believe

a personwho
pacifist
forcefully W
vehemently
Q4.

helpor support th
" prop
t
C H O R T ANSWER QUESTIONS

S (to be answered in about 40 words

each)

(A)TextualQuestions

described as being 'resolute'?

Q1. Why is Rajkumar Shukla
Or (Delhi 2015)
establish that he was resolute?
How did Rajkumar Shukla
(Outside 2015; Delhi 2015) Q5.
'resolute' because
Rajkumar Shukla has been described as being
accompany
he did not give up in spite of Gandhiji's inability to
him to Champaran to see the rampant oppression being
suffered by the sharecroppers. Instead of returning, he followed
Gandhiji patiently on all his prior commitments till he finally
agreed.
2. Why do you think the servants thought Gandhi to be another
peasant at Rajendra Prasad's house? (Delhi 2010)

Rajkumar Shukla was a familiar face for Rajendra Prasad's

servants as he often visited their master. Since Gandhiji was n
his
company and was dressed up simply like an ordinary
person, they mistook him to be yet another humble
peasant.
and mnodest
Q3. Why could Gandhiji
not accompany Shukla to
immediately? List the places that he Champaran
meeting with Shukla and his visited between the trs
arival at Champaran.
Gandhiji couldn't accompany
Shukla to Champaranimmediately
 111

due to certain prior engagements He

and he had to visit
was expected in Cawnpore
to his ashram near
many parts of India after which he returned
Ahmedabad It was only after his VisIt to
Calcutta, Patna and Muzzafarpur that he
visited Champaran.
O4. What did the peasantspay the British
landlords as rent? What did
the British planters now want instead
and why? What would be
the impact of synthetic indigo on the prices of natural
indigo?
The peasants paid the entire harvest of indigo, produced in 15%
of their land,as rent to the British landlords. The British
planters
now wanted monetary compensation for releasing this land
because with the productionof syntheticindigo, the prices and
demand of natural indigo was bound to fall sharply.
Q5. Why did Gandhi agree to the planter's offer of a 25orefund to the
farmers? Or (Delhi 2009)
Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of 25% refund to the
farmers? (AI CBSE2013;Outside 2015C; Delhi 2016)
Gandhiji's real motive was to put an end to the fear that had
been the root cause of victimization of the poor
croppers. This
arrangement was a moral victory for the farmers and signalled
the surrender by landowners who were otherwise
thought of as
unchallengeable.
06. How did the Champaran episode change the
plight of the
peasants? Or
How did Gandhiji help the peasants of Champaran?
(AI CBSE 2009)
The Champaran episode released the peasants from the
clutches of British landlords and made them aware of their
rights. Apart from getting back 25% of the compensation
money, the episode also marked the beginning of a transtorned
life for the poor and exploited.
112
Literature Companion h
Q7. Why do you think Gandhiji considered the
to be a turning-point in his life? Champaran episode
(AI CBSE 2011,201,
Gandhiji considered the Champaran episode to
point in his life because it established the
be a turning,
cooperation' as a means of fighting injustice. efficacy of
Bes:a non-
successfully initiated the latent courage in the
and mute Indian masses. seemingymek
Q8. How was Gandhiji able to iinfluence lawyers? Give
i
instances.
(AI CBSE 2008,
Gandhiji was able to influence lawyers by 2009%
sincerity of purpose,
convincing arguments and a logical approach. He chided then
for over-charging the peasants, encouraged them
to court arrest
for their cause, dissuaded them from seeking
Mr Andrewds
help in their battle against the British and
encouraged them to
be self-reliant.
Q9. What was the attitude of the average Indian in
smaller localities
towards the advocates of'home rule'?
The Indians in smaller localities found it hard to believe that
the
British could be overpowered and home rule could be realized
one day. They dreaded the wrath of the British and hence few
dared to support or provide shelter to the advocates of ho
rule' movement.
Q10. How do we know that ordinary people too contributed to the
freedom movement? (Delhi2008)

Ordinary Indians like Rajkumar Shukla and other Champaran

peasants contributed to the freedom movemnent in equal terms
as the national leaders. The victory of civil disobedience
movement would not have been Possible without
t h e i r

unconditional support and active solidarity.

Flamingo

(B) Additional Questions 113

did Shukla
Q11.
How
succeed in
Champaran? persuading Gandhiji to visit
Shukla succeeded (Delhi 2008)
in
perseverance. He was a persuading
tenacious and resoluteGandhiji by his
patiently followed Gandhiji
followed him
till he yielded person who
everywhere and Gandhiji to his request.
notice of the magnitude of was He
his problem. compelled to take
Q12. Why did Rajkumar Shukla
want to take
Or Gandhijito Champaran?
Why did Rajkumar
Shukla go to meet (Delhi 2008)
Raikumar Shukla was Gandhiji?
his fellow pained to observe the
sharecroppers.He saw a ray of hopepitiable plight of
his commitment
towards the poor. He in Gandhiji and
Champaran in order to fight wanted Gandhiji to visit
to them by the against the exploitation
British landlords.
Q13. What made
meted out
In the course
Gandhijiurge the departure of the
of securing British?
Gandhiji challenged the justice for the
veracity oppressed Indians,
times. Every challenge of British authorities several
British claim over proved his stance to be
India as wrong. This right and the
British had no business
to rule Indiaand convinced him that the
departure.
Q14. Who
he urged their
absolute
was Rajkumar
Shukla? What do you get to know
from the chapter"Indigo"? about him
Rajkumnar Shukla was one of the illiterate, poor and
sharecroppers
him as a
man
from Champaran. The chapter
of firm resolve who was
oppressed
"Indigo" reveals
courageous enough to
impress Gandhiji to the extent that he fought for their cause and
won them justice and self-reliance.
114
Literature Companion 1:
O15. Why was Gandhiji not permitted to dradraw water
Rajendra Prasad's house? from the
well a
Or

How was Gandhiji treatedlat Rajendra Prasad's house?

(AI CBSE 2015)
The servants at Rajendra Prasad's house took
Gandhij
sharecropper like Shukla. They did not let him draw waterto be a
the well because they thought him to be an untouchable. from
feared that if some drops fell from his bucket Ther
the entire well
would be polluted.
Q16. What problems were the Champaran indig0 sharecroppers facing?
Or

What did thepeasants pay to the British landlords as rent?

(Foreign 201
The Champaran indigo sharecroppers were the victims of a
system according to which they worked as tenants for British
landlords and were compelled toplant indigo in 15% of their
holdings. Besides, the entire harvest in this part had to be paid
as rent to the English masters.
Q17. Why did Gandhijivisit Muzzafarpur on his way to Champaran
Whoreceived him there? (Foreign 2011)
Gandhiji visited Muzzafarpur on his way to Champaran
because he wished to gather more information about the plight
of the sharecroppers and have a better insight into their

problem. He was receivedthere by Prof. J.B. Kriplani and alarge

number of his students from the Arts College in Muzzatarpu
Q18. Why did Gandhiji chide the Muzzafarpur lawyers? How didthis
influence them? Or
How is Gandhicritical of the lawyers? (Foreign 2015)

Or
Flamingo : Indigo 115

After initial reluctance why did the lawyers tell Gandhiji that
they were ready to follow him into jail? (Foreign 2016)
Gandhiji chided the lawyers for charging exorbitant fees from
the already oppressed peasants. They were
eventually
influenced by his decision to court arrest in support of
the
neasants. This fearless act inspired them to join hands to
relieve
the farmers of the fear of the British.
019, What according to Gandhiji wasthe real
relief for the farmers?
Gandhiji believed that the real relief for the
was not the refund of their suppressed farmers
compensation money but the
freedom from fear. It was the fear of
the British that had kept
these people subjugated for so long.
Hence relief from this fear
was the actualcure for their plight.
020, Why did the British
landlords obtain agreement from
peasants to the
pay them compensation for being
arrangenment?
released
from 15%
Or
At Champaran what did
the British landlords
want from the
sharecroppers?
The developing of synthetic (Foreign 2016)
indigo by the Germans affected
adversely the pricesand demand of natural
cunning landlords made the indigo. So, the
gullible peasants enter into
agreement with them to pay
15% land they had been compensation before releasing the
021. What using for planting indigo crop.
made the peasants, who
the British had entered into agreement with
landlords to pay compensation, demand their money
back from the British
landlords?
The peasants clearly
saw through the Britishers' game of seeking
Compensation in lieu of release of the 15% land under indigo
after learning that natural indigo Was no more commercially
 116
Literature Companion 1)

viable for the British. They felt cheated and hence

back their money.
demanded
Q22. Why did Gandhiji meet the secretary of the British landlord's
association on arriving in Chanmparan? What was the outcome>
Gandhiji was fair, just and meticulous in hisways. Therefore he
met the secretary of the British landlord's association
understand the view point of the landlords as well. However
the outcome was futile as the secretary refused to reveal any
information to Gandhiji labelling him as 'an outsider'.
Q23. Why did Gandhijicall on the British official commissioner of the
Tirhut division? What was the outcome of this meeting?
The un-cooperative attitude of the secretary of the British
landlord's association prompted Gandhiji to contact the official
commissioner of the Tirhut division. This meeting too was of no
avail as the authoritativecommissioner tried to bully Gandhiji
and advised him forthwith to leave Tirhut.
Q24. What kind of reception was accorded to Gandhijiin Motihari?
What was theconsequence?
The people in Motihari received Gandhiji enthusiastically. His
mass appeal made the authorities nervous and they stopped
him from visiting a victim cropper in a nearby village. He
was driven back and served with an official notice to quit

Champaran.
Q25. What did Gandhiji do on the night when he received summons to
appear incourt?
On receiving the summons to appear in court Gandhiji stayed
wake all night and made preparations before the beginning of
his trial. He sent a telegraph to Rajendra Prasad to reach

Champaran with influential friends. He also sent instructions to

the ashram and wired a full report to the Viceroy.
 119

Whydid Gandhiji object to C. F. Andrews's stay iin Champaran?

(Foreign 2009)

Gandhiji vehemently (strongly) opposed the lawyers' move to

lbet Charles Andrews's help because he was an Englishman.
Gandhiji believed that this move would indicate that the
could not win their battle without the support of
lawyers
Englishmen. It would also preventthem from being self-reliant.
message does the Indigo episode convey? Why is it still
034. What
relevant?

The Indigo episode conveys that patience, perseverance and

adversities.
determination can help oneovercome all odds and
Besides, one should learn to be self-reliant instead of looking for
shoulders to lean upon. This message holds good even today,
for life is a continuous battle.

ONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

(obe answered in about 150 words each)

(A) TextualQuestion
Q1. Why did Gandhiji consider freedom from fear more important
than legal justice for the poor peasants of Champaran?
Or (Sample paper 2015)
"Freedom from fear is more important than legal justice for the
poor." Comment in light of the lesson "Indigo". (Value Based)
Gandhiji considered freedom from fear more important than
legal justice for the poor peasants of Champaran because the
legal system too was governed by same oppressive lawS
that
had broken the spirit of self-esteem
amongst Indians. The poor
farmers of CChamparan were afraid of the unchallengeable
ught of the British. Theywere terror-stricken anddid not have
 Literature Companion 1)
120

self-belief to raise their voice

against the unfair dealings of the
However, Gandhiji viewed the entire situation and
landlords.
battles would be inconclusive owing to
realized that these legal
of will to deliver justice on part of the Englishmen. He
the lack
of getting into litigations, it was better to
decided that instead
down-trodden farmers. The
victory
teach courage to these
peasants
self-confidence and the subjugated
fear would instill
external support to defend their rights
would not need any
priority to empowering and emboldening
Therefore, he gave
peasants rather than waging legalbattles.
the
(B) AdditionalQuestions

between the landlords and the Champaran

Q2. What was the dispute resolving the dispute
did Gandhiji play in
peasants? What role
Or
successfully?
secure justice for the poor
Give an account of Gandhiji's efforts to (AICBSE 2012)
indigosharecroppers of Champaran.

The dispute between the landlords and the Champaran peasants

former in
was over the extortion of compensation money by the
lieu of exemption togrow indigo by the latter. But, realising that
thismove was to squeeze the last bit of profit from indigo,which
was to lose its worth because of German synthetic indigo, the
peasants felt cheated and demanded their money back.
Gandhiji played asignificant role in resolving the issue and
securingjustice for the poor sharecroppers. After four protracted
interviews with him, Edwards Gait, the Lt. Governor of Bihal
constituted a commission of inquiry that comprised of landlord
government officials and Gandhiji himself.
Gandhiji made thorough investigations, documentation and
collection of evidence which became a potential warning forthe
Hmingo: Indigo
121

Jandlords.
Eventually, his diligence and judicious pursuance
made the colonizers agree in
einprinciple to refund the money.
In the end, Gandhiji accepted the refund of only 25% of the
compensation because he saw it more as avictory of
principles.
03. Why did Gandhiji's casual visit to Champaran get extended to
over a year?

Gandhiji did not imit his visit to Champaran as a casual

Overview but probed the whole matter deeply. He
gathered
information from the lawyers as well as from the
victims. He
also met the secretary of the British
landlord's association along
with the British official commissioner of
the Tirhut division to
get their view point as well. At last, his four
protracted
interviews with the Lt. Governor resulted in the
formation of a
commission of inquiry where the deadlock
over the
compensation-money was broken and the farmers got a 25%
refund of their money. Gandhiji did
not stop at the success of
this primary mission but decided to
resolve the root cause of the
injusticesbeing suffered by the people in
next took upon himself the task of this region. Thus, he
and social and cultural improving the health condition
backwardness in this area. AIl these
commitmnents led to the extension of his
04. H casual visit to over a year.
How did civil disobedience
the chapter "Indigo". triumph? Explain with reference to
Civil disobedience
movement was Gandhiji's potent weapon
at he used to assert the
hegate the power of independent spirit of Indians and
the British. It triumphed on every occasion
during Gandhiji'svisit to
On his Champaran.
arrival, he was given a tumultuous
thousands welcome by
of peasants defying the British law. The British, in
turn, seerved a notice to
Gandhijii to quit Champaran which was
 Literature Comparion 1
122

with the remark that he would

returned by him
Consequently he
was ordered to appear in the court. The
discbey i
of peasantsthat thronged the court house were unmanageable crowds
and the helpless officials had to seek Gandhiji's help to regulate
them. Sensing public outrage, the magistrate had to adjourn the
court for two hours and Gandhiji was demanded to furnish a
refused. This disobedience won again and the
bail which he
magistrate was forced to release Gandhiji without bail. After a
droPped by Lt. Governor
k:
tinally
few days, the case was disobedience
establishing the triumph of civil
tacitly
Gandhiji do to remove the cultural and social
Q5. What did (Delhi 2015
Champaran villages?
backwardness in the
Or
intertwined
pattern - his politics were
"This was typical Gandhi
day problemns of the milions." Comment.
with the practical day to
Or
reformation had various aspects - personal
Gandhiji's formula for to the
political. Comment with reference
social, economic and
Louis Fischer's "Indigo". politial
compensation issue by way of his
Gandhiji won the
solution toproblems would come
insight but found that real So, he
needs of the people.
addressing the practical day to day cultural
social and
focussed his attention on removing the called tor
He
backwardness of the Champaran villages. his apped
to
volunteers to help him in this mission. In
response
Mahadev

forward.
came helpin
several young and enthusiastic people
wivessto
Desai and Narhari Parikh came along with their Devadas

opening primary schools in six different villages. wite

G a n d h i j i ' s

Gandhiji's youngest Son, as well as Kasturbai,

the
ashral

also extended a helping hand. Kasturbai taught to

the
t
rules on personal cleanliness and community
S a n i t a t i o n
 also got the services of a
villagers.

This mammoth task

doctor to improve
the health
facilities.
continued till it gained
theand sensitized people towards the
relianceandnational pride.
significance of self.
A a visit to
Champaran become a turning point
Gandhi's life? How does this show in
Gandhi's love and concern
the common people of India? for
(AI CBSE2013; 2015C)
The Champaran visit becamne aturning
serving as an eye-opener point in Gandhi's life by
Indians. It gave him afirst
regarding the plight of common
fof Hhe British. He hand experience of
learnt that they were the malpractices
absolute disregard for the crafty rulers who had
British could not stand natives. It also taught him that the
ground in
face of civil
eftectively used the twin disobedience. He
policy of non-violence
cooperation to win this battle and non
ruler. This visit against a seemingly
strengthened his belief that invincible
should be made to Indian masses
and concern for the
believe in their
potential. It shows his love
at Champaran common people of India
for more thana because he camped
and uplift the vear while he
worked to educate
he rOoted downtrodden
out the real peasantry. He did not leave until
cause of exploitation -
1gnorance. He etaught the illiteracy and
self-reliant. villagers to overcome fear and become