans. The spontaneous demonstration around the courthouse by the peasants of Motihari on knowing that Gandhiji was in trouble was the beginning of their liberation from fear of the British which made the British realise that now the Indians can challenge their might.

5.       How did Gandhiji make the peasants fearless and self-reliant?
Ans. Gandhiji 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.

6.       Why did magistrate release Gandhiji?

Ans. Gandhiji pleaded guilty of disobedience. The peasants held a demonstration around the court. The Government was confused and the officials were powerless. The peasants were mounting pressure on the government. So, the magistrate released Gandhiji without bail.

7.       Why did Gandhiji say “The battle of Champaran is won”?

Ans. The lawyers had decided to go home, if Gandhiji went to prison. But Gandhiji asked them what would become of the injustice to the sharecroppers. The lawyers thought over it and decided that they too would follow Gandhiji. This was the time that Gandhiji said that the battle of Champaran was won.

8.       Why did Gandhiji agree to the settlement of 25% refund to the peasants?

Ans. Gandhiji had demanded 50 percent refund from the landlords. The landlords offered only 25 per cent. Gandhiji agreed to the settlement of 25 percent because according to Gandhiji money was not important. He had made the Britishers bow down before the Indian peasants.

9.       How did indigo sharecropping come to an end in Champaran?

Ans. Indigo sharecropping came to an end in Champaran as Germany had developed synthetic Indigo. Sharecropping was no longer profitable for the British planters. They had to surrender their prestige and money to the peasants. So, they gave up their estates which came back to the peasants.

10.    Why was Gandhiji summoned to appear in court?

Ans. Gandhiji went to see a badly treated peasant .He was served with a notice from the Superintendent of Police to quit Champaran. Gandhiji received the notice and wrote on it that he would never quit Champaran. As a result, he was summoned to appear in the court.

11.    Why did Gandhiji rebuke the Muzzafarpur lawyers?

Ans. Gandhiji rebuked the Muzzafarpur lawyers because they used to charge very high fees from the poor peasants.

12.    What was the condition of the peasants before Gandhiji’s arrival in Champaran?

Ans. The peasants were compelled to plant 15 per cent of their land with indigo crop and surrender the entire harvest as rent. When Germany developed synthetic indigo they were asked to give compensation for making them free from 15 per cent indigo plantation. Those who disobeyed were beaten by the hired criminals.

13.    What was the conflict of Gandhiji?

Ans. Gandhiji’s conflict was of discharging the duties. On one hand, he did not want to set a bad example by breaking the law. On the other hand he was to listen to the voice of his conscience and serve the human beings.

14.    How did Gandhiji regulate the crowd around the courthouse?

Ans. The officials were powerless as they could not control the crowd outside the courthouse. Gandhiji regulated the crowd in a polite and friendly manner.

15.    Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being ‘resolute’?

Ans. Raj Kumar Shukla is described as being ‘resolute’ because he wanted that Gandhiji should reach Champaran for their welfare. He accompanied Gandhiji everywhere. When Gandhiji returned to his ashram Shukla followed him there also. He even went to Calcutta to take Gandhiji along with him.

           Home work

16.    Give an account of Gandhi’s effort to secure justice for Indigo sharecroppers?

17.    The Champaran episode was a turning point in Gandhi’s life. Elucidate.

18.    How Gandhi build up poor peasants’ self-reliance?

19.    Can you say battle of Champaran is won? How?

20.    What values do we learn from Gandhi’s campaign?