INDIGO BY- LOUIS FISHER

Please, Note down the questions in your class work copy with proper indexing

Q. 1. How did Gandhi help the poor in Champaran to achieve freedom from fear ? What made indigo share-cropping disappear ? (A. I. CBSE 2008)

Ans. Gandhiji came to Champaran to fight against the injustice of the landlord system there. First he went to Muzaffarpur to obtain complete information about the actual condi­tions there. He met Kriplani and Prof. Malkani who briefed him on the matter. Most of the land in Champaran was divided into large estates owned by Englishmen. They were worked by Indian tenants to grow indigo. The landlords compelled all tenants to plant 15 per cent of their holding with indigo. They surrendered the entire harvest as rent. When synthetic indigo was developed in Germany indigo plantation no longer remained profitable. The landlords released the tenants from 15 per cent agreement. Thus, indigo sharecropping disappeared. They obtained agreements from sharecroppers to pay them compensation. Many refused to sign and others wanted their money back. At this point Gandhiji arrived in Champaran.

A huge crowd welcomed Gandhiji at Champaran. The commissioner advised him to leave the place. Gandhiji didn't oblige him. He decided to disobey the order. He received a summon to appear in the court the next day. Thousands of peasants demonstrated around the court house. It was the beginning of their liberation from fear of the British. The case against Gandhiji was dropped. Civil disobedience had triumphed for the first time in India.

Q. 2. Describe the trial of Gandhi in Motihari court during the Champaran movement. When and why did Gandhi declare : "The battle of Champaran is won" ?

Ans. Gandhi came to Motihari, the capital of Champaran. He had already equipped himself with the necessary facts and information. Gandhi called on the British Commissioner. He tried to bully Gandhi and advised him to leave the place at once.

Gandhi did not leave the place. Instead he proceeded to Motihari. A huge crowd greeted him at the station. He received an official notice to quit Champaran immediately. Gandhi decided to disobey the order. As a result, he was summoned to appear in the court the next day.

Gandhi wired a full report to the Viceroy. Thousands of peasants held a spontaneous demonstration around the courthouse. The government was baffled. Gandhi was in a 'conflict of duties'. He didn't want to be a law breaker but he had a cause before him. Finally, he heard "the voice of his conscience". He was set free without the bail. Gandhi asked the prominent lawyers what they would do if he was sent to jail. They finally decided to accompany Gandhi to jail. This emboldened Gandhi. He declared: "The battle of Champaran is won". The case against Gandhi was dropped. Thus, civil disobedience had triumphed for the first time in modern India.

Q. 3. Describe the exploitation of the indigo sharecroppers by English land­lords in Champaran. Did Gandhi help them to get an honourable settlement? (V. Imp.)

Ans. Most of the arable land in Champaran was owned by English landlords. The Indian tenants worked on the land. The chief commercial crop was indigo. The English planters compelled all sharecroppers to plant 15% of their holdings with indigo. They had to surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent to the landlords. This was done by a long-term contract. Then Germany developed synthetic indigo. The plantation of natural indigo was no more a profitable business for English landlords. They decided to free the Indian sharecroppers from the 15% contract. They were to pay compensation for this freedom. The peasants saw through the trick and fraud of the landlords. Therefore, they wanted their money back.

Gandhi went to Bihar to take up the cause of poor peasants. There was a huge demonstration of thousands of peasants the very next day. The government was baffled. A commission of inquiry was constituted. Gandhi was the sole representative of the peasants. The landlords agreed to refund the money to the peasants. At last, they settled for 25%. The amount of refund was less important. The more important thing was the victory of the peasants and the victory of the Civil Disobedience in India.