CBSE Class 12 English Indigo Worksheet

Question. Who were ready to follow Gandhi into jail?
(a) Peasants
(b) Lawyers
(c) Shukla
(d) J.B. Kriplani

Answer: B

Question. Gandhi helped peasants of Champaran by:
(a) fighting and securing justice for them.
(b) hiring lawyers for them.
(c) educating them.
(d) teaching them cleanliness.

Answer: A

Question. In the light of the following statement, pick the option that lists characteristics of Gandhi.
“Gandhi never contented himself with large political or economic solutions. He saw the cultural and social backwardness in the Champaran villages and wanted to do something about it immediately.”
1. Pragmatic 2. Obedient
3. Compassionate 4. Philanthropic
5. Patient 6. Dramatic 
(a) 1, 3, 6
(b) 2, 4, 5
(c) 1, 3, 4
(d) 2, 5, 6

Answer: C

Question. When Gandhi visited the secretary of British landlord’s association, the secretary:
(a) proceeded to bully him.
(b) advised him to leave Tirhut.
(c) said that they could not give any information to an outsider.
(d) was very helpful and cooperative.

Answer: C

Question. The big planters thought Gandhi would demand:
(a) repayment in full.
(b) double the amount.
(c) fifty percent of the amount.
(d) no payment, just an apology.

Answer: A

Question. Gandhi was not permitted to draw water from Rajendra Prasad’s well because:
(a) the servant thought Gandhi was another peasant.
(b) Rajendra Prasad was not at home.
(c) Gandhi looked like a vagabond.
(d) Gandhi was a Harijan.

Answer: A

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

Answer: B

Question. Champaran episode was considered as a turning point in the history because:
(a) its voice spread far and wide.
(b) it became famous.
(c) the British were scared.
(d) it was conducted to protest the courts’ order to postpone the trial.

Answer: A

Question. How did Gandhi act with the officials outside the court?
(a) Showed his power.
(b) He was firm and stubborn.
(c) He said that he would disobey the order.
(d) He cooperated with them.

Answer: D

Question. Complete the statement about the form of the chapter, ‘Indigo’.
The chapter ‘Indigo’ is __________ a Louis Fischer book. 
(a) a preface to
(b) the blurb for
(c) the foreword of
(d) an excerpt from

Answer: D

Extract Based MCQs

I. Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow:
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. 

Question. 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 artisAnswer:
4. The artisans in Hafrgunj decided to sell their wares directly to the government outlets.
(a) Option 1
(b) Option 2
(c) Option 3
(d) Option 4

Answer: C

Question. 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.

Answer: B

Question. 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 IndiAnswer:

Answer: A

Question. Given below are four real-life situations. Choose the option that perfectly describes a deadlock.
Situation 1 Tariq is unable to manage the front-end and the backend forums at his company without any support.
Situation 2 Sunita cannot get a job because she has no experience and she can’t have any experience because she has no job.
Situation 3 The bank employees started protesting against their receding annual salary and other incentives.
Situation 4 Harpreet was stuck between deciding whether to go to the USA or the UK for higher studies.
(a) Situation 1
(b) Situation 2
(c) Situation 3
(d) Situation 4

Answer: B

II. 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 mould a new free Indian who could stand on his own feet and thus, make India free. 

Question. 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.

Answer: A

Question. 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

Answer: B

Question. Choose the option listing the sentence that is the most appropriate example of an ‘act of defiance’, from the following:
She picked up the telephone terrified of what was about to come. She could hear nobody on the other side. Meanwhile, there was a thud at the door loud enough to scare her. Curious
as she was, she wanted to open it as soon as possible. Her mother tried to stop her several times, but she went ahead, nevertheless.
(a) She picked up the telephone terrified of what was about to come.
(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.

Answer: D

Question. 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.

Answer: C

III. 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 co-operation. 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 IndiAnswer: The government was baffled. The prosecutor requested the judge to postpone the trial. Apparently, the authorities wished to consult their superiors.

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

Question. Gandhiji’s behaviour 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.

Answer: B

Question. The officials felt powerless because:
(a) of Gandhi’s refusal to co-operate with them.
(b) of Gandhi’s polite and friendly behaviour.
(c) the crowd was listening only to Gandhi.
(d) the crowd was getting violent.

Answer: C

Question. 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 IndiAnswer:

Answer: B

IV. ‘I am Rajkumar Shukla. I am from Champaran and I want you to come to my district’!’’

Question. Why did he request the addressee to come to his district?
(a) To sort the problems of the local advocates.
(b) To convince others to start growing Indigo.
(c) To sort the problems of the sharecroppers.
(d) To start India’s struggle for Independence.

Answer: C

Question. Where does the district ‘Champaran’ lie?
(a) Foothills of Himalayas
(b) Gangetic Plains
(c) Western Ghats
(d) Thar Desert

Answer: A

Question. Who was Rajkumar Shukla?
(a) Advocate
(b) Zamindar
(c) Peasant
(d) British official

Answer: C

Question. Whom was he speaking to?
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Rabindranath Tagore
(c) Kasturba Gandhi
(d) Kriplani

Answer: A

V. He was illiterate but resolute. He had come to the Congress Session to complain about the injustice of the landlord system in Bihar.

Question. Which city had ‘he’ come to where the Congress Session was going on?
(a) Kanpur
(b) Lucknow
(c) Gandhinagar
(d) New Delhi

Answer: B

Question. Why had ‘he’ come to the Congress Session?
(a) To complain about the injustice of the landlords in Bihar.
(b) To complain about the young boy who had tossed him in water.
(c) To complain about the problems of bangle makers.
(d) To complain about the problems of rag-pickers.

Answer: A

Question. Who is ‘he’ in the above extract?
(a) William Douglas
(b) Saheb
(c) Mukesh
(d) Rajkumar Shukla

Answer: D

Question. Why is ‘he’ described as being ‘resolute’?
(a) He had followed Gandhiji wherever he went.
(b) He had pledged to learn swimming.
(c) He was determined to master the art of bangle making.
(d) He was ready to plant new crops after three years of drought.

Answer: A

VI. He was polite and friendly. He was giving them concrete proof that their might, hitherto dreaded and unquestioned, could be challenged by IndiAnswer: The government was baffled.

Question. How did ‘he’ prove that Indians were no longer dreaded?
(a) Gandhiji did not appear in the Court.
(b) The judge was threatened to give verdict in his favour.
(c) The courtroom was flocked by peasants in thousands.
(d) None of these

Answer: C

Question. Which is the word which has the similar meaning as ‘till now’?
(a) Concrete
(b) Hitherto
(c) Dreaded
(d) Baffled

Answer: B

Question. Who is ‘He’ in the above lines?
(a) Rajendra Prasad
(b) Jawahar Lal Nehru
(c) Mahatma Gandhi
(d) Kriplani

Answer: C

Question. Who are ‘them’?
(a) British Officials
(b) Landlords of Bihar
(c) Advocate Unions
(d) Peasants Association

Answer: A

Important Questions NCERT Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 5 Indigo

Very Short Answer Type Questions:

Question : Why did Gandhi Ji feel that taking the Champaran case to the court was useless?
Answer: Gandhi Ji realised that poor peasants were so crushed & fear stricker that law courts were useless in their case. Going to courts will only over burden them with expenses and not help them.

Question : Why did Gandhiji decide to go to Muzaffarpur before going to Champaran? 
Answer: Muzaffarpur was en route to Champaran. To collect complete Information about the Champaran than Shukla was capable of imparting. Lawyers in Muzaffarpur who had represented peasant in the court briefed Gandhiji about their cases.

Question. How were Shukla and Gandhiji received in Rajendra Prasad’s house?
Answer: Raj Kumar Shukla and Gandhiji were not well received at Rajendra Prasad’s home. He was out of town. The servants knew Shukla as the peasant who pestered their master. Since Gandhiji accompanied Shukla, the servants took him to be a peasant as well. They allowed him to be on the grounds, but he was not allowed to draw water from the well as servants were unsure about Gandhiji’s caste. They did not want drops from his bucket to pollute the water in the well.

Question. How did Shukla succeed in persuading Gandhiji to visit Champaran?
Answer: Raj Kumar Shukla showed a great deal of patience and perseverance. He accompanied Gandhiji wherever he went. Gandhiji gave Shukla an appointment and asked him to meet the former in Calcutta on a specific date and time several months later. When Gandhiji arrived in Calcutta, he found Shukla waiting for him at the station. Such determination and perseverance of Shukla impressed Gandhiji, who agreed to visit Champaran.

Question. At Champaran what did the British landlords want from the sharecroppers?
Answer: At Champaran, the British landlords initially insisted that the Indian farmers plant 15% indigo and surrender entire crop as rent. However, when the Britishers learnt that Germany had developed synthetic indigo and that it could affect the demand and price of naturally grown indigo, they asked farmers to pay compensation for release from 15% agreement.

Question. How did Gandhi show that he cared for the cultural and social backwardness of Champaran villagers?
Answer: Gandhiji genuinely cared for the cultural and social backwardness of Champaran villagers. Therefore, Gandhiji opened primary schools in six villages and called for teachers to teach the children. Kasturba and their son joined. He also called doctors to look into health condition and taught the villages about hygiene and personal cleanliness.

Short Answer Type Questions:

Question. Explain the possible reasons for Gandhi’s quick popularity among the peasants of Champaran.
Answer: Gandhiji didn’t leave Champaran after his victory. During his stay there, he had realized that the people of Champaran were culturally and socially backward, so he decided to work on this front also. He decided to open primary schools and taught about personal hygiene, community cleanliness etc. to the people of Champaran.
Gandhiji’s wife Kasturba joined him in this movement. Gandhiji’s appeal among the peasants was enhanced by his ascetic lifestyle, and by his use of the dhoti and the charkha. Thus, with his firm determination and persistent efforts, he was able to bring changes in the ordinary man’s life.

Question. Why did Gandhiji agree to a settlement of mere 25 percent?
Answer: – amount less important than the fact that landlords had to surrender money and part off with prestige. 
– breaking deadlock was more important than amount of money.
Gandhiji agreed to a settlement of mere 25 percent compensation from the British because he wanted them to part not only from money but also from their prestige. For him, breaking deadlock was more important than the amount of money.

Question. Why do you think Gandhiji considered the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life?
Answer: Gandhiji considered the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life because it was during this struggle that he decided to urge the departure of the Britishers. He had made the peasants learn courage and realise that they too had rights and can defend themselves. He made them get rid of their fear also.
Apart from this, he also taught the Indians a lesson of self-reliance. In this way, Champaran episode was, in fact, a turning point in Gandhiji’s life.

Question. Gandhi was a lawyer himself. Examine how his professional expertise helped in Champaran.
Answer: Terror-stricken peasants had no voice to raise and no relief in the courts against the unfair dealings of the landlords. When Gandhiji came on scene, he viewed the entire situation and declared that there was no point in getting into litigations, as law courts would hardly be able to do justice to the peasants. He felt that it was necessary to teach these downtrodden farmers how to be courageous. Until and unless, they got over the terror of the Britishers, they would never experience any sense of relief, he realized. Therefore, he gave priority to empowering and emboldening the peasants rather than waging legal battles for them.

Question. What did Gandhiji do about the social and cultural upliftment of the Champaran villages?
OR
What steps did Gandhiji take to remove the cultural and social backwardness in the rural areas of Champaran?
Answer: Gandhiji decided to open primary schools so he appealed for teachers. A couple of his disciples volunteered themselves as teachers. Gandhiji also took help of a doctor. Some basic ailments of the villagers were treated. Not only this, Gandhiji’s wife Kasturba also joined him in this movement and also taught the rules of personal cleanliness and community sanitation to the women.
Thus, with his firm determination and persistent efforts, Gandhiji was able to bring changes in the ordinary man’s life.

Question. The peasants were themselves the most crucial agents in the success of the Champaran Civil Disobedience. Expand.
Answer: The peasants were the most crucial agents in the success of the Champaran Civil Disobedience. This is because if they had not withstood Gandhiji and not placed trust in him, then the movement will have been a great disaster.
Gandhiji alone could not have achieved success of Champaran, the peasants were the supporters that made the movement a success.

Question. 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?
Answer: When Gandhi asked the lawyers what they would do if he went to jail, one of the senior lawyers replied that they would go back home. Gandhi then scolded the lawyers asking their obligation towards the poor peasants. He said that it would be shameful desertion on their part if they deserted the peasants in absence of Gandhi. So lawyers realised their mistake that if an outsider, Gandhi, was supporting the cause of the peasants, they had social duty towards them. Hence they said that they would accompany Gandhi to jail.
Finally, getting support of educated Indians like lawyers, Gandhi gained confidence that now they would win against the British.

Question. Why has Raj Kumar Shukla been described as being resolute?
Answer: Rajkumar Shukla, the Champaran sharecropper, requested Gandhiji at a Congress Session in Lucknow, to fix a date to visit Champaran where the sharecroppers were being subjected to injustice. Until Gandhiji fixed a date to go with him, Shukla did not leave him, rather he accompanied him wherever he went. Gandhiji was impressed by his tenacity and determination and finally agreed to go there from Calcutta.

Question. Though the sharecroppers of Champaran received only one-fourth of the compensation, how can the Champaran struggle still be termed a huge success and victory?
Answer: Gandhiji’s persistent efforts, firm determination, and resolution led to his success in Champaran. He went to Champaran at the request of an illiterate peasant and there he listened to the grievances of the sharecroppers and started the Civil Disobedience Movement. He became victorious and the landlords withdrew their claims over their estates and were reverted back to the farmers.
They learnt courage and realised that they too, can be defenders. The landlords obliged to surrender part of their money and prestige. Thus, Gandhiji broke the deadlock between farmers and landlords.

Question. Gandhi makes it clear that money and finance are a secondary aspect of the struggle in Champaran.
Comment on aspect that you think was most important for Gandhi. 
Answer: Gandhiji’s persistent efforts, firm determination, and resolution led to his success in Champaran. He went to Champaran at the request of an illiterate peasant and there he listened to the grievances of the sharecroppers and started the Civil Disobedience Movement. He became victorious and the landlords withdrew their claims over their estates and were reverted back to the farmers. They learnt courage and realised that they too, can defend. The landlords obliged to surrender part of their money and prestige. Thus, Gandhiji broke the deadlock between farmers and landlords.

Question. Why did Gandhiji not accept C. F. Andrews’ help during the Champaran Movement?
OR
Why did Gandhiji oppose to C. F. Andrews helping him in Champaran?
Answer: Charles Freer Andrews was an Englishman and Gandhiji did not want his help. He did not believe in seeking help from him. Since, the cause was good, he believed that their victory was certain. He wanted that the lawyers must not take any help from an Englishman as their fight was against the English.
That’s why Gandhiji wanted the lawyers to be self-reliant.

Long Answer Type Questions:

Question. How did Civil Disobedience triumph at Motihari? 
Answer: Gandhiji began his efforts at Champaran by trying to get the facts. For this purpose, he visited the secretary of the British Landlord’s Association, but he refused to give any information to an outsider. Next, he called upon the British official commissioner of the Tirhut division in which Champaran district lay. The commissioner bullied him and advised him to leave Tirhut but he stayed there. This shows that Gandhiji was a staunch seeker and believer of truth.
Gandhiji consulted the lawyers and chided them for collecting fee from the sharecroppers, However, Gandhiji disobeyed the court’s order and rather proceeded to Motihari, the capital of Champaran. He mobilized the support of the lawyers and peasants. He got an official notice to quit Champaran immediately.
However, he disobeyed the order and was summoned to court. The spontaneous demonstration of thousands of farmers was their liberation from the fear of the British. Gandhiji just wanted the civil disobedience movement or Satyagraha in a non-violent manner. Later on, Satyagraha and non-violence became the main pillars of strength for India’s freedom struggle.

Question. Why did Rajkumar Shukla invite Gandhiji to Champaran? How did Gandhiji solve the problem of the indigo farmers?
Answer: Rajkumar Shukla invited Gandhiji to Champaran to fight against the injustice meted out to the peasants in Champaran.
Gandhiji scolded the lawyers for collecting high fees from the sharecroppers. He telegraphed Dr. Rajendra Prasad to come from Bihar with his friends who conferred with Gandhiji, and advised Dr. Prasad and his friends what they would do if he was sentenced to prison. The senior lawyers replied that they had come to advise and help him. Being a stranger, Gandhiji was prepared to go to prison for the sake of the peasants. They also agreed to follow Gandhiji to jail.
Gandhiji and the lawyers had written down depositions by about ten thousand peasants and prepared notes based on other evidence. Gandhiji was served summons, but he remained firm. Then, he received a written communication from the magistrate that the Lt. Governor of the province had ordered the case to be dropped.
Gandhiji agreed to a settlement of 25% refund to the farmers.

Question. Imagine Gandhi were to deliver a speech to students in present day India showing them the path to become 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.
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.
Answer: 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 called you to “Be Fearless”. I understand the feeling and sympathy of youth and called you as instruments of social change. I believe that only spiritual and ethical values can bring in changes to the social order. I want modern youth and students to become the means to form idealistic thoughts. I encourage young minds about self-reliance as a crucial necessity to success.
I am open-minded and want all the young people to be the same. I insist on being tolerant of all religions.
I emphasize on simplicity, kindness, truth, and non-violence as life’s mantra. These are the essential things that you as students have to learn and follow. Moreover, I want the youth of today to follow moral values. I wish Indian youth to follow my ideals to lead a peaceful India.

Question. How did Gandhiji use satyagraha and non-violence at Champaran to achieve his goal?
Answer: The peasants of Champaran were in great fear of the British government because they were forced to plant 15% of their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire produce to the landlords. When synthetic indigo came, the landlords released them from this condition after demanding compensation from them. The innocent peasants agreed without realising what they were doing. When Raj Kumar Shukla told Gandhiji about it, Gandhiji visited Champaran and realized that the peasants were greatly in fear of the British. He realized that it was necessary to rid them of their fear. He started the Civil Disobedience Movement. That is why the Champaran episode is considered to be the beginning of the Indian struggle for independence as everyone realized that they could stand against the British, and they could not order them around in their own country. The farmers learnt courage and realised that they too had rights just like the defenders. Thus, the Champaran episode was a landmark and is considered to be the beginning of Indian struggle for independence.

Question. Why is the Champaran episode considered to be the beginning of the Indian struggle for Independence?
Answer: The Champaran episode was a landmark in Gandhian style of fighting against the British. It grew out of an attempt to make the sufferings of poor peasants less severe. The peasants of Champaran were in great fear of the British government because they were forced to plant 15% of their holdings with Indigo and surrender the entire produce to the landlord. When synthetic indigo came, the landlords released them after demanding compensation from them. The innocent peasants agreed without realising what they were doing.
When Raj Kumar Shukla told Gandhiji about it, Gandhiji visited Champaran and realized that the peasants were greatly in fear of the British. He realized that it was necessary to liberate them of their fear of British. After the Civil Disobedience Movement, the farmers also got encouraged and realised that they too had rights and defenders as well. It was a spontaneous demonstration around the courthouse which made everyone realise that it was the beginning of the Indian struggle for Independence. Everyone also realized that they could stand against the British, and they could not order them around in their own country. That is why the Champaran episode is considered to be the beginning of the Indian struggle for Independence.

Question. How did the court scene at Motihari change the course of India’s struggle for freedom?
Answer: In Champaran, the peasants were greatly in fear of the British government. The cause of the problem was indigo and the greed of the landlords. They had forced the tenants to plant 15% of their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire produce to the landlords. When synthetic indigo came, the landlords were ready to release the above condition. They demanded compensation, the repercussions of which the peasants did not know and agreed to it.
Later, when the peasants came to know about synthetic indigo, they asked for their money back. The British hired thugs to oppose them. Gandhiji realized that there was no need for lawyers. He realized that it was necessary to release them of their fear which was difficult to achieve as they were uneducated.
However, with his determination, he championed their cause. Soon, he led a movement of non-violence and Satyagraha. Many farmers demonstrated around the courtroom where Gandhiji was summoned. This made the British feel challenged. Sharecroppers from Champaran came barefooted to see Gandhiji. Muzzaffarpur lawyers too called on him. He explained what he had done was an ordinary thing. He had simply told the Britishers that they could not order him in his own country. Gandhiji tried to mould new free Indians who could stand on their own feet.
This new realization gave him a direction to lead the freedom struggle and thus, proved to be a turning point in the course of India’s struggle for freedom. This was the first time Gandhiji realised that India was capable of mass movements and it was after this episode that he started the national struggle for freedom across the country.

Question. Why did Gandhiji consider freedom from fear more important than legal justice for the poor peasants of Champaran? 
Answer: The ruthless exploitation of the poor farmers by the landlords of Champaran prompted the farmers to fight endless legal battle against the landlords with the help of eminent lawyers. However, the battles were inconclusive. Terror-stricken peasants had no voice to raise and no relief in the courts against the unfair dealings of the landlords. When Gandhiji came on scene, he viewed the entire situation and declared that there was no point in getting into litigations as law courts would hardly be able to do justice to the peasants. He felt that it was necessary to teach these down-trodden farmers how to be courageous. Until and unless, they got over the terror of the Britishers, they would never experience any sense of relief, he realized. Therefore, he gave priority to empowering and emboldening the peasants rather than waging legal battles for them. After that, Gandhiji decided to accept a settlement of 25% of the compensation money as what mattered more to him was the moral victory of the farmers and making the landlords realise their own dishonesty and surrender the money as well as their prestige. Thus, Champaran episode marked the beginning of a total transformation of the poor and exploited peasants. Within a few years, the British planters abandoned their estates, which reverted to the peasants.

Question. How did Gandhiji succeed in getting justice for the indigo sharecroppers?
OR
Give an account of Gandhiji’s efforts to secure justice for the poor indigo sharecroppers of Champaran?
Answer: Gandhiji stayed at Muzaffarpur where he met the lawyers and concluded that fighting through courts was not going to solve the problem of the poor sharecroppers of Champaran. He declared that the real relief for them was to be free from fear. With this intention, he arrived in Champaran and contacted the Secretary of the British Landlord’s Association. The Secretary refused to provide him any information. After this, Gandhiji met the Commissioner of the Tirhut Division who served a notice on him to immediately leave Tirhut.
Gandhiji accepted the notice by signing it and wrote on it that he would not obey the order. He was even willing to court arrest for the cause of the peasants. After four rounds of talks with the Governor, an official commission of inquiry was appointed in which Gandhiji was made the sole representative of the peasants. Through this commission, Gandhiji succeeded in getting 25% of the compensation award for the poor sharecroppers from the British landowners. The peasants realised that they had rights and defenders. They learnt courage.

Question. Describe how according to Louis Fischer, Gandhiji succeeded in his Champaran campaign.
Answer: Gandhiji’s campaign to provide justice to the sharecroppers of Champaran was not an act of defiance. Therefore, the methods he used to win this battle were also non-violent. In order to help the peasants, Gandhiji was even willing to get arrested. He was asked to leave Champaran. However, he refused. He met various high ranking government officials, who could not help but agree with his rational arguments. Seeing the efforts put by Gandhiji to alleviate the distress of the poor peasants even though he was a non-resident of Champaran, he received full support of the common man, his followers and other leaders. His powerful words instilled moral courage in every Indian; he asked fellow Indians to have courage, be self-reliant and united. This is how, Gandhiji eventually succeeded in his Champaran campaign.

Question. How did a visit to Champaran become a turning point in Gandhiji’s life? How does this show Gandhi’s love and concern for the common people of India?
Answer: Gandhiji’s fight against the injustice of the landlord system in Bihar made people realise the power of civil disobedience. They became self- reliant and gained courage to stand up against injustice. With Gandhiji’s help and local support, the peasants received 25% compensation out of the full amount. This was a turning point for them, Gandhiji and all those who were involved in the struggle. It was the first time in India that natives won against the British. Gandhiji was not a local yet he fought for the rights of the poor peasants of Champaran. Post victory, he even had his wife, sons and medical representatives work for the welfare of the farmers. This shows Gandhiji’s love and concern for the common people of India.

Question. Why did Raj Kumar Shukla invite Gandhiji to Champaran ? How did Gandhiji solve the problem of the indigo farmers ?
Answer: Raj Kumar Shukla showed a great deal of patience and perseverance. He accompanied Gandhiji wherever he went. Gandhiji gave Shukla an appointment and asked him to meet the former in Calcutta on a specific date and time several months later. When Gandhiji arrived in Calcutta, he found Shukla waiting for him at the station. Such determination and perseverance of Shukla impressed Gandhiji, who agreed to visit Champaran.

Gandhiji received reports from Raj Kumar Shukla about the Indian farmers being exploited by British landlords. The farmers were forced to grow indigo on 15% of the land that harvest was treated as rent by the landlords.

When the news of German synthetic indigo reached the landlords, they agreed to release the sharecroppers but the latter were asked to pay compensation to the landlords for their 15% for their land. Raj Kumar Shukla was one of the few peasants who wanted to complain about the injustice of the landlord system in Bihar.

Gandhiji went to Champaran to look into the matter himself. He began at Muzzafarpur by studying the problems and getting the facts. He met the other peasants and consulted the lawyers who briefed him about the situation Gandhiji chided them for collecting fees from the poor sharecroppers. He said that going to the law court was useless; peasants needed to be free from fear. He visited the secretary of British Landlord’s Association and also met the British Official Commissioner of Tirhut Division. However, the meetings were not fruitful. He along with few lawyers went to Motithari to continue investigation. He was on his way to meet a peasant, when the police superintendent’s messenger asked him to return to the town. On returning he served Gandhiji with a notice to leave Champaran. He disobeyed the court order to leave Champaran. As a result, he was summoned to appear in the court; he was prepared to go to prison for the sake of peasants. Hearing that an outsider had come to help them, who was now in tiff with authorities, thousands of peasants came to Motihari and demonstrated outside the court house. Seeing so much unrest the British officials felt the fear of being challenged by the Indians. Gandhiji inspired the peasants, with his talks and actions, to overcome their fear and be self reliant. Gandhiji ensured the triumph of civil disobedience. He agreed to a 25% refund to make the poor farmers realise that because of their united efforts, the British landlords had no other option than to lose their money as well as their prestige and that was more important. The peasants learned about courage from this incident and that they too had rights. Within a few years the British landlords gave up their estates. These now went back to the peasants. Eventually, indigo sharecropping disappeared.

Question. Why is Raj Kumar Shukla described as being ‘resolute’ ?
Answer: Raj Kumar Shukla is described as being ‘resolute’ because, in order to convince Gandhiji to come to Champaran, Raj Kumar Shukla accompanied him everywhere. He did not leave Gandhiji’s side for weeks, begging him to come to Champaran. He even followed Gandhiji to his ashram in Ahmedabad. Impressed by his perseverance, Gandhiji asked Raj Kumar Shukla to meet him in Calcutta on a particular date and take him from there. On the appointed date, Gandhiji found him at the appointed spot waiting for him.

Question. Write the names of the places in sequential order (CLOCKWISE) that Mahatma Gandhi was followed by Rajkumar Shukla to take him to Champaran with help of the clues given below:
Calcutta, Lucknow, Patna, Champaran, Cawnpore,Other Parte of India, Muzaffarpur, Ahmedabad
Answer. Lucknow , Cawnpore, Other Parts of India, Ahmedabad, Calcutta,Patna, Muzaffarpur, Champaran

Question. Fill in the four corners of the crosses with the names of the people who help Mahatma Gandhi in his Political Campaign and Social Campaign at Champaran. Take help from the clues given in the box:
Rajendra Prasad, Kasturbai, Prof. Malkani, Narhari Parikh, Brij Kishore Babu, Mahadev Desai, Maulana Mazharul Huq, Devadas
Answer.  Political Campaign - Rajendra Prasad, Prof. Malkani, Brij Kishore Babu, Maulana Mazharul Huq
Social Campaign: Devadas, Kasturbai, Mahadev Desai, Narhari Parikh