Indigo(prose) Question Answers

Indigo

Q. What was the written communication Gandhi received from the magistrate?

Ans : The magistrate announced that Gandhi would be pronounced sentence after two hours recess. So he asked Gandhi to furnish bail.

 

Q. Why was Malkani's action of offering shelter to Gandhi extraordinary?

Ans : Malkani, a teacher in a government school allowed Gandhi to stay at his house for two days when the latter was in Muzaffarpur. It was an extraordinary action in those days for a government professor to harbour an advocate of 'home rule' like Gandhi.

 

Q. What had the senior lawyers planned to do if Gandhi was sentenced to prison?
   Or
 How did Gandhi influence the lawyers?

Ans : Gandhi asked the lawyers what would they do if he was sent to prison. The senior lawyers replied that they had come to advise and help him. If he was sent to jail, then they would go back home. But afterwards, they thought if Gandhi being a stranger prepared to go to jail for the peasants then it would be a shameful desertion if they go home despite being residents of adjoining districts. So the lawyers finally decided to follow Gandhi to jail. Thus Gandhi influenced the lawyers.

 

Q. What was the result / outcome of the interview Gandhi had with the Lieutenant Governor?

Ans : As a result of the series of interviews between Gandhi and the Lieutenant Governor Gandhi was appointed as an official of the commission of inquiry into the indigo sharecroppers' situation. The commission consisted of landlords, government officials and Gandhi as the sole representative of the peasants.

 

Q. Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of 25% refund to the farmers?

Ans : Though previously Gandhi demanded for 50% refund to the farmers. But he later agreed to a settlement of 25% refund. Because Gandhi believed that the submission of the British landlords was more significant than the percentage of refund. Gandhi considered that the amount of refund was less important as with the money the landlords had to surrender their prestige. Moreover, he wanted the poor farmers to realise that they too had rights and defenders. The farmers finally learned courage and how to fight for their own cause.

 

Q. What did Gandhi do to improve the health condition in the villages of Champaran?

Ans : The health condition of the people of Champaran was miserable. Gandhi got a doctor to volunteer his services for six months. For the people three medicines were available. For a coated tongue a dose of castor oil was given. For malaria patients received quinine plus castor oil. Patients with skin eruptions were prescribed ointment plus castor oil. Kasturbai also taught the rules on personal cleanliness and community sanitation. Thus Gandhi tried to improve the health condition of the villages of Champaran.

 

Q. Name the English pacifist who became a devoted follower of Gandhiji? What was the idea the lawyers suggested about Andrews? What did Gandhi say?

Ans : Charles Freer Andrews was the English pacifist who became a devoted follower of Gandhiji.

          Before going on a tour to the Fiji islands he came to bid Gandhi farewell. The lawyers thought it would be a good idea for Andrews to stay in Champaran and help them. Andrews was willing if Gandhi agreed. But Gandhi opposed the idea saying having an English man on their side would show weakness of the Indians. Since the cause was just so, they should rely upon themselves and should not seek a prop in Andrews.

         

Q. What was the attitude of the average Indians in smaller localities towards advocates of 'home rule'?

Ans : In smaller localities the Indians were afraid of showing sympathy to an advocate of 'home rule'.

 

Q. What was the 'conflict of duties' mentioned in the chapter?

Ans : Gandhi faced a conflict of duties when he didn't want to set a bad example  as a lawbreaker and on the other hand to render the humanitarian and national service for which he had come. But he decided to disregard the order of British to leave Champaran not for want of respect from the authorities but due to his voice of conscience to help his own people.

 

Q. Why did Gandhi declare that the battle of Champaran is won?

Ans : The lawyers of Champaran were very professional. They rendered their duties to the peasants only to earn fees. But Gandhi was a complete opposite. He was  ready to go to jail fighting against the injustice to the sharecroppers. At first the lawyers said they would go back if Gandhi went to prison. Later they told Gandhi they were ready to follow him into jail. This support made Gandhi extremely happy and confident. This confidence led him to exclaim that the battle of Champaran was won.

Q. When and where did Louis Fischer visit Gandhi?

Ans : Louis Fischer visited Gandhi in 1942 at his Sevagram ashram. 

Q. What did Gandhi say to the author when he visited Gandhi at his ashram?

Ans : When Louis Fischer visited Gandhi he told Fischer the whole incident of Champaran and why in 1917 he decided to urge the departure of the British.

Q. What did Gandhi recount during the proceedings of the annual convention of the Indian National Congress? 

Ans : During the proceedings of annual convention of the Indian National Congress Gandhi recounted how a 'poor and emaciated' peasant called Rajkumar Shukla came to meet him from Champaran and to take Gandhi to his district to witness the injustice of the landlord system. 

Q. How did Shukla succeed in persuading Gandhi to visit Champaran?

                      Or

Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being resolute?

Ans : Rajkumar Shukla wanted Gandhi to witness the injustice of the landlord system. So he came to meet Mahatma Gandhi to take him with him to Champaran. Raj Kumar Shukla is described as being 'resolute' because even after being told about the prior engagements of Gandhi at Cawnpore and other parts across the county, he did not lose hope. He followed Gandhi to Cownpore and then to Ahmedabad. Gandhi was moved by the tenacity of the poor farmer and agreed to accompany him to Champaran. 

Q. What news spread through Champaran and Muzaffarpur?

Ans : The news of Gandhi's advent and the nature of his mission spread quickly through Muzaffarpur and Champaran.

Q. Why did Gandhi chide the lawyers?

Ans : Gandhi chid the lawyers for collecting big fee from the poor sharecroppers. Gandhi knew the poverty-stricken peasants could not afford such huge amounts.

Q. What Gandhi told about the law court and and what according to him would be the real relief for the peasants?

Ans : According to Gandhi courts are useless and he was of the view that taking such cases to the court could do little good to the fear-stricken peasants.

         The real relief for them, according to Gandhi, was to be free from fear.

Q. Why did the Indigo planters obtain new agreement from the sharecroppers to pay them compensation? Why did many sign willingly?

Ans : When the landlords learned that Germany had developed synthetic indigo and now indigo plantation was no longer profitable, then they obtained new agreement from the sharecroppers to pay compensation for being released from the 15% arrangements.

          Many signed willingly as the sharecropping arrangements were very irksome to the peasants. 

Q. Was the meeting of Gandhi with the British official commissioner cordial? Where did Gandhi proceed after the meeting?

Ans : The meeting of Gandhi with the British official commissioner was not at all cordial. He bullied Gandhi and advised him to leave Tirhut. 

         After the meeting Gandhi proceeded to Motihari with some lawyers. 

Q. What summon Gandhi received ? What did he do that night?

Ans : Gandhi received a summon to appear in the court. 

          That night Gandhi telegraphed Rajendra Prasad to come from Bihar with some his influential friends. He also sent instructions to his ashram and wrote a full report to the Viceroy. 

Q. What happened in the town of Motihari the day Gandhi was summoned?

Ans : When the peasants got to know that Gandhi who wanted to help them was in trouble with the authorities they came to Motihari to support Gandhi. 

Q. How did Gandhi help the authorities?

Ans : The spontaneous demonstration of the peasants in thousands around the court house to support Gandhi made the British officials powerless. Indeed, it was the beginning of their liberation from fear of the British. Gandhi was polite and friendly and helped the officials to control the crowd. 

Q. What was the written communication Gandhi received from the magistrate?

Ans : The magistrate announced that he would pronounce sentence after a two- hour recess. So, he asked Gandhi to furnish bail.

 

Q. Who was Sir Edward Gait?

Ans : Sir Edward Gait was the Lieutenant Governor of the Bihar and Orissa province in the Bengal Presidency of British India.

Q. Who was Rajkumar Shukla?

Ans : Rajkumar Shukla was a sharecropper of Champaran. 

Q. Whom did Gandhi and Shukla propose to meet in Patna?

Ans : Gandhi and Shukla proposed to meet Dr. Rajendra Prasad in Patna. 

Q. Why did Gandhi visit Lucknow in 1916?

Ans : Gandhi visited Lucknow in 1916 to attend the annual convention of the Indian National Congress party.

Q. Where is Champaran situated?

Ans : Champaran was situated in the foothills of the Himalayas near the kingdom of Nepal. 

Q. Who was J.Z. Hodge?

Ans : J.Z. Hodge was a British missionary.

Q. Name the capital of Champaran.

Ans : Motihari is the capital of Champaran.

Q. Which nation developed synthetic indigo?

Ans : Germany developed synthetic indigo. 

Q. Which was en route to Champaran?

Ans : Muzzafarpur was en route to Champaran.

Q. Who was J.B. Kripalini?

Ans : J. B. Kripalini was the professor of the Arts college in Muzzafarpur.

Q. Who was Malkani?

Ans : Malkani was a teacher of a government school at whose place Gandhi stayed for two days when he was at Champaran. 

Q. What did Shukla want Gandhi to do ?

Ans : Shukla wanted Gandhi to fix a date to visit Champaran.

Q. What was Gandhi's politics intertwined with?

Ans : Gandhi's politics was intertwined with the practical day to day problems of the millions. 

Q. What was the name of Gandhi's youngest son?

Ans : The name of Gandhi's youngest son was Devadas.

Q. Who were Mahadev Desai and Narahari Parikh?

Ans : Mahadev Desai and Narahari Parikh were two disciples of Gandhi who wanted to teach the people of Champaran.

Q. Which book of Louis Fischer has been reviewed as one of the best books written on Gandhi by 'Times educational supplement'?

Ans : 'The Life of Mahatma Gandhi' has been reviewed as one of the best books written on Gandhi by Times Educational Supplement.

Q. Why do you think Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life?

Ans : Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life because he declared that the British could not order him about his own country. Moreover, he could teach the people of Champaran lessons on self reliance. 

Q. Why did Gandhi choose to go to Muzzafarpur first before going to Champaran?

Ans : Gandhi chose to go to Muzzafarpur first before going to Champaran to obtain more detailed information about the conditions of the sharecroppers of Champaran than Rajkumar Shukla was capable of imparting.

Q. When did Gandhi decide to urge the departure of the British?

Ans : In 1917, when the Champaran episode was going on Gandhi decided to urge the departure of the British. 

Q. What Ashram rules did Kasturbai teach in the Champaran villages?

Ans : In the villages of Champaran Kasturbai taught the rules on personal cleanliness and community sanitation.

Q. 'He had read our minds correctly. " Who made the comment and who is the 'he' here?

Ans : Rajendra Prasad made the comment.

  Mahatma Gandhi is the 'he' here.