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ABOUT THE AUTHOR : LOUIS FISCHER
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LOUIS FISCHER (29 February 1896-15 January 1970) was an American Journalist .The, award winning film ‘Gandhi (1982) was inspired by his book ‘The Life of Mahatma Gandhi’., ‘The life of Lenin’ won the National Book Award in History and Biography. He was greatly, influenced by Gandhi’s non-violence and spiritualism as political weapons., , THEME, Indigo is an excerpt from ‘‘The Life of Mahatma Gandhi’ in which the author recounts the, events narrated by Gandhi himself to the author. The chapter deals with the Champaran, movement initiated by Gandhi and the peasants which became a historically relevant revolt in, the struggle for independence., The chapter highlights the values of effective leadership, persistent efforts, non-violence,, selfless service, determination and self-reliance., , WORD MEANINGS, Convention: agreement, Delegates: Representatives, Peasant: small farmer, Emaciated: thin, Resolute: determined, Tenacity: determination, Haunches: thighs, Boarded: get on, enter, Yeoman: a man who cultivates a small piece of land, Pestered: bother, harass, Permitted: allowed, En route: on the way, Advent: arrival
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Chided: criticize, scold, Conclusion: result, end of something, Fear stricken: afraid, Arable: land suitable for farming, Tenants: occupants paying rent in cash or kind, Estate: property, Compelled: forced, Surrendered: to give in, Contract: agreement, Indigo: plant that produces a blue color, Learned: come to know, Synthetic: Chemical based, artificial, Compensation: payments, Arrangement: Process, Irksome: irritating, Resisted: opposed, to be against something, Thugs: cheats, Illiterate: uneducated, Bully: trying to harm others considering them to be weak, Forthwith: immediately, at once, Multitude: a large number of people, Complied: followed or obeyed, Concrete: solid, Hitherto: Earlier, Previously, Dreaded: regarded with great fear or apprehension, Unquestioned: not examined or inquired into, Baffled: confused, Prosecutor: Lawyer or barrister, Postpone: delay, Apparently: seemingly, evidently, bail: an amount of money that a person who has been accused of a crime pays to a law court so that they, can be released until their trial., Reconvened: to start again after a small break, Upshot: result, conclusion, Consultations: discussion, Desertion: action of leaving, Triumphed: won, Grievances: complaints, Depositions: a formal written statement, Evidence: proof, Throbbed: produced a lot of vibrations due to a huge crowd, Investigators: the inspectors, Vehement: showing strong feeling; forceful, passionate, or intense., Deceitfully: dishonestly, Extorted: took forcibly, Adamant: firm, Amazement: surprise, Obliged: required, made legally bound to do something, Deadlock: a situation in which no progress can be made, Unanimously: without opposition, Defiance: opposition, Alleviate: uplift, Distress: torture, Intertwined: twisted, braided, knitted, Abstractions: something which exists only as an idea., Pacifist: Peace maker, Vehemently: in an intense manner, Self Reliance: self sufficiency, self support, prop: support
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SUMMARY, 1.Rajkumar Shukla’s meeting with Gandhi, , [Raj Kumar Shukla (23 August 1875 – 20 May 1929) was the person who convinced Gandhi to, visit Champaran for the Champaran Satyagraha. To commemorate his 125th birth anniversary,, the Department of Posts released a stamp in his honour in 2000], , Rajkumar Shukla , a poor peasant from Champaran approached Gandhi with a request to visit, Champaran when he met him in the annual convention of the Indian National Congress at, Lucknow in December 1916 Gandhi. Initially Gandhi could not approve his request due to, certain prior engagements but Shukla could convince Gandhi with his determination., 2. Gandhi became a victim of untouchability, Shukla led Gandhi to the house of a lawyer named Rajendra Prasad to collect more information, about the Champaran issue. Rajendra Prasad was out of town but his servants mistook Gandhi to, be a peasant as he came along with Shukla who was familiar to them. He was made to stay on, the ground and was not permitted to draw water from the well.
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3. The ‘extra ordinary’ support, When Gandhi reached Muzaffarpur (on the way to Champaran)by train at midnight on 15 April, 1917 ,Professor J.B. Kriplani, received him at the station with a vast multitude of students and, Prof. Malkani gave shelter to him for two days. Gandhi referred this support as extra ordinary as, in smaller localities Indians were usually timid to support those who are against Britishers., The news of Gandhi’s arrival and the nature of his mission spread quickly through Muzaffarpur, and Sharecroppers from Champaran began arriving there., , [Jivatram Bhagwandas Kripalani (11 November 1888 – 19 March 1982), known as Acharya Kripalani, was, an Indian politician,a Gandhian socialist,environmentalist, mystic and independence activist.], [Narayandas Malkani (1890–1974) was a social worker , a member of Rajya Sabha for two terms, an academic by, profession and freedom fighter from Rajasthan. He was conferred the Padma Bhushan award in 1973 by the Government of, India. Malkani left teaching, joined Mahatma Gandhi and became his close confidant.]
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4.Lawyers being scolded by Gandhi, Muzaffarpur lawyers briefed Gandhi about the case and he chided the lawyers for collecting big, fees from the sharecroppers. He felt law courts were useless for the fear-stricken peasants as, long as they are not free from the fear of Britishers., 5. Indigo share cropping issue: Gandhi’s arrival in Champaran, , Under a long term sharecropping arrangement, Indian tenants were compelled to grow Indigo on, 15 percent of their holding and to surrender the harvest as rent to the British landlords. When, Indigo price fell due to synthetic Indigo developed in Germany, the landlords compelled them, to pay them compensation to make them free from the contract which some of the peasants paid, while some resisted and fought their case in court. Gandhi arrived in Champaran when this, infuriating issue persisted.
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6. Protests and threats from British officials, The secretary of the British landlords’ association refused to give information to an outsider., Gandhi said that he was not an outsider. British official commissioner of the Tirhut division, bullied Gandhi and advised him to leave Tirhut. Instead of leaving, Gandhi went to Motihari, the, Capital of Champaran accompanied by several lawyers him., Gandhi started out to meet a peasant who had been maltreated in a nearby village but he was, stopped by the police superintendent’s messenger and ordered to return to which Gandhi, complied. He received an official notice to quit Champaran at once. Gandhi signed the receipt, for the notice and wrote that he would disobey the order. As a consequence he received a, summons to appear in court the next day., , ., 7. Triumph of civil disobedience movement, A case against Gandhi was initiated for disregarding government orders. The spontaneous, demonstration of thousands of peasants outside the court baffled the officials. The judge was, requested to postpone the trial. Gandhi refused to furnish bail. The judge released him without, bail. Several days later Gandhi received an official letter. The case against him had been, dropped. Thus, civil disobedience had triumphed.
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8.Gandhi’s influence on lawyers and justice to the Champaran peasants, Gandhi asked the prominent lawyers about their willingness to help the peasants if he is, imprisoned. Even if initially they were reluctant later they felt guilty after consultation and, expressed their willingness to follow him into jail to provide justice to the poor peasants., Gandhi and lawyers conducted an inquiry into the complaints of the peasants. Gandhi was, summoned by Sir Edward Gait, the Lieutenant-Governor. An official commission of inquiry was, appointed. The official inquiry assembled evidence against the big planters. The British, landlords offered to refund up to 25 per cent still Gandhi agreed because the amount of the, refund was less important than the fact that the landlords had been forced to give some money, and their prestige., Indigo sharecropping disappeared as the British landlords abandoned their estates. Finally the, peasants gained courage and became aware of their rights, 9. Upliftment of Champaran residents, Gandhi appealed for young and efficient teachers and doctors with the help of his family and his, disciples. Primary schools were opened in six villages, medicines were provided to improve, their health conditions and people were taught about ashram’s rules. They were made aware on, personal cleanliness and community sanitation, by Kasturbai. Thus along with the political and, economical upliftment, Gandhiji also tried to solve the problems of social and the cultural, backwardness. Gandhi kept a long distance watch on the ashram and sent regular instructions by, mail., The Champaran episode was a turning point in Gandhi’s life., 10.Refusing help from a Britisher: A lesson in self-reliance, Gandhi’s lawyer friends thought that it would be a good idea for Charles Freer Andrews, an, English pacifist, to stay in Champaran and help them in the absence of Gandhi. Gandhi out, rightly rejected the offer as it shows the weakness of Indians to seek support from a Britisher
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Gandhi thus taught his followers a lesson in self-reliance. Thus, self-reliance, Indian, independence and justice to sharecroppers were all bound together., , [Charles Freer Andrews (12 February 1871 – 5 April 1940) was a priest of the Church of England. A Christian, missionary, educator and social reformer in India, he became a close friend of Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi, and identified with the cause of India's independence], , He tried to mould a new free Indian who could stand on his own feet and thus make India free., *******************************************************, SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS, 1. Why is Rajkumar Shukla being described as a resolute? How did he become instrumental in, giving justice to the Champaran peasants?, 2. Why did Rajendra Prasad’s servant mistook him to be peasant and what was its consequence?, 3. What was the proof of Indian’s liberation from the fear of Britishers ?, OR, What made Britisher think that Indians could challenge them?, 4. What was the conflict of duties in which Gandhi was involved?(pg no.50), 5.How did the landlords finally agree to make the refund?, 6. What were the measures taken by Gandhi for the upliftment of Champaran, socially and, culturally?, 7.”He had read our minds correctly”. Explain this reference by Rajendra Prasad, LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS, 8.Civil disobedience triumphed for the first time in modern India.Explain, 9.What was the contribution of the ordinary people in getting justice for the Champaran, peasants?, 10.Why was Champaran episode a turning point in Gandhi’s life?, ***************************************************
