CHAPTER - INDIGO
An Excerpt from The Life of Mahatma Gandhi
by Louis Fischer
About the theme
This chapter is an excerpt from Louis Fischer’s famous book ‘The Life of Mahatma
Gandhi’
The chapter describes Gandhiji’s visit to Champaran district in April 1917 on the
entreaty of a poor peasant to intervene in the issue of indigo sharecroppers and how
the episode becomes a turning point in India’s freedom struggle under the leadership
of Mahatma Gandhi.
The chapter throws light on Gandhiji’s relentless crusade against the oppression of
the poor and the downtrodden in the country that eventually culminates in the
country’s freedom from the clutches of the British in 1947.
About the Author
Louis Fischer was born on 29 February, 1896 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
First he worked as a school teacher. Then he served as a volunteer in the British Army
during the First World War. He went on to make a career as a journalist during which
he reported the Second World War.
Fischer was a Jewish‐American, who had the reputation of being a ‘friend of India’.
He was greatly influenced by Gandhiji’s use of non‐violence and spiritualism as
political tools and was a staunch supporter of India’s freedom movement. He wrote
highly acclaimed books on Gandhi and Lenin. He died at the age of 73 on 15 January,
1970 in Princeton, New Jersey, USA.
What is the Champaran episode?
Most of Champaran’s arable land was owned by British landlords.
The landlords had entered into a long-term, sharecropping contract with the
farmers in Champaran, according to which they compelled all tenants to plant
15% of their holdings with indigo, a commercial crop, used in making dye, high
on demand in Europe. The sharecroppers had to surrender the entire indigo
harvest as rent.
Upon the development of synthetic indigo by Germany, the demand for indigo
crop went down, hence, they no longer wanted indigo from the farmers.
They demanded a lump sum payment from the peasants to release them from the
bond.
Many paid, to be free from the bondage, but felt cheated upon knowing about
the synthetic indigo and hence demanded money back.
Those who refused to pay, fought court cases, but were suppressed by the
British.
The peasants who had heard about Gandhiji, saw in him, their sole saviour and
sent Rajkumar Shukla as their spokesperson to convince Gandhiji to intervene.
Highlights of the lesson
Gandhiji visits Lucknow in December 1916 to attend the annual convention of Indian
National Congress.
Rajkumar Shukla, a poor farmer from Champaran meets Gandhiji there to request him
to help the indigo sharecroppers from the injustice by the British.
Despite his efforts not to concede, Gandhiji is won over by the tenacity of the poor
peasant who follows him everywhere from Cawnpore to his Ashram in Ahamedabad.
Gandhiji visits the house of a renowned lawyer Rajendra Prasad in Patna to get first
hand information about the issues of the sharecroppers.
En route to Champaran, in April 1917, Gandhiji goes to Muzzafarpur and meets
Prof. J.B.Kripalani and Prof.Malkani to collect more facts on the issue.
Sharecroppers start flocking to Muzzafarpur to meet their champion.
Gandhiji is upset with local lawyers who did not do enough to help the poor farmers
at the law courts.
Gandhiji vouches to bring justice to the farmers by bringing them out of their fear for
the Britishers.
He sets out on his modus operandi at Champaran.
He meets the Secretary of the British landlord’s Association and then the British
official commissioner of the Tirhut region that cover Champaran.
In June, he is called by the Lieutenant Governor, who later orders an official inquiry
into the issue, with Gandhiji as the only representative of the peasants.
The evidences collected by the committee points at the atrocities of the big planters,
leading to the decision to refund money to the sharecroppers.
After a lot of negotiations, Gandhiji settles for a mere 25 per cent of refund, thus
breaking the deadlock, forcing the landlords to surrender their prestige, along with the
compensation, however small the amount.
Gandhiji’s foresight is proven right when the British planters abandon their estates,
leaving them behind for the Champaran peasants, bringing a complete end to the
indigo sharecropping in Champaran.
Gandhiji stays back in Champaran even after the settlement with the Britishers to
improve the socio, economic conditions of the people.
He brings his family & many disciples from far and wide to help him improve
education and health facilities.
Emancipation of women is made possible by making them aware of the importance of
health and hygiene.
He used the typical Gandhi pattern of politics that aimed at solving the practical day-
to-day problems of the masses to help them become independent and empowered.
Significant incidents & anecdotes
Gandhiji chided the lawyers in Bihar for charging high fees and fighting cases in
British run courts for the peasants ---he felt no justice would be delivered to Indian
peasants in British courts and that the only way to save the farmers is to free them
from suppression and fear of the British.
Gandhiji was given official order to leave Champaran, which he refused
blatantly--- signifies the first sign of civil disobedience that was to become a peaceful
weapon against the British in the nation’s struggle for freedom.
Upon hearing about Gandhiji’s impending conviction by the court, thousands of
peasants gave mass demonstration in front of the court premises--- that was the
beginning of their liberation from the fear of the British oppressors.
After an initial decision of returning home in the eventuality of Gandhiji’s
arrest, the lawyers expressed their readiness to court arrest with Gandhiji and
go to jail--- Lawyers realized their duty t o stand by the side of their poor fellow
beings against the British.-The battle already won, according to Gandhiji.
Despite the poverty of the peasants and the injustice in the offer, Gandhiji
settled for a mere 25 per cent compensation for the farmers--- He was farsighted
and knew, after surrendering their prestige before the poor Indians, the Britishers
would not want to stay in a place where there have neither profit nor respect
anymore.
The pacifist from Britain, Charles Freer Andrews was not allowed to stay back
in Champaran to help the peasants--- Gandhiji wanted no support from an outsider
as that would make the people remain dependent and hamper the process of self-
reliance.
After an initial decision of returning home in the eventuality of Gandhiji’s
arrest, the lawyers expressed their readiness to court arrest with Gandhiji and
go to jail--- Lawyers realized their duty t o stand by the side of their poor fellow
beings against the British.-The battle already won, according to Gandhiji.
Short Questions with value points
1. What urged Rajkumar Shukla to come to Gandhi, seeking help for the sharecroppers of
Champaran?
Peasants exploited, crushed by fear for the British
Unable to fight against injustice,f aught at courts, defeated
Wanted Gandhiji to save them
2. Why do you think Gandhi did not concede to the peasant’s request in the beginning?
was occupied with the freedom movement, was active in Indian National
Congress
travelled across country, busy with his ashram too
did not take Shukla too seriously
3. Why did Gandhi go to meet Rajendra Prasad first and then, Prof. Malkani and Prof.
J.B.Kripalani?
wanted to collect authentic, first hand information about farmers' issues
They were prominent people in neighbouring districts who could help him
4. How did the servants of Rajendra Prasad treat Gandhi? Why?
treated as untouchable, did not allow to draw water from well
5. What did the lawyers brief Gandhi about the situation in Champaran? What was the
latter’s response?
gave a clear picture- told about their role
fought cases for them in courts, failed, charged fees
6. What prompted the British Superintendent to issue a notice to Gandhi to return to
Motihari?
Stayed in Motihari, collected facts, talked to peasants
Gandhi's involvement made the British insecure
7. Why did Gandhi feel that going to law courts was futile?
Courts owned by British, would not serve justice
peasants crushed by fear, victory only when they are freed from fear
8. What, according to Gandhi, would pave way for the liberation of the peasant’s from the
clutches of the oppressors?
Free from fear, when they learn to fight for themselves, are empowered
9. What urgent tasks did Gandhi do on the intervening night before going to the court to
face trial? Why did he do that?
Wrote to ashram people
sent telegram to Rajendra Prasad and other lawyers to come to Champaran
briefed Viceroy about the whole issue
10. What were ‘the conflicts of duties’ that Gandhi pleaded guilty for before the court?
On one hand, flouted orders of authorities by refusing to leave
on the other, obeyed the higher law of conscience to serve his country and
countrymen
11. Why was Gandhi disappointed by the lawyers’ decision to return to Bihar?
that would be cruel to desert the peasants , who had paid them fees once to
fight cases
moral duty, being from neighbouring districts , to stand by the peasants
12. Why did Gandhi agree upon a meagre compensation for the farmers from the British
planters at the end of the inquiry?
wanted to break the deadlock by accepting whatever they offered
knew, in the long run, British would leave, aftre having surrendered prestige
13. Why did Gandhi decide to extend his stay in Champaran, even after resolving the
issue of the peasants?
wanted to improve socio-cultural position of the people
wanted to uplift, empower them by improving education, health, sanitation
14. What were the practices that had resulted in miserable health status of people in
Champaran?
self medication-quinine, castor oil and Sulphur ointment for all ailments
poor awareness about sanitation
15. How did Gandhi make people of Champaran realise the importance of education?
with help of his disciples who came as volunteers, started primary schools in six
villages
16. How do you know Gandhiji had a large number of devoted disciples to help him carry
out his noble plans for the betterment of Indians?
disciples came from across country to help peasants
Devadas Gandhi and Kasturbai too lended helping hand
doctors volunteered to provide services for six months( give names from text)
17. How did Gandhi keep watch on his Ashram activities even when he was far way in
Champaran?
sent regular insructions by mail
asked for financial details
18. Who was Charles Freer Andrews? Why did Gandhi refuse to let him to help the
people of Champaran?
British pacifist, supporter of Gandhiji
His service would make peasants feel dependent on an outsider
would not help making them self- reliant
LONG ANSWERS
1.Write a pen portrait of Rajkumar Shukla.
Representative of Champaran peasants
Poor & emaciated
Illiterate, but resolute -followed Gandhi everywhere till he consented to go to
Champaran
Tenacious, with great skills of persuasion
Brave -was courageous enough to be the spokesperson of the exploited sharecroppers
Resourceful- was a familiar figure with lawyers in Bihar
His persistence was instrumental in making Gandhi decide to go to Champaran that
subsequently was the turning point in his life as well as the fortunes of an entire
nation.
2. What was Gandhi’s modus operandi prior to and during his visit to Champaran?
Visited Professors & lawyers in Bihar to collect authentic information
In Champaran-visited Secretary of British landlord’s association
Next, met the British Official Commissioner of Tirhut region
At Motihari, took on the British authority by refusing to obey the orders to return
Pleaded guilty in court and demanded punishment, rendering the authorities helpless,
ultimately forcing them to drop the case
Conducted far-flung inquiry into the issue of sharecroppers, with help from lawyers
and testimonies from farmers
Invited by Lieutenant Governor Sir Edward Gait for discussions
Planned for civil disobedience, in case of possible arrest
became a part of the committee to look into the case of sharecroppers, settled the
issue with mere 25 per cent compensation, but with a wider vision of forcing the
British planters flee out of Champaran, succeeds.
Stayed on to improve the socio- cultural and economic conditions of the people of
Champaran
3. How did Gandhi uplift the conditions of the Champaran peasants
United the peasants & liberated them from fear and oppression
Made them self-reliant
Uplifted them from cultural & social backwardness by improving health, sanitation
and also educational facilities
Improved the condition of women with the help of Kasturbai
(Pick details on page 53)
4. How did the Champaran episode become a turning point in Gandhi’s life and in the
country’s freedom struggle?
First act of civil disobedience on being asked to return to Motihari-not a deliberate act
of defiance, but born out of desire to stand up for the rights of the peasants
Realised, if poor, downtrodden Indians stand united, the mighty Britishers could be
defeated
Taught the peasants, importance of health, hygiene ,education and self reliance to be
able to stand up for themselves
Moulded a new, free Indian who could stand on his own and make India free
All that he did and felt during his stay at Champaran , later was adopted as his major
strategies against the Britishers in the struggle for independence.
5. How was Gandhi’s politics different from that of others?
Not driven by motive for power, but service of humanity
Mission to uplift masses by uplifting their socio, economic ,cultural status, improving
health and spreading literacy
Not loyal to abstractions, but loyalty to living beings
Intertwined with practical, day-to-day problems of the living
6. His was not loyal to abstractions; it was loyalty to living, human beings”, Elucidate.
Gandhi's loyalty was not towards reaching an ideal solution in an ideal world, but
instead he was loyal to the practical, day-to-day problems faced by the real people in
real life situations.
(Give details about various ways in which Gandhiji empowered the poor Indian to stand up
for himself)
