Podcast
Questions and Answers
Why did Gandhi disobey the order to leave Tirhut, and what concept did this action exemplify?
Why did Gandhi disobey the order to leave Tirhut, and what concept did this action exemplify?
Gandhi disobeyed the order to leave Tirhut because he wanted to gather information about the indigo contract and help the peasants. This action exemplified Civil Disobedience.
What was the primary concern that led the peasants of Champaran to seek Gandhi's assistance?
What was the primary concern that led the peasants of Champaran to seek Gandhi's assistance?
The peasants of Champaran sought Gandhi's assistance because they were being oppressed by the sharecropping system, especially the forced cultivation of indigo on 15 percent of their land and the unjust compensation demanded by British planters.
Why did Gandhi refuse assistance from Charles Freer Andrews during the Champaran campaign?
Why did Gandhi refuse assistance from Charles Freer Andrews during the Champaran campaign?
Gandhi refused assistance from Charles Freer Andrews because he wanted the people of Champaran and the lawyers involved to learn self-reliance.
What was the significance of the spontaneous demonstration by peasants around the courthouse in Motihari?
What was the significance of the spontaneous demonstration by peasants around the courthouse in Motihari?
Describe the initial encounter between Rajkumar Shukla and Gandhi, and what did Shukla request of him?
Describe the initial encounter between Rajkumar Shukla and Gandhi, and what did Shukla request of him?
What action did the British landlords take when Germany developed synthetic indigo, and what was the consequence for the peasants?
What action did the British landlords take when Germany developed synthetic indigo, and what was the consequence for the peasants?
Explain the long-term agreement between the British landlords and the Indian tenant farmers regarding indigo cultivation.
Explain the long-term agreement between the British landlords and the Indian tenant farmers regarding indigo cultivation.
Why were Indians in smaller localities afraid to show sympathy to the supporters of home rule?
Why were Indians in smaller localities afraid to show sympathy to the supporters of home rule?
What steps did Gandhi take to address the social and health conditions of the peasants in Champaran, besides the resolution of the indigo sharecropping issue?
What steps did Gandhi take to address the social and health conditions of the peasants in Champaran, besides the resolution of the indigo sharecropping issue?
Describe how Gandhi was treated when Rajkumar Shukla took him to Rajendra Prasad's residence and why?
Describe how Gandhi was treated when Rajkumar Shukla took him to Rajendra Prasad's residence and why?
Flashcards
Who was Louis Fischer?
Who was Louis Fischer?
An American journalist who wrote 'The Life of Mahatma Gandhi'. The chapter 'Indigo' is excerpted from this biography.
When did Louis Fischer visit Gandhi?
When did Louis Fischer visit Gandhi?
In 1942, at his ashram in Sevagram.
What did Gandhi explain to Louis Fischer?
What did Gandhi explain to Louis Fischer?
Gandhi explained he decided to urge the British to leave India.
Who was Rajkumar Shukla?
Who was Rajkumar Shukla?
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Indigo sharecropping system
Indigo sharecropping system
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Gandhi's response to the order to leave Tirhut
Gandhi's response to the order to leave Tirhut
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Why did Gandhi disobey the law?
Why did Gandhi disobey the law?
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Champaran settlement
Champaran settlement
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Charles Freer Andrews
Charles Freer Andrews
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Why an official commission of inquiry?
Why an official commission of inquiry?
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Study Notes
- Louis Fischer, an American journalist, wrote the biography of Mahatma Gandhi called 'The Life of the Mahatma Gandhi'.
- The chapter 'Indigo' is an excerpt from this biography.
- Louis Fischer visited Gandhi in 1942 at his ashram in Sevagram.
- Gandhi explained how he decided to ask the British to leave India.
- The annual convention of the Indian National Congress party was organized in Lucknow in 1916.
- Rajkumar Shukla, a sharecropper from Champaran, met Gandhi and requested him to visit his district to address the injustice of the landlord system in Bihar.
- Raj Kumar Shukla was illiterate but resolute and followed Gandhi until he agreed to visit Champaran.
- Rajkumar Shukla met Gandhi at Calcutta and then went to Patna to meet Dr Rajendra Prasad, whose servants considered Gandhiji untouchable.
- Gandhi sent a telegram to Professor J.B. Kripalani of the Arts College in Muzzafarpur reached Muzzafarpur on April 15, 1917, and was welcomed by him and his students.
- Gandhi stayed at Professor Malkani's house for two days.
- Malkani was a teacher in a government school, and in smaller localities, Indians feared showing sympathy to supporters of home rule.
- News of Gandhi's arrival and mission spread rapidly, leading sharecroppers to assemble to see their champion.
- Gandhi met lawyers handling sharecroppers' cases and admonished them for collecting high fees in Muzzafarpur.
- The sharecropping system oppressed Champaran peasants, whose district was divided into estates owned by Englishmen and worked by Indian tenant farmers.
- British landlords forced peasants to grow indigo on 15% of their land, surrendering the entire harvest as rent under a long-term contract.
- Germany developed synthetic Indigo, causing British planters to extract money from sharecroppers as compensation to release them from the 15% arrangement.
- Many peasants signed willingly, while others resisted and hired lawyers, prompting landlords to hire thugs.
- Peasants who had signed wanted their money back.
- Gandhi visited the secretary of the British landlord's association in Champaran but was denied information as an outsider.
- Gandhi met the British Official Commissioner of the Tirhut division, who ordered him to leave Tirhut immediately.
- Instead, Gandhi went to Motihari, Champaran's capital, to investigate the indigo contract accompanied by lawyers.
- Gandhi was stopped by a police superintendent's messenger and served a notice to leave, which he disobeyed, leading to a case being filed against him for civil disobedience.
- Gandhi was summoned to court, and a large crowd of peasants gathered in Motihari.
- The spontaneous demonstration was the beginning of their liberation from British fear; Gandhi helped officers regulate the crowd.
- Gandhi felt a conflict between obeying the law and respecting inner conscience, disobeying legal orders to help the peasants.
- Gandhi stated he was not a lawbreaker but disobeyed the law to aid the peasants.
- Gandhi was released without bail, and the case was dropped, marking a triumph for civil disobedience.
- Gandhi had many interviews with the lieutenant-governor, who appointed an official commission of inquiry into sharecroppers' situation, with Gandhi as their representative.
- Evidence showed landlords and British officials illegally took money from the sharecroppers.
- Gandhiji agreed to the landlords' 25% refund of compensation, obliging them to surrender part of the money and prestige.
- The peasants realized their rights and learned courage.
- Gandhi worked to improve health, social, and cultural conditions in Champaran, opening six schools in Champaran villages.
- Gandhi refused Charles Freer Andrews's help to encourage self-reliance among the people and lawyers of Champaran.
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