NCERT Notes ‘Indigo’ Class 12 English, Summary, Meanings & Explanation

Class 12 English Core Course Lesson “Indigo “Notes given here contain a summary, glossary and para wise explanations. Also see Q & Ans of ‘Indigo” lesson. Also see question and answers of “Indigo”.

Notes – Based on the Lesson ‘Indigo’

Summary: Indigo

Introduction:
In 1917, Mahatma Gandhi embarked on a transformative journey that would shape the course of India’s independence movement. The catalyst for this pivotal episode was a chance encounter at the Indian National Congress party convention in Lucknow.

The Call from Champaran

• Rajkumar Shukla, a poor sharecropper from Champaran, approached Gandhi with a plea for justice.
• Shukla highlighted the injustices faced by peasants in Champaran due to the oppressive landlord system.

Gandhi’s Commitment

• Despite prior commitments, Gandhi was moved by Shukla’s determination and decided to visit Champaran.
• Shukla’s persistence led Gandhi to promise a visit after fixing a date.

The Journey Begins

• Gandhi and Shukla embarked on a journey to Champaran, facing challenges and prejudices along the way.
• The duo encountered resistance, with locals mistaking Gandhi for just another peasant.

Uncovering Injustice in Champaran

• In Champaran, Gandhi learned about the exploitation of sharecroppers in the indigo farming system.
• The landlords compelled tenants to plant a portion of their holdings with indigo, leading to unjust contracts and economic hardship.

Defying Authorities

• Gandhi, determined to understand the situation, sought information from local officials, but faced resistance and bullying.
• Undeterred, Gandhi proceeded to investigate firsthand, experiencing hostility from authorities.

Civil Disobedience and Public Support

• Gandhi’s defiance of authority led to a summons and a court appearance.
• The people of Champaran rallied around Gandhi, initiating a spontaneous demonstration around the courthouse.
• The demonstration marked the beginning of their liberation from fear of British authorities.

Legal Challenges and Resolution

• Gandhi’s refusal to furnish bail created a legal standoff.
• The court’s postponement of judgment indicated the government’s uncertainty in the face of public support.
• Eventually, the Lieutenant-Governor ordered the case dropped, marking the triumph of civil disobedience.

Investigating Grievances

• Gandhi, along with lawyers, conducted a comprehensive inquiry into the grievances of farmers.
• Depositions from thousands of peasants were recorded, highlighting the oppressive conditions imposed by landlords.

A Year in Champaran

• Gandhi’s prolonged stay in Champaran led to protracted interviews with the Lieutenant-Governor, resulting in an official commission of inquiry.
• The visit, initially expected to last a few days, occupied almost a year of Gandhi’s life.

Settlement and Legacy

• The commission recommended a partial refund to peasants, a settlement Gandhi accepted to break the deadlock.
• Gandhi’s position emphasized the importance of surrendering part of the money and prestige by the landlords.
• In subsequent years, the British planters abandoned their estates, and indigo sharecropping disappeared in Champaran.

Beyond Politics – Social Transformation

• Gandhi’s engagement extended beyond politics to address social and cultural issues in Champaran.
• Initiatives for education, health, and sanitation were introduced to uplift the lives of the people.

Gandhi’s Reflection on Champaran

• Champaran was not just an act of defiance but a commitment to the immediate concerns of the poor.
• Gandhi’s philosophy intertwined politics with the practical problems of millions, reflecting a loyalty to living human beings.

Conclusion:
The Champaran episode stands as a testament to Gandhi’s leadership, showcasing the power of nonviolent resistance, civil disobedience, and his unwavering commitment to justice for the oppressed. The legacy of Champaran resonates as a turning point in Gandhi’s life and India’s struggle for independence.

Theme of ‘Indigo”

The theme of the story centres on self-reliance, justice, and the struggle for freedom. It highlights Gandhi’s belief in empowering the oppressed through non-violent resistance, the importance of standing up for one’s rights, and the need for moral courage in the face of injustice. The narrative also emphasizes the connection between individual actions and the broader fight for India’s independence.

Message

The message of the story is that true freedom and justice are achieved through self-reliance, moral courage, and non-violent resistance. Gandhi demonstrates that even in the face of oppressive systems, ordinary people can bring about significant change by standing up for their rights and working together. The story also conveys that lasting social and political transformation begins with addressing the practical needs and fears of the oppressed, empowering them to overcome their challenges.

Textbook Questions and Tasks: Indigo Lesson

Intext Task: Meaning of Expressions

Q. Notice these expressions in the text. Infer their meaning from the context.

1. urge the departure
2. harbour a man like me
3. conflict of duties
4. seek a prop

Ans. Contextual Meanings: Here’s the meaning of each expression based on the context in which they appear in the text:

1. Urge the departure:
   • Context: Gandhi mentions how he decided to “urge the departure of the British” from India.
   • Meaning: This phrase means to strongly advocate or push for the British to leave India. Gandhi is expressing his intent to encourage or forcefully promote the idea that the British colonial rulers should leave the country.
2. Harbour a man like me:
   • Context: Gandhi comments on how it was extraordinary for a government professor to “harbour a man like me” during his stay in Muzzafarpur.
   • Meaning: In this context, “harbour” means to give shelter or refuge. The phrase implies that it was unusual or risky for the professor to provide shelter to Gandhi, who was seen as a troublemaker or dissident by the British authorities.
3. Conflict of duties:
   • Context: Gandhi mentions a “conflict of duties” when explaining why he disregarded the order to leave Champaran.
   • Meaning: This phrase refers to a situation where a person is faced with two or more obligations that are in opposition to each other. Gandhi felt torn between his duty to obey the law and his moral duty to help the oppressed peasants, ultimately choosing to follow his conscience.
4. Seek a prop:
   • Context: Gandhi criticizes his lawyer friends for wanting to “seek a prop” in the Englishman Charles Freer Andrews, thinking it would help their cause.
   • Meaning: In this context, “seek a prop” means to look for support or assistance, particularly in a way that shows dependence. Gandhi is emphasizing that relying on Andrews, just because he was English, would indicate a lack of self-confidence and self-reliance among the Indian leaders.

Explanation of ‘Indigo’ Class 12

The lesson ‘Indigo’ has been divided here into different paras to explain the content clearly and comprehensively. The explanation is also complemented by relevant and contextual glossary.

1. When I first visited Gandhi in 1942 at his ashram in Sevagram, in central India, he said, “I will tell you how it happened that I decided to urge the departure of the British. It was in 1917.” He had gone to the December 1916 annual convention of the Indian National Congress party in Lucknow. There were 2,301 delegates and many visitors. During the proceedings, Gandhi recounted, “a peasant came up to me looking like any other peasant in India, poor and emaciated, and said, ‘I am Rajkumar Shukla. I am from Champaran, and I want you to come to my district’!’’ Gandhi had never heard of the place. It was in the foothills of the towering Himalayas, near the kingdom of Nepal. Under an ancient arrangement, the Champaran peasants were sharecroppers. Rajkumar Shukla was one of them. He was illiterate but resolute. He had come to the Congress session to complain about the injustice of the landlord system in Bihar, and somebody had probably said, “Speak to Gandhi.

Glossary:

• Ashram: A spiritual hermitage or a secluded residence for a religious community or individual.
• Sevagram: The name of the ashram mentioned in the text. Sevagram was Mahatma Gandhi’s ashram in Wardha, Maharashtra, India.
• Convention: A meeting or formal assembly, typically one of delegates or representatives, to discuss and decide on specific matters.
• Indian National Congress: A major political party in India. The Indian National Congress played a crucial role in the Indian independence movement against British rule.
• Emaciated: Extremely thin, often as a result of starvation or illness.
• Champaran: A region in Bihar, India, where the events described in the story took place.
• Sharecroppers: Farmers who work a piece of land owned by a landlord and receive a share of the crop as payment.

Explanation:

The story begins with the narrator, Louis Fischer, recalling his first visit to Mahatma Gandhi in 1942 at the Sevagram ashram. Gandhi recounts an incident from 1917 when he attended the annual convention of the Indian National Congress party in Lucknow. During the convention, a peasant named Rajkumar Shukla approached Gandhi and requested him to visit Champaran, his district in Bihar.

Champaran was a region in the foothills of the Himalayas, and the peasants there worked as sharecroppers, facing injustice under the landlord system. Despite being illiterate, Rajkumar Shukla was determined to seek justice for the peasants and had come to the Congress session to voice his concerns. Gandhi, having never heard of Champaran before, was moved by Shukla’s plea and decided to investigate the situation, marking the beginning of Gandhi’s involvement in the struggle against British colonial rule and social injustices in India.

2. Gandhi told Shukla he had an appointment in Cawnpore and was also committed to go to other parts of India. Shukla accompanied him everywhere. Then Gandhi returned to his ashram near Ahmedabad. Shukla followed him to the ashram. For weeks he never left Gandhi’s side. “Fix a date,” he begged. Impressed by the sharecropper’s tenacity and story Gandhi said, ‘‘I have to be in Calcutta on such-and-such a date. Come and meet me and take me from there.” Months passed. Shukla was sitting on his haunches at the appointed spot in Calcutta when Gandhi arrived; he waited till Gandhi was free. Then the two of them boarded a train for the city of Patna in Bihar. 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?

Glossary:

1. Cawnpore: Also known as Kanpur, it is a city in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, India.
2. Calcutta: The former name of the city now known as Kolkata, a major city in the eastern part of India.
3. Haunches: The upper part of the thigh and the hip joint, often used to refer to a squatting or crouching position.
4. Rajendra Prasad: A prominent political figure in the Indian independence movement. He later became the President of the Indian National Congress party and the first President of India.
5. Indigo Sharecroppers: Farmers involved in the cultivation of indigo plants. Indigo was a cash crop used for dye production during the colonial period.
6. Yeoman: A farmer who owns or cultivates a small farm.
7. Indigo: A plant that produces a blue dye. In the context of this story, indigo was a significant cash crop cultivated by sharecroppers.
8. Untouchable: In the historical caste system of India, the term referred to those considered outside the traditional social hierarchy and often subjected to discrimination.

Explanation:

Gandhi informed Rajkumar Shukla that he had prior commitments in Cawnpore and other parts of India. However, Shukla persisted and accompanied Gandhi everywhere. Eventually, Gandhi returned to his ashram near Ahmedabad, and Shukla continued to follow him, remaining by his side for weeks. Impressed by Shukla’s determination, Gandhi agreed to set a date for their journey to Champaran.

Months later, Shukla waited in Calcutta for Gandhi, who had an appointment there. When Gandhi arrived, the two of them traveled to Patna in Bihar. There, Shukla took Gandhi to the house of a lawyer named Rajendra Prasad, who was away at the time. The servants recognized Shukla and allowed him and his companion, Gandhi, to stay on the grounds. However, they considered Gandhi to be just another peasant and were cautious about his actions, even restricting him from drawing water from the well due to concerns about his caste status. This incident highlights the deep-rooted social prejudices and caste-based discrimination prevalent during that time in India.

3. Gandhi decided to go first to Muzzafarpur, which was en route to Champaran, to obtain more complete information about conditions than Shukla was capable of imparting. He accordingly sent a telegram to Professor J.B. Kripalani, of the Arts College in Muzzafarpur, whom he had seen at Tagore’s Shantiniketan school. The train arrived at midnight, 15 April 1917. Kripalani was waiting at the station with a large body of students. Gandhi stayed there for two days in the home of Professor Malkani, a teacher in a government school. ‘‘It was an extraordinary thing ‘in those days,’’ Gandhi commented, “for a government professor to harbour a man like me”. In smaller localities, the Indians were afraid to show sympathy for advocates of home-rule.

Glossary:

• Muzzafarpur: A city in the state of Bihar, India. It is mentioned as a stop on Gandhi’s journey to Champaran.
• En route: On or along the way to a destination.
• Champaran: The region in Bihar, India, where the peasants were facing injustice and sought Gandhi’s help.
• Telegram: A message sent electronically over a communication network, in this case, likely a written message sent through telegraphy.
• Professor J.B. Kripalani: A professor at the Arts College in Muzzafarpur, whom Gandhi contacted for information about the conditions in Champaran.
• Tagore’s Shantiniketan school: Shantiniketan is a school founded by Rabindranath Tagore in West Bengal, India.
• 15 April 1917: The specific date mentioned in the story.
• Government school: A school run or funded by the government.
• Advocates of home-rule: Supporters of the idea of self-governance or independence for India, particularly from British colonial rule.

Explanation:

Gandhi decided to stop in Muzzafarpur before heading to Champaran to gather more information about the conditions there. He sent a telegram to Professor J.B. Kripalani, whom he knew from Tagore’s Shantiniketan school, requesting assistance. The train arrived in Muzzafarpur on midnight, April 15, 1917, and Professor Kripalani, along with a large group of students, was there to meet Gandhi.

Gandhi stayed in the home of Professor Malkani, a government school teacher in Muzzafarpur, for two days. Gandhi remarked on the extraordinary nature of a government professor providing shelter to someone like him, who was an advocate for home-rule. This indicates that during that time, in smaller localities, individuals were often afraid to show sympathy for those supporting the cause of self-governance or advocating against British rule. The societal and political climate made such expressions of support risky.

4. The news of Gandhi’s advent and of the nature of his mission spread quickly through Muzzafarpur and to Champaran. Sharecroppers from Champaran began arriving on foot and by conveyance to see their champion. Muzzafarpur 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 litte 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.’’ Most of the arable land in the Champaran district was divided into large estates owned by Englishmen and worked by Indian tenants. The chief commercial crop was indigo. The landlords compelled all tenants to plant three twentieths or 15 per cent of their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent. This was done by long-term contract.

Glossary:

1. Conveyance: A mode of transportation or a vehicle.
2. Sharecroppers: Farmers who work a piece of land owned by a landlord and receive a share of the crop as payment.
3. Champion: A person who fights or advocates for a cause or on behalf of others.
4. Brief: To provide information or instructions about a situation or topic.
5. Peasant groups: Collectives of farmers or agricultural workers.
6. Fee: Payment for professional services, in this context, the amount charged by lawyers for their legal services.
7. Chided: Scolded or rebuked.
8. Law courts: Legal institutions where cases are heard and judged.
9. Litte good: A colloquial expression meaning that it does little good or is not very effective.
10. Arable land: Land suitable for farming or cultivation.
11. Estates: Large areas of land, often with a large house, owned by a person or organization.
12. Indigo: A plant that produces a blue dye. In the context of this story, it is a chief commercial crop.

Explanation:

The news of Gandhi’s arrival and the purpose of his mission spread rapidly in Muzzafarpur and reached Champaran. Sharecroppers from Champaran, facing injustice under the landlord system, started arriving to meet Gandhi. Local lawyers in Muzzafarpur, who often represented peasant groups in court, briefed Gandhi about the cases and shared the size of their fees.

Gandhi, upon learning about the significant fees charged by lawyers to the sharecroppers, criticized them. He expressed the view that going to law courts may not be effective in providing relief to the oppressed peasants who were living in fear. Gandhi suggested that the real relief for them would come from being free from fear, implying a need for a more transformative and grassroots approach.

The text then describes the agricultural landscape in Champaran, where most of the arable land was divided into large estates owned by English landlords and worked by Indian tenants. The chief commercial crop was indigo, and landlords compelled tenants to plant a portion of their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent, based on long-term contracts. This exploitative system forms the basis of the injustice that Gandhi was determined to address.

5. Presently, the landlords learned that Germany had developed synthetic indigo. They, thereupon, obtained agreements from the sharecroppers to pay them compensation for being released from the 15 per cent arrangement. The sharecropping arrangement was irksome to the peasants, and many signed willingly. Those who resisted, engaged lawyers; the landlords hired thugs. Meanwhile, the information about synthetic indigo reached the illiterate peasants who had signed, and they wanted their money back. At this point Gandhi arrived in Champaran. He began by trying to get the facts. First he visited the secretary of the British landlord’s association. The secretary told him that they could give no information to an outsider. Gandhi answered that he was no outsider. Next, Gandhi called on the British official commissioner of the Tirhut division in which the Champaran district lay. ‘‘The commissioner,’’ Gandhi reports, ‘‘proceeded to bully me and advised me forthwith to leave Tirhut.’’

Glossary:

1. Synthetic: Created artificially or chemically, not naturally occurring.
2. Irksome: Annoying or irritating.
3. Peasants: Rural farmers or agricultural workers.
4. Thugs: Violent criminals or enforcers, often hired for intimidation or coercion.
5. Illiterate: Unable to read or write.
6. Commissioner: A high-ranking official in charge of a government department or agency.
7. Tirhut: A region or division mentioned in the context of the British official commissioner.

Explanation:

The landlords in Champaran learned that Germany had developed synthetic indigo. In response, they obtained agreements from sharecroppers to compensate them for being released from the 15 percent arrangement, which required tenants to plant a portion of their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent. Many sharecroppers found this arrangement burdensome, and some willingly signed the agreements. However, those who resisted sought legal help, and in response, landlords employed thugs to enforce compliance.

As news about synthetic indigo spread among the illiterate peasants who had signed the agreements, they became dissatisfied and wanted their money back. It is at this point that Gandhi arrived in Champaran to address the situation.

Gandhi started by gathering facts and understanding the situation. His first visits were to key figures, including the secretary of the British landlord’s association. The secretary refused to provide information, considering Gandhi an outsider. Gandhi asserted that he was no outsider, highlighting his commitment to understanding and addressing the issues faced by the local people.

Next, Gandhi approached the British official commissioner of the Tirhut division, where the Champaran district was located. However, instead of cooperation, the commissioner attempted to intimidate Gandhi and advised him to leave Tirhut. This response reflects the resistance and hostility Gandhi faced from those in positions of authority as he sought justice for the oppressed sharecroppers in Champaran.

6. Gandhi did not leave. Instead he proceeded to Motihari, the capital of Champaran. Several lawyers accompanied him. At the railway station, a vast multitude greeted Gandhi. He went to a house and, using it as headquarters, continued his investigations. A report came in that a peasant had been maltreated in a nearby village. Gandhi decided to go and see; the next morning he started out on the back of an elephant. He had not proceeded far when the police superintendent’s messenger overtook him and ordered him to return to town in his carriage. Gandhi complied. The messenger drove Gandhi home where he served him with an official notice to quit Champaran immediately. Gandhi signed a receipt for the notice and wrote on it that he would disobey the order. In consequence, Gandhi received a summons to appear in court the next day.

Glossary:

1. Motihari: The capital of Champaran, a district in Bihar, India.
2. Railway station: A place where trains stop to pick up and drop off passengers.
3. Vast multitude: A large crowd or group of people.
4. Headquarters: A central location used for coordination and organization.
5. Maltreated: Mistreated or subjected to violence.
6. Elephant: A large mammal often used in some regions as a mode of transportation.
7. Police superintendent: An officer in charge of a police district.
8. Messenger: A person who carries and delivers messages.
9. Carriage: In this context, a vehicle for transportation.
10. Official notice: A formal written communication, often conveying a directive or order.
11. Summons: A formal written order to appear in court.

Explanation:

Gandhi chose not to leave Champaran but proceeded to Motihari, the capital of Champaran, accompanied by several lawyers. Upon arrival at the railway station, Gandhi was greeted by a vast multitude of people. He established a headquarters in a house and continued his investigations into the issues faced by the sharecroppers.

During his stay, news arrived that a peasant had been maltreated in a nearby village. Gandhi, committed to seeking justice, decided to visit the village. The next morning, he set out on the back of an elephant. However, the police superintendent’s messenger caught up with him and ordered him to return to town in a carriage. Gandhi complied, and the messenger escorted him home, where an official notice to quit Champaran immediately was served to him.

Gandhi signed a receipt for the notice but added a statement expressing his intention to disobey the order. In response, Gandhi received a summons to appear in court the following day. This sequence of events illustrates the challenges and resistance Gandhi faced from authorities as he sought to address the injustices and improve the conditions of the oppressed sharecroppers in Champaran.

7. All night Gandhi remained awake. He telegraphed Rajendra Prasad to come from Bihar with influential friends. He sent instructions to the ashram. He wired a full report to the Viceroy. Morning found the town of Motihari black with peasants. They did not know Gandhi’s record in South Africa. 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.

Glossary:

1. Telegraphed: Sent a message using the telegraph, a communication system that existed before modern telecommunications.
2. Rajendra Prasad: The person Gandhi telegraphed, likely seeking assistance or support. As mentioned earlier, Rajendra Prasad was a prominent figure in the Indian independence movement.
3. Viceroy: The official representative of the British monarch in India during the colonial period.
4. Motihari: The town mentioned in the text, the capital of Champaran.
5. Spontaneous: Arising naturally or without external influence.
6. Demonstration: A public display or show of a group’s feelings or actions.
7. Courthouse: A building where legal proceedings take place, typically a courthouse.
8. Liberation: The act of setting someone free from oppression or confinement.
9. Officials: Individuals in positions of authority or government.
10. Cooperation: Working together or collaborating.
11. Concrete proof: Tangible evidence or a clear demonstration of a fact.
12. Dreaded: Feared or regarded with great fear.

Explanation:

Throughout the night, Gandhi remained awake, taking proactive steps to address the situation in Champaran. He telegraphed Rajendra Prasad, asking him to come from Bihar with influential friends. Additionally, Gandhi sent instructions to his ashram and wired a full report to the Viceroy, the British colonial official in India.

By morning, the town of Motihari was filled with peasants, who, unaware of Gandhi’s record in South Africa, had heard that a Mahatma willing to help them was in trouble with the authorities. In a spontaneous demonstration, thousands of peasants surrounded the courthouse. This marked the beginning of their liberation from the fear of British authorities.

Despite the overwhelming presence of the crowd, Gandhi cooperated with the officials, helping them regulate the situation. He displayed politeness and friendliness, providing concrete proof that the might of the British, which had been both dreaded and unquestioned, could be challenged by Indians. This event symbolizes the power of nonviolent resistance and the ability of the oppressed to challenge and overcome the oppressive forces through collective action and courage.

8. The government was baffled. The prosecutor requested the judge to postpone the trial. Apparently, the authorities wished to consult their superiors. Gandhi protested against the delay. He read a statement pleading guilty. He was involved, he told the court, in a “conflict of duties”— on the one hand, not to set a bad example as a lawbreaker; on the other hand, to render the “humanitarian and national service” for which he had come. He disregarded the order to leave, “not for want of respect for lawful authority, but in obedience to the higher law of our being, the voice of conscience”. He asked the penalty due. The magistrate announced that he would pronounce sentence after a two-hour recess and asked Gandhi to furnish bail for those 120 minutes. Gandhi refused. The judge released him without bail.

Glossary:

1. Baffled: Confused or perplexed.
2. Prosecutor: A legal representative responsible for presenting the case in a court of law.
3. Judge: An official in a court of law who is responsible for presiding over legal proceedings.
4. Postpone: To delay or reschedule an event or activity.
5. Authorities: Those in positions of power or control.
6. Conflict of duties: A situation where a person faces conflicting obligations or responsibilities.
7. Lawbreaker: Someone who violates the law or engages in illegal activities.
8. Humanitarian: Concerned with or seeking to promote human welfare and well-being.
9. National service: Actions or services performed for the benefit of the nation.
10. Disregarded: Ignored or paid no attention to.
11. Voice of conscience: A person’s internal sense of what is right or wrong, guiding their actions.
12. Penalty: A punishment imposed for breaking a law or rule.
13. Magistrate: A civil officer with the power to administer and enforce the law.
14. Recess: A temporary suspension of proceedings in a court.
15. Bail: Security given to secure the release of a person in custody, often involving a sum of money.

Explanation:

The government was confused by the unexpected turn of events. The prosecutor requested the judge to postpone the trial, suggesting that the authorities wanted to consult their superiors.

However, Gandhi protested against the delay. Instead, he read a statement in which he pleaded guilty. He explained to the court that he was facing a “conflict of duties” — on one hand, he did not want to set a bad example as a lawbreaker, but on the other hand, he felt compelled to render “humanitarian and national service” for which he had come. Gandhi disregarded the order to leave, not out of disrespect for lawful authority but in obedience to the higher law of conscience.

To expedite the proceedings, Gandhi asked for the penalty due. The magistrate, after a two-hour recess, announced that he would pronounce the sentence and requested Gandhi to furnish bail for those 120 minutes. Gandhi, however, refused to provide bail. Despite this, the judge released him without bail. This part of the story reflects Gandhi’s commitment to his principles and the nonviolent resistance he employed in the face of legal challenges.

9. When the court reconvened, the judge said he would not deliver the judgment for several days. Meanwhile he allowed Gandhi to remain at liberty. Rajendra Prasad, Brij Kishor Babu, Maulana Mazharul Huq and several other prominent lawyers had arrived from Bihar. They conferred with Gandhi. What would they do if he was sentenced to prison, Gandhi asked. Why, the senior lawyer replied, they had come to advise and help him; if he went to jail there would be nobody to advise and they would go home. What about the injustice to the sharecroppers, Gandhi demanded. The lawyers withdrew to consult. Rajendra Prasad has recorded the upshot of their consultations — “They thought, amongst themselves, that Gandhi was totally a stranger, and yet he was prepared to go to prison for the sake of the peasants; if they, on the other hand, being not only residents of the adjoining districts but also those who claimed to have served these peasants, should go home, it would be shameful desertion.”

Glossary:

1. Reconvened: Resumed or gathered again.
2. Judgment: The official decision or sentence pronounced by a judge.
3. Liberty: Freedom or the state of being free.
4. Prominent: Well-known or distinguished.
5. Conferred: Consulted or discussed.
6. Bihar: The state in India from which Rajendra Prasad and other lawyers had arrived.
7. Senior lawyer: An experienced and established legal professional.
8. Jail: Another term for prison.
9. Injustice: Lack of fairness or justice.
10. Upshot: The final result or conclusion.
11. Desertion: Abandonment or the act of leaving someone in a difficult situation.

Explanation:

After a brief recess, when the court reconvened, the judge informed Gandhi that he would not deliver the judgment for several days. During this period, Gandhi was allowed to remain at liberty.

Prominent lawyers, including Rajendra Prasad, Brij Kishor Babu, and Maulana Mazharul Huq, had arrived from Bihar. They conferred with Gandhi about the situation. Gandhi questioned them about their course of action if he were sentenced to prison. In response, one senior lawyer expressed that they had come to advise and help him. If Gandhi went to jail, there would be nobody to provide advice, and they would return home.

However, Gandhi emphasized the injustice faced by the sharecroppers. In response to this, the lawyers withdrew to consult among themselves. Rajendra Prasad later recorded the outcome of their discussions, stating that they considered Gandhi a total stranger yet someone willing to go to prison for the sake of the peasants. In contrast, they, as residents of adjoining districts and individuals claiming to have served these peasants, would find it shameful to go home and desert the cause. This illustrates the internal conflict and moral dilemma faced by the lawyers as they grappled with the decision of whether to stay and support the cause or return home.

10. They accordingly went back to Gandhi and told him they were ready to follow him into jail. ‘‘The battle of Champaran is won,’’ he exclaimed. Then he took a piece of paper and divided the group into pairs and put down the order in which each pair was to court arrest. Several days later, Gandhi received a written communication from the magistrate informing him that the Lieutenant-Governor of the province had ordered the case to be dropped. Civil disobedience had triumphed, the first time in modern India. Gandhi and the lawyers now proceeded to conduct a far -flung inquiry into the grievances of the farmers. Depositions by about ten thousand peasants were written down, and notes made on other evidence. Documents were collected. The whole area throbbed with the activity of the investigators and the vehement protests of the landlords.

Glossary:

1. Accordingly: In a way that is appropriate to the particular circumstances.
2. Battle: In this context, a metaphorical term for the struggle or conflict.
3. Exclaimed: Shouted or cried out suddenly.
4. Piece of paper: A document, likely used by Gandhi for organizing and assigning tasks.
5. Pairs: Groups of two people.
6. Court arrest: To willingly submit oneself to arrest by authorities as a form of protest or resistance.
7. Magistrate: A civil officer with the power to administer and enforce the law.
8. Lieutenant-Governor: An official holding the position of deputy or subordinate to a governor.
9. Civil disobedience: The refusal to obey certain laws or governmental demands as a peaceful form of political protest.
10. Triumphed: Achieved victory or success.
11. Far-flung: Extensive or covering a wide area.
12. Inquiry: An investigation or examination.
13. Grievances: Complaints or problems causing distress or suffering.
14. Depositions: Sworn statements or testimony given under oath.
15. Landlords: Individuals who own and rent out land to others.

Explanation:

The lawyers, after consulting among themselves, returned to Gandhi and informed him that they were ready to follow him into jail. Gandhi exclaimed, “The battle of Champaran is won.” He then took a piece of paper and organized the group into pairs, specifying the order in which each pair would court arrest.

Several days later, Gandhi received a written communication from the magistrate, informing him that the Lieutenant-Governor of the province had ordered the case to be dropped. This marked the triumph of civil disobedience, the first time in modern India.

Following this success, Gandhi and the lawyers began a far-flung inquiry into the grievances of the farmers. They collected depositions from about ten thousand peasants, took notes on other evidence, and gathered documents. The entire area buzzed with the activity of the investigators and the vehement protests of the landlords. This phase of the story demonstrates the effectiveness of nonviolent civil disobedience as a means of bringing attention to and resolving social injustices.

11. In June, Gandhi was summoned to Sir Edward Gait, the Lieutenant-Governor. Before he went he met leading associates and again laid detailed plans for civil disobedience if he should not return. Gandhi had four protracted interviews with the LieutenantGovernor who, as a result, appointed an official commission of inquiry into the indigo sharecroppers’ situation. The commission consisted of landlords, government officials, and Gandhi as the sole representative of the peasants. Gandhi remained in Champaran for an initial uninterrupted period of seven months and then again for several shorter visits. The visit, undertaken casually on the entreaty of an unlettered peasant in the expectation that it would last a few days, occupied almost a year of Gandhi’s life.

Glossary:

1. Summoned: Called or requested to appear.
2. Lieutenant-Governor: An official holding the position of deputy or subordinate to a governor.
3. Associates: Close companions or colleagues.
4. Detailed plans: Thorough and specific strategies or arrangements.
5. Civil disobedience: The refusal to obey certain laws or governmental demands as a peaceful form of political protest.
6. Protracted: Extended or prolonged.
7. Interviews: Formal meetings or discussions.
8. Official commission: An authoritative group appointed to investigate and report on a specific matter.
9. Indigo sharecroppers: Farmers involved in the cultivation of indigo plants.
10. Landlords: Individuals who own and rent out land to others.
11. Government officials: Individuals holding positions in the government.
12. Uninterrupted: Continuous and without interruption.
13. Entreaty: An earnest or humble request.
14. Expectation: Anticipation or the state of looking forward to something.

Explanation:

In June, Gandhi was summoned to meet Sir Edward Gait, the Lieutenant-Governor. Before the meeting, he gathered with leading associates and laid out detailed plans for civil disobedience if he did not return.

During four protracted interviews with the Lieutenant-Governor, Gandhi’s efforts led to the appointment of an official commission of inquiry into the indigo sharecroppers’ situation. The commission comprised landlords, government officials, and Gandhi as the sole representative of the peasants.

Gandhi remained in Champaran for an initial uninterrupted period of seven months and later made several shorter visits. What started as a visit prompted by the entreaty of an unlettered peasant, with the expectation that it would last a few days, ended up occupying almost a year of Gandhi’s life. This emphasizes the profound impact and commitment Gandhi had toward addressing the grievances of the indigo sharecroppers and working towards social justice in Champaran.

12. 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.”

Glossary:

1. Inquiry: An official investigation or examination.
2. Crushing: Overwhelming or extremely forceful.
3. Mountain of evidence: A metaphorical expression indicating a large and compelling amount of proof.
4. Big planters: Large-scale landowners or cultivators.
5. Refunds: Repayment of money.
6. Peasants: Rural farmers or agricultural workers.
7. Extorted: Obtained by force or threats.
8. Adament: Unyielding or firm in attitude or opinion.
9. Reverend: A respectful title for a member of the clergy.
10. Missionary: A person sent on a religious mission, typically one involving education, evangelism, or charitable work.
11. Close range: In close proximity or with a clear view of the situation.
12. Deadlock: A state of inaction or impasse, often due to opposing views or interests.

Explanation:

The official inquiry into the indigo sharecroppers’ situation amassed a substantial amount of evidence against the big planters. Faced with this overwhelming evidence, the planters agreed, in principle, to make refunds to the peasants. However, they sought clarification on the amount they needed to pay and approached Gandhi with this question.

Surprisingly, Gandhi did not demand a full repayment of the money that had been illegally and deceitfully extorted from the sharecroppers. Instead, he asked for only 50 percent. Despite the planters expecting him to be adamant and demand a higher percentage, Gandhi agreed to their offer of 25 percent, effectively breaking the deadlock in negotiations.

This decision by Gandhi showcases his commitment to finding a resolution and achieving justice while demonstrating a willingness to compromise for the greater good. It also highlights the effectiveness of nonviolent resistance and negotiation in addressing social issues and bringing about positive change.

13. 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, part of their prestige. Therefore, as far as the peasants were concerned, the planters had behaved as lords above the law. Now the peasant saw that he had rights and defenders. He learned courage. Events justified Gandhi’s position. Within a few years the British planters abandoned their estates, which reverted to the peasants. Indigo sharecropping disappeared.

Glossary:

1. Settlement: An agreement or resolution reached after negotiation.
2. Adopted unanimously: Accepted or agreed upon by all members of a group without opposition.
3. Refund: Repayment of money previously paid.
4. Prestige: Respect and admiration resulting from someone’s success or achievements.
5. Peasants: Rural farmers or agricultural workers.
6. Lords above the law: Individuals who act as if they are not bound by the law, behaving with authority and disregard for legal constraints.
7. Defenders: Advocates or supporters.
8. Courage: The ability to confront fear or adversity with confidence and bravery.
9. Justified: Shown to be right or reasonable.
10. British planters: Individuals from Britain involved in planting and cultivating crops, often in colonies or foreign territories.
11. Abandoned: Gave up or relinquished.
12. Reverted: Returned or went back to a previous state.
13. Indigo sharecropping: The practice of cultivating indigo plants on a sharecropping basis, as mentioned in the earlier parts of the story.

Explanation:

The settlement, which involved the planters agreeing to make refunds to the peasants, was unanimously adopted by the commission. Gandhi explained that the specific amount of the refund was less crucial than the fact that the landlords had to surrender part of the money, along with part of their prestige. According to Gandhi, this act symbolized that the planters, who had previously behaved as lords above the law, were now obliged to recognize the rights of the peasants and surrender some of their authority. This realization empowered the peasants, teaching them courage and asserting their rights.

Subsequent events justified Gandhi’s position. Within a few years, the British planters abandoned their estates, and the land reverted to the peasants. The practice of indigo sharecropping disappeared. This outcome demonstrates the transformative impact of nonviolent resistance and the successful pursuit of justice in addressing the grievances of the oppressed. The peasants, once subjugated, regained control of their land, marking a significant shift in power dynamics and the end of an exploitative system.

14. 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. He appealed for teachers. Mahadev Desai and Narhari Parikh, two young men who had just joined Gandhi as disciples, and their wives, volunteered for the work. Several more came from Bombay, Poona and other distant parts of the land. Devadas, Gandhi’s youngest son, arrived from the ashram and so did Mrs. Gandhi. Primary schools were opened in six villages. Kasturbai taught the ashram rules on personal cleanliness and community sanitation. Health conditions were miserable. Gandhi got a doctor to volunteer his services for six months. Three medicines were available — castor oil, quinine and sulphur ointment. Anybody who showed a coated tongue was given a dose of castor oil; anybody with malaria fever received quinine plus castor oil; anybody with skin eruptions received ointment plus castor oil.

Glossary:

1. Contented: Satisfied or pleased.
2. Political: Related to government or the activities associated with the governance of a country.
3. Economic: Pertaining to the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
4. Cultural: Relating to the customs, traditions, and practices of a particular group of people.
5. Social backwardness: Lack of progress or development in social aspects.
6. Champaran villages: Villages in the Champaran district, as mentioned in the story.
7. Appealed for: Made a request or plea for.
8. Volunteered: Offered to do something willingly without being forced or paid.
9. Disciples: Followers or students who learn from and follow the teachings of a particular leader or teacher.
10. Ashram: A hermitage, monastery, or place for religious retreat.
11. Primary schools: Educational institutions for young children, typically covering the initial years of formal education.
12. Personal cleanliness: Practices related to keeping oneself clean.
13. Community sanitation: Measures and practices for maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in a community.
14. Miserable: Unpleasant, wretched, or causing suffering.
15. Doctor: A medical professional with the knowledge and skills to treat illnesses and injuries.
16. Quinine: A medication used to treat malaria.
17. Sulphur ointment: A topical ointment containing sulfur, used for various skin conditions.
18. Coated tongue: A condition where the tongue appears to have a layer of foreign material.

Explanation:

Gandhi, not content with focusing solely on large political or economic solutions, recognized the cultural and social backwardness in the Champaran villages. He immediately sought to address these issues and appealed for teachers. Mahadev Desai and Narhari Parikh, two young men who had recently become disciples of Gandhi along with their wives, volunteered for the work. Additional volunteers came from distant parts of the country, such as Bombay and Poona.

Gandhi’s youngest son, Devadas, and Mrs. Gandhi also arrived from the ashram to contribute. They opened primary schools in six villages. Kasturbai, Gandhi’s wife, taught the ashram rules on personal cleanliness and community sanitation.

Given the miserable health conditions, Gandhi enlisted the help of a doctor who volunteered his services for six months. The available medicines were limited to castor oil, quinine, and sulphur ointment. Depending on the symptoms, individuals were treated with specific combinations of these medicines, such as castor oil for a coated tongue, quinine plus castor oil for malaria fever, and ointment plus castor oil for skin eruptions. This holistic approach to addressing not only political and economic issues but also cultural, social, and health challenges reflects Gandhi’s comprehensive and compassionate approach to societal improvement.

15. Gandhi noticed the filthy state of women’s clothes. He asked Kasturbai to talk to them about it. One woman took Kasturbai into her hut and said, ‘‘Look, there is no box or cupboard here for clothes. The sari I am wearing is the only one I have.” During his long stay in Champaran, Gandhi kept a long distance watch on the ashram. He sent regular instructions by mail and asked for financial accounts. Once he wrote to the residents that it was time to fill in the old latrine trenches and dig new ones otherwise the old ones would begin to smell bad. 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.”

Glossary:

1. Filthy: Extremely dirty or unclean.
2. Sari: Traditional Indian clothing for women, consisting of a draped garment.
3. Hut: A small, simple, and often temporary dwelling.
4. Long-distance watch: Keeping a vigilant eye or monitoring from a distance.
5. Ashram: A hermitage, monastery, or place for religious retreat.
6. Financial accounts: Records of monetary transactions, detailing income and expenses.
7. Latrine trenches: Ditches or channels used for the disposal of human waste.
8. Turning-point: A crucial moment or a significant change in direction.
9. Ordinary: Common or usual.
10. Declared: Publicly announced or stated.

Explanation:

While in Champaran, Gandhi observed the unclean state of women’s clothes and decided to address the issue. He asked Kasturbai, his wife, to speak with the women about it. One woman, illustrating the impoverished conditions, explained to Kasturbai that she had only one sari and no box or cupboard to store clothes.

Throughout his extended stay in Champaran, Gandhi kept a watchful eye on the ashram, even from a distance. He maintained regular communication by sending instructions through mail and requested financial accounts to ensure transparency and accountability. Gandhi’s involvement extended to practical matters, such as advising the residents to fill in old latrine trenches and dig new ones to prevent unpleasant odors.

The Champaran episode marked a turning point in Gandhi’s life. He considered his actions as very ordinary, emphasizing that he simply declared that the British could not order him about in his own country. This declaration reflected Gandhi’s commitment to asserting the rights and autonomy of the Indian people, and it set the stage for his future endeavours in India’s struggle for independence.

16. 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.

Glossary:

1. Defiance: The act of openly resisting or refusing to obey.
2. Alleviate: To make a situation or condition less severe or more bearable.
3. Distress: Extreme sorrow, suffering, or difficulty.
4. Peasants: Rural farmers or agricultural workers.
5. Gandhi pattern: Referring to the typical approach or methodology followed by Gandhi.
6. Intertwined: Closely connected or linked together.
7. Practical: Concerned with actual use or practice rather than theory.
8. Day-to-day problems: Everyday challenges and difficulties.
9. Millions: Referring to a large number of people.
10. Loyalty: Faithfulness or allegiance.
11. Abstractions: Concepts or ideas that are theoretical and not associated with specific instances.
12. Living, human beings: Real people, as opposed to abstract or theoretical concepts.
13. Mould: To shape or form.
14. Free Indian: An individual who is independent and not subject to external control.
15. Stand on his own feet: To be self-reliant and independent.
16. Make India free: Contribute to the independence and freedom of the nation.

Explanation:

Champaran did not begin as an act of defiance for Gandhi. Instead, it originated from an attempt to alleviate the distress of large numbers of poor peasants. This reflects the typical pattern of Gandhi’s approach, where his politics were deeply intertwined with the practical, day-to-day problems faced by millions of people. Gandhi’s loyalty was not to abstract ideas but to living, human beings.

In all his endeavours, Gandhi aimed to mold a new, free Indian who could stand on their own feet and, in doing so, contribute to making India a free nation. This emphasis on self-reliance and addressing immediate, real-world problems characterized Gandhi’s philosophy and approach. His commitment was not only to political ideals but also to the empowerment and well-being of individuals in the context of their daily lives.

17. Early in the Champaran action, Charles Freer Andrews, the English pacifist who had become a devoted follower of the Mahatma, came to bid Gandhi farewell before going on a tour of duty to the Fiji Islands. Gandhi’s lawyer friends thought it would be a good idea for Andrews to stay in Champaran and help them. Andrews was willing if Gandhi agreed. But Gandhi was vehemently opposed. He said, ‘‘You think that in this unequal fight it would be helpful if we have an Englishman on our side. This shows the weakness of your heart. The cause is just and you must rely upon yourselves to win the battle. You should not seek a prop in Mr. Andrews because he happens to be an Englishman’’. ‘‘He had read our minds correctly,’’ Rajendra Prasad comments, “and we had no reply… Gandhi in this way taught us a lesson in self-reliance’’. Self-reliance, Indian independence and help to sharecroppers were all bound together.

Glossary:

1. Champaran action: Referring to the activities or initiatives taken by Gandhi in Champaran.
2. Charles Freer Andrews: An English pacifist and follower of Mahatma Gandhi.
3. Devoted follower: A person who is loyal and committed to following someone.
4. Mahatma: A title of respect and reverence meaning “Great Soul,” often used for Gandhi.
5. Tour of duty: A period of time during which a person is assigned to perform military or other duties.
6. Fiji Islands: An island nation in the South Pacific Ocean.
7. Lawyer friends: Colleagues or associates who are lawyers.
8. Vehemently opposed: Strongly and passionately against something.
9. Unequal fight: A situation where one side has a significant disadvantage compared to the other.
10. Prop: A support or assistance.
11. Read our minds correctly: Understood or interpreted our thoughts accurately.
12. Lesson in self-reliance: Instruction or guidance on the importance of relying on oneself.
13. Indian independence: Referring to the movement and efforts aimed at achieving independence for India.
14. Sharecroppers: Farmers who cultivate land owned by others and pay a portion of the crops as rent.

Explanation:

During the early stages of the Champaran action, Charles Freer Andrews, an English pacifist and devoted follower of Gandhi, came to bid farewell before going on a tour of duty to the Fiji Islands. Gandhi’s lawyer friends suggested that Andrews could stay in Champaran and help them. However, Gandhi vehemently opposed the idea. He expressed that seeking an Englishman’s support in an unequal fight was a sign of weakness. Gandhi emphasized that the cause was just, and they should rely on themselves to win the battle, rather than relying on external support.

Gandhi’s rejection of external assistance, even from someone sympathetic to their cause, was a lesson in self-reliance for his associates. Rajendra Prasad, one of Gandhi’s contemporaries, noted that Gandhi correctly understood their thoughts, and they had no reply. This experience taught them the importance of self-reliance.

The text concludes by stating that self-reliance, Indian independence, and help to sharecroppers were all interconnected and integral to Gandhi’s philosophy and approach in Champaran. This episode underscores Gandhi’s belief in the strength and resilience of the Indian people in their quest for independence and social justice.