CBSE Class 12 English Lesson 5 Indigo Question Answers (Important) from Flamingo Book
Class 12 English Indigo Question Answers: Looking for Indigo question answers (NCERT solutions) for CBSE Class 12 English Flamingo Book Chapter 5? Look no further! Our comprehensive compilation of important questions will help you brush up on your subject knowledge. Practising Class 12 English question answers can significantly improve your performance in the board exam. Our solutions provide a clear idea of how to write the answers effectively. Improve your chances of scoring high marks by exploring Chapter 5: Indigo question answers now. The questions listed below are based on the latest CBSE exam pattern, wherein we have given NCERT solutions to the chapter’s extract based questions, short answer questions, and long answer questions.
Also, practising with different kinds of questions can help students learn new ways to solve problems that they may not have seen before. This can ultimately lead to a deeper understanding of the subject matter and better performance on exams.
- Indigo NCERT Solution
- Extract based Questions
- Short Answer Questions
- Long Answer Questions
- See Video of Indigo
Related
Indigo NCERT Solution
Q1- Why do you think Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life?
Ans- The Champaran event had solved various problems faced by the poor peasants. They were relieved from the torture they had to face at the hands of the landlords. Thousands of people supported him. This was considered as a turning point in the life of Gandhi. He once said that what he did was an ordinary thing as he didn’t want the Britishers to order him in his own country.
Q2- How was Gandhi able to influence lawyers? Give instances.
Ans- Gandhi asked the lawyers about their course of action if he was sentenced to jail. They answered that they would return back. He then asked them about the plight of the peasants. This made them realize their duty towards the social issue and they decided to go to jail with Gandhi.
Q3- What was the attitude of the average Indian in smaller localities towards advocates of ‘home rule’?
Ans- The average Indians in smaller localities did not support the advocates of Home Rule as they feared to go against the British government. For Gandhi it was surprising that Professor Malkani allowed him to stay at his home even though he was a government teacher.
Q4-How do we know that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement?
Ans- Ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement. This can be justified by the following events:
- A large number of students accompanied Prof. J.B Kriplani to welcome Gandhi at Muzzafarpur railway station.
- Peasants also came to see him either on foot or by conveyance.
- A large number of people gathered to demonstrate around the courtroom.
Class 12 English Indigo Question Answers Lesson 5 – Extract Based Questions
Extract-based questions are of the multiple-choice variety, and students must select the correct option for each question by carefully reading the passage.
A. They thought he would demand repayment in full of the money which they had illegally and deceitfully extorted from the sharecroppers. He asked only 50 per cent. “There he seemed adamant,” writes Reverend J. Z. Hodge, a British missionary in Champaran who observed the entire episode at close range. “Thinking probably that he would not give way, the representative of the planters offered to refund to the extent of 25 per cent, and to his amazement Mr. Gandhi took him at his word, thus breaking the deadlock.” This settlement was adopted unanimously by the commission. (CBSE QB,2021)
1. Gandhi knew that he would not get an agreement on the demand for 50% repayment.
Choose the option that offers the correct justification for the assumption made above.
A) He had anticipated the negotiating tactics of the planter’s representative.
B) He had been informed about the depleting funds of the planters.
C) He had taken the advice of the Reverend on board.
D) He had evaluated the commission’s attitude towards Indians
Ans. A) He had anticipated the negotiating tactics of the planter’s representative.
2 Given below are four real-life situations. Choose the option that perfectly describes a deadlock.
A) Situation 1
B) Situation 2
C) Situation 3
D) Situation 4
Ans. B) Situation 2
3 Based on the given context, choose the option that exemplifies a deceitful extortion, out of the examples given below.
| 1. The artisans demonstrated for their rights, peacefully, on the streets. | 2. The head of the artisan union pretended to address all the problems faced by them. |
| 3. The head of the artisan union came with goons and took all the assets of the poor artisans. | 4. The artisans in Hafr Gunj decided to sell their wares directly to the government outlets |
A) Option 1
B) Option 2
C) Option 3
D) Option 4
Ans. C) Option 3
4 The deadlock broke because
A) Gandhi’s settlement offer was worth considering.
B) All commission members agreed to adopt the representative’s offer.
C) Reverend J. Z. Hodge’s intervention brought both parties together.
D) The sharecroppers refused to be convinced by the commission.
Ans. B) All commission members agreed to adopt the representative’s offer.
Class 12 Indigo Important Question Answers Video
B. 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, dayto-day problems of the millions. His was not a loyalty to abstractions; it was a loyalty to living, human beings. In everything Gandhi did, moreover, he tried to mold a new free Indian who could stand on his own feet and thus make India free. (CBSE QB,2021)
1 Choose the option listing the sentence that is the most appropriate example of an ‘act of defiance’, from the following:
A) She picked up the telephone terrified of what was about to come. She could hear nobody on the other side.
B) Meanwhile, there was a thud at the door loud enough to scare her.
C) Curious as she was, she wanted to open it as soon as possible.
D) Her mother tried to stop her several times but she went ahead nevertheless.
Ans. D) Her mother tried to stop her several times but she went ahead nevertheless.
2 Choose the correct option with reference to the two statements given below.
Statement 1: His was not a loyalty to abstractions; it was a loyalty to living, human beings.
Statement 2: Gandhi was a humanitarian at heart.
A) Statement 1 is the cause of Statement 2.
B) Statement 2 is the effect of Statement 1.
C) Statement 2 can be inferred from Statement 1.
D) Statement 1 and Statement 2 are independent of each other.
Ans. C) Statement 2 can be inferred from Statement 1.
3 The given extract DOES NOT talk about
A) details of the daily problems faced by human beings.
B) efforts to relieve suffering of the common people.
C) the reason for the occurrence of Champaran.
D) Gandhi’s principles in the field of politics.
Ans. A) details of the daily problems faced by human beings.
4 Which option showcases an example of action (A) -result (R), from the passage?
(1) A= defiance R= poor peasants
(2) A= free Indians R= free India
(3) A= free India R= defiance
(4) A= defiance R= free Indians
A) Option 1
B) Option 2
C) Option 3
D) Option 4
Ans. B) Option 2
C. There Shukla led him to the house of a lawyer named Rajendra Prasad who later became President of the Congress party and of India. Rajendra Prasad was out of town, but the servants knew Shukla as a poor yeoman who pestered their master to help the indigo sharecroppers. So they let him stay on the grounds with his companion, Gandhi, whom they took to be another peasant. But Gandhi was not permitted to draw water from the well lest some drops from his bucket pollute the entire source; how did they know that he was not an untouchable?
1 What does the word ‘Yeoman’ mean?
A. Man holding and cultivating a small land
B. Man who looks at others repulsively
C. Man who bothers everyone
D. None of these
Ans. (A) Man holding and cultivating a small land
2 Name the author of this chapter.
A Louis Updike
B Louis Fishing
C Louis Fischer
D Louis Fisherman
Ans. C Louis Fischer
3 Why was Gandhi not permitted to draw water from the well?
A For he was considered as a touchable
B For he was considered as an untouchable
C For he was accompanied by Shukla
D None of these
Ans. B For he was considered as an untouchable
4 Whom was Gandhi accompanied by?
A Louis Updike
B Raj Kumawat Shukla
C Raj Kumar Shukla
D Kasturbai Gandhi
Ans. C Raj Kumar Shukla
D. The Champaran episode was a turning-point in Gandhi’s life. ‘‘What I did,” he explained, “was a very ordinary thing. I declared that the British could not order me about in my own country.” 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. In everything Gandhi did, moreover, he tried to mold a new free Indian who could stand on his own feet. (CBSE Sample Paper 2022)
1 In the extract, the phrase ‘loyalty to abstractions’ refers to a strong commitment to __________.
A. selected groups
B. simple pleasures
C. certain ideologies
D. governmental authorities
Ans. C. certain ideologies
2 Select a suitable word from the extract to complete the following analogy:
change: transform :: relieve: __________.
Ans. alleviate
3 Select the correct option to fill in the blank.
The primary motive of Gandhi’s actions was to _________.
A. make Indians self-reliant
B. eradicate peasant poverty
C. unite the people of Champaran
D. expose the incompetence of the British
Ans. A. make Indians self-reliant
4 Which of these best describes the primary purpose of the extract?
A. It highlights Gandhi’s intention to use peasants to overthrow colonial power.
B. It points out why the Champaran episode is still relevant in free modern India.
C. It explains the differences between the political strategies of Gandhi and the British.
D. It shows how Gandhi’s position in the Champaran struggle reflected his political views.
Ans. D. It shows how Gandhi’s position in the Champaran struggle reflected his political views.
5 Identify the textual clue that allows the reader to infer Gandhi’s view of his own accomplishments (clue: a word).
Ans. Ordinary
6 Complete the sentence with an appropriate explanation, as per the extract. Gandhi uses the words ‘turning point’ to refer to the Champaran incident because it __________.
Ans. was Gandhi’s first instance of civil disobedience.
E. They had merely heard that a Mahatma who wanted to help them was in trouble with the authorities. Their spontaneous demonstration, in thousands, around the courthouse was the beginning of their liberation from fear of the British. The officials felt powerless without Gandhi’s cooperation. He helped them regulate the crowd. He was polite and friendly. He was giving them concrete proof that their might, hitherto dreaded and unquestioned, could be challenged by Indians. The government was baffled. The prosecutor requested the judge to postpone the trial. Apparently, the authorities wished to consult their superiors.(CBSE Sample Paper 2020)
1 . The officials felt powerless because
A. of Gandhi’s refusal to cooperate with them.
B. of Gandhi’s polite and friendly behavior.
C. The crowd was listening only to Gandhi.
D. the crowd was getting violent.
Ans. C. The crowd was listening only to Gandhi.
2 The demonstration proved that the
A. policies of the British had failed.
B. dread instilled in the hearts of Indians had begun to lessen.
C. dealings with the Indian citizens had been unsuccessful.
D. might of the British had not been understood by Indians.
Ans. B. dread instilled in the hearts of Indians had begun to lessen.
3 Which style, from those given below, is being used by the author, when he says, “Apparently, the authorities wished to consult their superiors.”?
A. humorous
B. dramatic
C. sarcastic
D. persuasive
Ans. C. sarcastic
4 Gandhiji’s behavior towards the British prior to the proposal of postponement of the trial was that of
A. indifference.
B. calm acceptance.
C. ignorance of consequences.
D. polite helpfulness.
Ans. B. calm acceptance.
F. Sharecroppers from Champaran began arriving on foot and by conveyance to see their champion. Muzaffarpur 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.’’
1. Which of the following can be termed as a conveyance?
A. Horse Cart
B. Bus
C. car
D. All of these
Ans. D. All of these
2. Sharecroppers were ______
A. Farmers
B. Landlords
C. both a and b
D. None of these
Ans. A. Farmers
3. “chided “ means
A. Requested
C. Scolded
C. prohibited
D. None of these
Ans. B. Scolded
4. Gandhi wanted that the sharecroppers should _____________
A. Go to court
B. Pay the high fee
C. be free from fear
D. All of these
Ans. C. be free from fear
G. The official inquiry assembled a crushing mountain of evidence against the big planters, and when they saw this they agreed, in principle, to make refunds to the peasants. “But how much must we pay?” they asked Gandhi.
They thought he would demand repayment in full of the money which they had illegally and deceitfully extorted from the sharecroppers. He asked only 50 per cent. “There he seemed adamant,” writes Reverend J. Z. Hodge, a British missionary in Champaran who observed the entire episode at close range. “Thinking probably that he would not give way, the representative of the planters offered to refund to the extent of 25 per cent, and to his amazement Mr. Gandhi took him at his word, thus breaking the deadlock.”
1. Crushing mountain means ____________
A. To be crushed under a big thing
B. A lot of
C. very important
D. Both b and c
Ans. B. A lot of
2. Find a synonym of cheating
Ans. Deceitfully
3. Who is a missionary?
A. Government official
B. Religious priest
C. land owner
D. Farmer
Ans. B. Religious priest
4. “Mr. Gandhi took him at his word” means –
A. He accepted the offer there and then
B. He believed his words
C. both a and b
D. None of these
Ans. A. He accepted the offer there and then
Class 12 English Indigo Short Question Answers (including questions from Previous Years Question Papers)
In this post we are also providing important short answer questions from the Chapter Indigo for CBSE Class 12 Boards in the coming session. These questions have been taken from previous years class 12 Board exams and the year is mentioned in the bracket along with the question.
Q1. Why did Gandhiji feel that taking the Champaran case to court was useless?|
(Delhi 2014 Modified)
Ans. When Gandhiji learned about the plight of the peasant groups in Champaran from his discussions with lawyers, he concluded that the poor peasants were so crushed and terrified that the law courts were useless in their case. Going to court cost the sharecroppers a lot of money in legal fees. What was really needed was to free them from their fear.
Q2. How did the Champaran peasants react when they heard that a Mahatma had come to help them? (Compartment 2014)
Ans. When the Champaran peasants learned that a Mahatma had arrived to assist them, a large crowd gathered in Motihari. Thousands of peasants demonstrated outside the courthouse where Gandhiji was scheduled to appear. The crowd was so unruly that the officials felt powerless, and Gandhiji himself assisted the authorities in keeping the crowd under control.
Q3. Why did Gandhiji object to CF Andrews’ stay in Champaran? (Foreign 2009)|
Ans. CF Andrews, an English pacifist, was a devoted Gandhiji follower. The lawyers believed that Andrews, as an Englishman, could be of great assistance to them in their battle of Champaran. Gandhiji, on the other hand, was opposed because he believed that enlisting the assistance of an Englishman demonstrated weakness. Their cause was just, and they needed to win by relying on themselves. This would enable them to be self-sufficient.
Q4. Why do you think Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life? (All India 2011)
Ans. The Champaran incident began as an attempt to relieve the suffering of poor peasants. It was ultimately a watershed moment in Gandhiji’s life because it was a loud proclamation that made the British realize Gandhiji could not be ordered around in his own country. It instilled in the masses the courage to question British authority and laid the groundwork for non-cooperation as a new tool for fighting the British tooth and nail.
Q5. Why do you think the servants thought Gandhi to be another peasant? (Delhi 2010)
Ans. Rajkumar Shukla, the servants knew, was a poor farmer who pestered their master to help the indigo sharecroppers. They mistook Gandhiji for a peasant because he accompanied Shukla and was dressed simply. Gandhiji’s modesty and lack of assertiveness led to the misconception that he was a peasant.
Q6. The peasants were themselves the most crucial agents in the success of the Champaran Civil Disobedience. Expand. (CBSE QB,2021)
Ans. The peasants played a critical role in the Champaran Civil Disobedience’s victory. This is because the movement would have been a disaster if they had not stood up to Gandhiji and trusted him. Gandhiji could not have won Champaran by himself; the peasants were the movement’s supporters.
Q7. Gandhi makes it clear that money and finance are a secondary aspect of the struggle in Champaran. Comment on the aspect that you think was most important for Gandhi. (CBSE QB,2021)
Ans. Gandhiji’s perseverance, determination, and resolve led to his success in Champaran. He went to Champaran at the request of an illiterate peasant, where he listened to sharecroppers’ grievances and launched the Civil Disobedience Movement. He was victorious, and the landlords relinquished their claims to their estates, which were returned to the farmers. They gained courage and realized that they, too, could defend themselves. The landlords were forced to give up some of their money and prestige. As a result, Gandhiji broke the impasse between farmers and landlords.
Q8. Gandhi was a lawyer himself. Examine how his professional expertise helped in Champaran. (CBSE QB,2021)
Ans.Terrorized peasants had no voice and no recourse in court against the landlords’ unfair dealings. When Gandhiji arrived on the scene, he assessed the situation and declared that there was no point in engaging in litigation because law courts would be unable to provide justice to the peasants. He felt it was necessary to teach these oppressed farmers how to be brave. He realized that they would never feel relieved until and unless they got over their fear of the Britishers. As a result, he prioritized peasant empowerment and empowerment over legal battles for them.
Q9. Explain the possible reasons for Gandhi’s quick popularity among the peasants of Champaran. (CBSE QB,2021)
Ans. Gandhiji stayed in Champaran after his victory. During his stay, he realized that the Champaran people were culturally and socially backward, so he decided to work on this front as well. He decided to open primary schools and teach the people of Champaran about personal hygiene, community cleanliness, and other topics. Kasturba Gandhi, Gandhi’s wife, joined him in this movement. Gandhiji’s ascetic lifestyle, as well as his use of the dhoti and charkha, contributed to his popularity among peasants. Thus, through his firm determination and consistent efforts, he was able to effect change in the lives of ordinary people.
Q10. “The battle of Champaran is won!.” What led Gandhiji to make this remark? (Foreign 2010) OR
When Gandhi got the whole hearted support of the lawyers, he said, „The battle of Champaran is won‟. What was the essence behind his statement?(CBSE Sample Paper 2018)
Ans. If Gandhiji was arrested, the lawyers first decided to return home. But they quickly realized their error. When they declared that they would fight for the peasants’ cause if Gandhiji was arrested and volunteered to go to court for the sharecroppers’ cause, Gandhiji was overjoyed and exclaimed, “The battle of Champaran is won!”
Q11. As the host of a talk show, introduce Rajkumar Shukla to the audience by stating any two of his defining qualities. You may begin your answer like this: Meet Rajkumar Shukla, the man who played a pivotal role in the Champaran Movement. He …… (CBSE Sample Paper 2021)
Ans. Meet Rajkumar Shukla, an important figure in the Champaran Movement. He was determined to meet Gandhiji and protest the injustice of the landlord system in Bihar. His persistence persuaded Gandhiji to look into the matter and resolve the sharecroppers’ issue.
Class 12 Indigo Long Answer Questions Chapter 5
Q1. Biographies include features of non-fiction texts – factual information and different text structures such as description, sequence, comparison, cause and effect, or problem and solution. Examine Indigo in the light of this statement, in about 120-150 words.(CBSE Sample Paper 2021)
Ans. The story is based on an interview with Mahatma Gandhi conducted by Louis Fischer. In order to write about him, he went to his ashram, Sevagram, in 1942, and was told about Gandhiji’s Indigo Movement. The plot revolves around Gandhi and other prominent leaders’ struggle to protect sharecroppers from landlord atrocities. Indigo, as a biography excerpt, contains elements of both fiction and nonfiction texts. The facts and information are described in this chapter. It also has a text structure that is appropriate for nonfiction. The facts are from the pre-independence era of history. The Champaran incident was a significant part of the freedom struggle.This factual information is beautifully described while keeping the sequence of events in mind. The issue of sharecroppers is accurately depicted. Gandhi took up the Champaran farmers’ case after determining that their cause was just. He then used the principle of civil disobedience to defy British orders to restrain him politely. This incident influenced Gandhi, who decided that the British should leave India. The Champaran case’s victory fueled the Civil Disobedience Movement. As a result, everything described in the chapter is true.
Q2. How did Gandhiji succeed in getting justice for the Indigo sharecroppers?(CBSE Sample Paper 2019)
Ans. Gandhiji stayed in Muzaffarpur, where he met with lawyers and concluded that fighting through the courts would not solve the problem of Champaran’s poor sharecroppers. He declared that the greatest relief for them would be to be free of fear. He arrived in Champaran with this intention and contacted the Secretary of the British Landlords Association. The Secretary flatly refused to give him any information. Following this, Gandhiji met with the Commissioner of the Tirhut division, who served him with a notice to leave Tirhut immediately. Gandhiji signed the notice and wrote on it that he would not obey the order. He was even willing to go to jail for the sake of the peasants’ cause.
Following four rounds of negotiations with the Governor, an official commission of inquiry was formed, with Gandhiji appointed as the sole representative of the peasants. Through this commission, Gandhiji was able to obtain from British landowners 25% of the compensation award for poor sharecroppers. The peasants realized they had rights and advocates. They gained courage.
Q3. How did the court scene at Motihari change the course of India’s struggle for freedom?
Ans. The peasants in Champaran were terrified of the British government. The problem was caused by indigo and the landlords’ greed. They had forced the tenants to plant indigo on 15% of their land and hand over the entire harvest to the landlords. The landlords were ready to release the above condition when synthetic indigo arrived. They demanded compensation, unaware of the consequences, and the peasants agreed.When the peasants learned about synthetic indigo, they demanded their money back. Thugs were hired by the British to oppose them. Gandhiji realized that lawyers were unnecessary. He realized that releasing them from their fear would be difficult due to their lack of education.
He did, however, champion their cause with his tenacity. He soon became the leader of a nonviolent and Satyagraha movement. Many farmers gathered outside the courtroom where Gandhiji had been summoned. The British felt challenged as a result of this. Champaran sharecroppers came barefoot to see Gandhiji. Lawyers from Muzzaffarpur also contacted him. He explained that what he had done was nothing out of the ordinary. He’d simply informed the Britishe that he couldn’t be ordered in his own country. Gandhiji attempted to create new free Indians capable of standing on their own.
This new realization provided him with a direction to lead the freedom struggle and thus proved to be a turning point in India’s struggle for independence.
Q4. Imagine Gandhi were to deliver a speech to students in present day India showing them the path to becoming responsible world leaders. Based on your understanding of Gandhi’s own leadership skills, write a speech, as Gandhi, addressing the students about the qualities that every leader and politician should nurture. (CBSE QB,2021)
Dear students, you are all leaders of social change. I see many bright and enthusiastic faces that assure me that our future is in good hands. I have learnt from my own experience……………(continue)………….
Ans. Dear students, you are all leaders of social change. I see many bright and enthusiastic faces that assure me that our future is in good hands. I have learnt from my own experience that sweeping away prejudices gives new values for living. I stress the importance of Truth and Non-violence and call you to “Be Fearless”. I understand the feelings and sympathies of youth and have designated you as agents of social change. Only spiritual and ethical values, I believe, can bring about social change. I want today’s youth and students to be the means to form idealistic thoughts. I encourage your minds about self-reliance as a critical requirement for success, I am open-minded and want all young people to be the same.
I insist on being religiously tolerant of all faiths. As a life mantra, I emphasize simplicity, kindness, truth, and nonviolence. These are the most important things for you to learn and follow as students. Furthermore, I want today’s youth to adhere to moral values. I hope that Indian youth will follow my ideals in order to lead a peaceful India.
Thank you.
Q5. Let us assume it was Rajendra Prasad who informed Charles Freer Andrews of Gandhi’s decision and the reasons for other leaders’ support of him. Thinking creatively of how Andrews would have responded and pen down the discussion you think would have taken place between Rajendra Prasad and Andrews.(CBSE QB,2021)
Ans. Charles Freer Andrews, an English pacifist who had become a devoted follower of Gandhi, came to bid Gandhi farewell before departing for a tour of duty in the Fiji Islands early in the Champaran action. Gandhi’s legal associates thought Andrews should stay in Champaran and assist them. Andrews agreed if Gandhi agreed. Gandhi, on the other hand, was vehemently opposed. “You think that having an Englishman on our side would be beneficial in this unequal fight,” he said. This demonstrates your heart’s weakness. The cause is just, and you must rely on yourself to prevail. “And we had no reply… Gandhi taught us a lesson in self-reliance in this way,” Rajendra Prasad says.
“I understand your point, Mr. Prasad,” Andrews said. “Gandhi’s politics were intertwined with the daily lives of millions of Indians. This was not devotion to abstractions. It was a devotion to living humans. Gandhi attempted to shape a new free Indian who could stand on his own two feet and thus free India in everything he did “He stated.
“To obtain justice for oppressed people, persuasive argumentation and negotiation are required. A good leader should have a magnetic personality and strong persuasive abilities. He had the ability to attract people of all social classes to himself “Rajendra Prasad stated.
“To emerge as a champion of the oppressed and downtrodden, rural upliftment should be prioritized. Gandhi performs humanitarian and national service in obedience to our higher law, the voice of conscience. As a result, he comes across as polite and friendly “Andrews stated.
“His ability to read people’s minds renders them speechless. He believes in self-sufficiency, just cause, and the purity of means to achieve success and triumph over evil!” Rajendra Prasad exclaimed.
Q6. Why is the Champaran episode considered to be the beginning of the Indian struggle for independence? (All India 2014 Modified)
Ans. The Champaran episode was a pivotal moment in the independence struggle. Gandhiji decided to urge the British to leave India during the course of this small but significant movement.
A close examination of the Champaran peasants’ problems opened Gandhiji’s eyes to the British’s unjust policies. He realized that people had to be free of fear before they could be free of foreign oppression. The people’s spontaneous demonstration demonstrated that Gandhiji had the nation’s support in his fight against the British. It also instilled patriotism in the hearts of Indians. During the freedom movement, the victory of civil disobedience at Champaran motivated the large-scale launch of the movement. Gandhiji’s victory in the sharecroppers’ case demonstrated that British authority could be challenged. As a result, the Champaran incident served as a stepping stone in India’s struggle for independence.
Q7. The Champaran episode was a turning point in Gandhiji’s life. Elucidate. (All India 2012)
Ans. Gandhiji himself acknowledged that the Champaran incident was a watershed moment in his life. It was then that he decided to urge the British to leave India.
In fact, the Champaran episode was India’s first instance of civil disobedience. On his way to Champaran, Gandhiji stopped in Muzaffarpur and met the lawyers who were fighting cases for sharecroppers. Gandhiji concluded that law courts were useless because the peasants were crushed and terrified. The greatest relief for them was being free of fear. The peasants’ spontaneous demonstration demonstrated that they had been instilled with new strength and spirit. With Satyagraha,Gandhiji demonstrated to the poor peasants how to fight the British. He made them realize their own power as well as the power of ahimsa.
All of this laid the groundwork for his future movements and served as a source of inspiration and strength for all Indians.
Q8. Give an account of Gandhiji’s efforts to secure justice for the poor indigo sharecroppers of Champaran. (All India 2012)
Ans. During his journey to Champaran with Rajkumar Shukla, Gandhiji stayed in Muzaffarpur, where he met lawyers and concluded that fighting through the courts would not solve the problem of Champaran’s poor sharecroppers. He declared that the greatest relief for them would be to be free of fear.
He arrived in Champaran with this intention and contacted the Secretary of the British Landlords Association. The Secretary flatly refused to give him any information. Following this, Gandhiji met with the Commissioner of the Tirhut division, who served him with a notice to leave Tirhut immediately.
Gandhiji signed the notice and wrote on it that he would not obey the order. He was even willing to go to jail for the sake of the peasants’ cause.
Following four rounds of negotiations with the Governor, an official commission of inquiry was formed, with Gandhiji appointed as the sole representative of the peasants.
Through this commission, Gandhiji was able to obtain from British landowners 25% of the compensation award for poor sharecroppers.
Q9. Describe how, according to Louis Fischer, Gandhiji succeeded in his Champaran campaign. (Compartment 2014)
Ans. The Champaran campaign sought to liberate the poor peasants of Champaran from British injustice and exploitation. Gandhiji was successful in this campaign by employing his satyagraha and nonviolent tactics. He went to Muzaffarpur to learn everything he could about the sharecroppers’ current situation. He first approached the relevant authorities, but when no response was forthcoming, he organized a mass civil disobedience movement with the support of the peasants.
Gandhiji’s main goal was to remove the fear of British landlords from the hearts of the poor peasants and create a new free Indian who could participate in the country’s freedom movement.He educated the peasants on their rights and instilled in them newfound confidence in fighting their own battles. He also taught them to be self-sufficient by refusing to accept assistance from his English friend, CF Andrews.
Q10. Gandhiji’s loyalty was not a loyalty to abstractions; it was a loyalty to living human beings. Why did Gandhiji continue his stay in Champaran even after indigo sharecropping disappeared? (All India 2014 Modified)
Ans. Gandhiji remained in the region after the Champaran battle was won and the land was returned to the peasants. His loyalty was towards the living human beings, and he realized that much needed to be done for the upliftment of the peasants in Champaran’s villages. Gandhiji took the initiative and began working to eliminate their cultural and social backwardness. Primary schools were established to educate poor peasants and their children. Gandhiji made an appeal to teachers, and many of his followers, including his wife and son, volunteered for the job.
The area’s health conditions were also deplorable. Gandhiji persuaded a doctor to volunteer his services for six months.
All of this demonstrates that Gandhiji’s loyalty was not to abstractions, but was always intertwined with the practical day-to-day problems of millions.
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