CBSE Class 12 English HOTs Indigo Set 02

Question. Strike out what is not true in the following,
(i) Rajkumar Shukla was
(a) a sharecropper
(b) a politician
(c) a delegate
(d) a landlord
(ii) Rajkumar Shukla was
(a) poor
(b) physically strong
(c) illiterate

Answer: (i) (b) a politician (c) a delegate (d) a landlord
(ii) (b) physically strong

Question. Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being ‘resolute’? 
Answer: Rajkumar Shukla is described as being resolute as he went along with Gandhi everywhere until Gandhi agreed to help him. He was adamant to take Gandhi to Champaran to solve the problems faced by the sharecroppers there and so, he resolutely went everywhere with Gandhiji until, impressed with his tenacity, Gandhiji agreed to go to Champaran.

Question. Why do you think the servants thought Gandhi to be another peasant?
Answer: Gandhi came along with Rajkumar Shukla, a peasant, to Rajendra Prasad’s house. He was dressed very simply, so the servants thought Gandhi to be another peasant and he was treated like an untouchable peasant by not being allowed to drink water from the well.

Question. List the places that Gandhi visited between his first meeting with Shukla and his arrival at Champaran.
Answer: After his first meeting with Shukla, Gandhiji did not visit Champaran immediately because he had prior commitments in other parts of the county. He was expected to visit Cawnpore after which he returned to his ashram near Ahmedabad. It was only after his visit to Calcutta that he was able to attend to the problem highlighted by Shukla. After his first meeting with Shukla, Gandhi did not visit Champaran immediately. He first went to Muzaffarpur to get more information about the issues regarding the agreement.

Question. What did the peasants pay the British landlords as rent? What did the British now want instead and why? What would be the impact of synthetic indigo on the prices of natural indigo? 
Answer: The British landlords forced all tenants to plant 15% of their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent. When the landlords learned that Germany had developed synthetic indigo, they wanted to dissolve the agreement. However, they asked the sharecroppers to pay them compensation for being released from the 15% arrangement. The presence of synthetic indigo would obviously impact the price of natural indigo. The synthetic indigo would be cheaper and more readily available bringing down the price of natural indigo.

Question. The events in this part of the text illustrate Gandhi’s method of working. Can you identify some instances of this method and link them to his ideas of satyagraha and non-violence?
Answer: Gandhi made efforts to learn the complete truth about the injustice done to the peasants in Champaran. His waiting for the response of the authorities, his refusal to quit Champaran and his acceptance of the meagre 25% refund to the farmers, are all based on his principle of ‘satyagraha’. He was merely requesting for truth and justice. Gandhi helping the officials to regulate the crowd during the spontaneous demonstration and his willingness to court arrest are instances of his non-violent methods.

Question. Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of 25% refund to the farmers?
Answer: Gandhi agreed to the settlement of 25% refund to the farmers because he believed that the amount of refund was less important than the fact that the landlords had been obliged to surrender part of their money and, with it, a part of their prestige.

Question. How did the episode change the plight of the peasants?
Answer: The episode changed the plight of the peasants by helping them immensely. It removed their mortal fear of the British. They were made aware of their rights and developed courage to fight for them.

Question. Why do you think Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning-point in his life?
Answer: Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life because it was the first successful civil disobedience movement for him. Though it began as an ordinary attempt to free the poor peasants from injustice and exploitation, it was important because it wiped out the mortal fear of the Britishers from the hearts of the simple farmers. The farmers realised their rights and learnt to fight for them.

Question. How was Gandhi able to influence lawyers? Give instances.
Answer: There are three instances where Gandhi’s presence and words influence the actions and decisions taken by the lawyers. These are
(i) When Gandhi got to know that the lawyers were charging a heavy fee from the poor peasants to fight their cases, he scolded them for burdening the poor. Also, he made sure that the cases were taken back as according to him, going to court was useless in the situation.
(ii) Later, when Gandhi decided to oppose his eviction order from the district and asked the lawyers what they would do then, their response was to go back. This got them another scolding. As a result, the lawyers realised that it will not be good to not do anything for their own people, whereas an outsider like Gandhi was prepared to go to jail for them. Consequently, they decided to accompany Gandhi to jail if he was arrested.
(iii) The last instance was seen when the lawyers thought it would be a good idea for CF Andrews, one of Gandhi’s followers to stay in Champaran and help them. But Gandhi opposed this idea because he wanted the lawyers to be self-reliant and know their own strengths. Thus, he influenced the lawyers to work on their own.

Question. What was the attitude of the average Indian in smaller localities towards advocates of ‘home rule’?
Answer: An average Indian in smaller localities was afraid to show sympathy for advocates of ‘home rule’ openly. They probably feared negative consequences. It is for this reason that Gandhi recalls Professor Malkani’s offering him shelter in his own home as an extraordinary matter.

Question. How do we know that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement?
Answer: Ordinary people stood by and supported Gandhi in their own little ways. Rajkumar Shukla and Professor Malkani defied all odds to contribute in the movement. Professor JB Kripalani motivated a large number of students and welcomed Gandhi at the Muzaffarpur railway station at midnight. The spontaneous demonstration outside the court was also a significant contribution, as it showed the Britishers the unity of the Indians. Civil Disobedience could triumph in India only because of the courage and unity of ordinary people.

Extract Based Questions

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

The news of Gandhi’s advent and of the nature of his mission spread quickly through Muzaffarpur and to Champaran. 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.

Question. What does ‘their cases’ refer to in the extract?
Answer: In the given extract ‘their cases’ refers to the case that the lawyers are fighting for the sharecroppers against the tyrannical British landlords.

Question. Select the correct option from those given in bracket to fill in the blank. The farmers found ............ (Rajkumar Shukla/ Gandhi) to be their ‘Champion’.
Answer: Gandhi

Question. Complete the sentence with an appropriate explanation as per the extract. Muzaffarpur’s lawyers called on Gandhi because ............
Answer: they wanted to brief him about the plight of the peasants in the region

Question. What was Gandhi’s mission?
Answer: Gandhi’s mission in the given extract is to help the sharecroppers get justice as well as their hard earned money back.

Question. Gandhi’s protest in Champaran is most appropriately a great model of
(a) power
(b) leadership
(c) charity
(d) sponsorship
Answer: (b) leadership

Question. Select the option that list the feelings and attitudes the sharecroppers attached to Gandhi.
(a) Hope
(b) Courage
(c) Leadership
(d) Both (a) and (c)
Answer: (d) Both (a) and (c)

They had merely heard that a Mahatma Gandhi 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.

Question. Why did the officials feel powerless?
Answer: The officials felt powerless because of Gandhi’s refusal to cooperate with them.

Question. Select the correct option from those given in bracket to fill in the blank. Gandhi behaviour towards the British prior to the proposal of postponement of the trial was that of ............ (irritated solution/polite helpfulness).
Answer: polite helpfulness

Question. Complete the sentence suitably. The demonstration proved that the ............
Answer: dread instilled in the hearts of Indians had begun to lessen

Question. Identify the textual clue that allows the reader to infer that the government was scared of the demonstrations.
Answer: ‘The spontaneous demonstration of the people in thousands around the courthouse was the beginning of their liberation from fear of the British.’

Question. Which style, from those given below, is being used by the author, when he says, “Apparently, the authorities wished to consult their superiors”?
(a) Humourous
(b) Dramatic
(c) Sarcastic
(d) Persuasive
Answer: (c) Sarcastic

Question. The crowd in the extract shows ............
(a) power of unity
(b) their fighting spirit
(c) Non-Violent Movement
(d) All of the options
Answer: (d) All of the options

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 percent. “There he seemed adamant”, writes Reverend JZ Hodge, a British missionary in Champaran, who observed the entire episode at close range. “Thinking probably that he would not give way, the representatives of the planters offered to refund to the extent of 25 percent, and to his amazement Mr. Gandhi took him at his words thus breaking the deadlock.” 

Question. What do we infer about the attitude of planters towards sharecroppers?
Answer: From the given extract, it can be inferred that the planters had an exploitative attitude towards the sharecroppers. They felt that the poor peasants could do nothing against them and that their action or words are superior.

Question. Select the correct option from those given in bracket to fill in the blank. ‘Then he seemed adamant,’ reflects Gandhi’s trait of being ............ (courageous/uncompromising).
Answer: uncompromising

Question. Complete the sentence suitably. Gandhi surprised them by ............
Answer: accepting the offer to refund 25% of the extorted money.

Question. What inference can be drawn from the statement “Mr. Gandhi took him at his word”?
Answer: The given expression indicates that Gandhi made him fulfill his promise.

Question. ............ deceitfully extorted from the sharecroppers. The status of sharecroppers as inferred from the above line is
(a) law abiding citizens
(b) followers of Gandhi
(c) victims of exploitation
(d) contract labourers
Answer: (c) victims of exploitation

Question. What does ‘deadlock’ in the last line means ............
(a) a debatable situation
(b) a situation where no progress can be made
(c) a trick
(d) an arrogant statement
Answer: (b) a situation where no progress can be made

This settlement was adopted unanimously by the commission Gandhi explained that the amount of the refund was less important than the fact that the landlords had been obliged to surrender part of the money and, with it, a part of their prestige. Therefore, as far as the peasants were concerned, the planters had behaved as lords above the law. Now the peasants saw that he had rights and defenders. He learned courage. 

Question. What was Gandhi’s purpose in agreeing to the settlement, even at a lesser amount?
Answer: Gandhi’s purpose in agreeing to the settlement is because it was more significant that the landlords were made to return some of their money, along with a part of their prestige, rather than the percentage of refund.

Question. Select the correct option from those given in bracket to fill in the blank. The phrase ‘lords above the law’ suggests that ............ (a group of individuals has special or exclusive privileges/a group of individuals who make the law).
Answer: a group of individuals has special or exclusive privileges

Question. Complete the sentence with one word. The commission agreed by common consent, or in other words, they agreed to the settlement ............
Answer: consensually

Question. Explain the impact on the landlords as a result of the settlement.
Answer: As a result of the settlement, the British planters abandoned their estates and returned them to the peasants for good.

Question. Based on the content provided in the extract, select the most likely option about the behaviour of the landlords?
(a) The landlords were sorry for their behaviour.
(b) The landlords were obstinate and refused Gandhi’s suggestion.
(c) The Landlords had to refund the money.
(d) The landlords and the planters became partners in the Indigo plantation.
Answer: (c) The landlords had to refund the money.

Question. What did the peasants realise from the Champaran incident?
(a) They were the original resident
(b) They were fooled and tricked
(c) They had rights and freedoms
(d) They had Gandhi to support him
Answer: (c) They had rights and freedoms