https://www.epw.in/node/148644/pdf
Read the above link for the History of Indigo Cultivation in India.
INTRODUCTION:
Under the British rule, many farmers in the Champaran district of Bihar were forced to grow indigo in their lands, much to their dismay. To fight this, a money lender named Raj Kumar Shukla reached out to Gandhiji and requested him to come and help them.
As Gandhi wrote in his
autobiography, he did not even know of Champaran before this. Nonetheless, he came down to this district on April 10 of 1917 with a band of lawyers, including Dr Rajendra Prasad, to fight it out with the British.
There had been the Indigo Riots in 1859-60, but this was a new struggle altogether.
Preparations began. Gandhi and his lawyers travelled across the district to different villages, meeting farmers and taking note of their sufferings and complaints against the forced indigo cultivation.
Ever since Gandhi arrived in Champaran, the British rulers started keeping a close eye on his moves. Finally, on April 15, he was given an ultimatum at Motihari by the commissioner to leave Champaran.
To that, Gandhi responded that he wouldn't leave, but was ready to bear "the penalty of civil disobedience".
It was apparent now that Gandhi would be taken to jail for this resistance. As a response, scores of Champaran tenants turned up in protest outside the jail, police stations and courts.
In the end, troubled by this unusual form of resistance that spilled no violence, the government was forced to let go of Gandhi.
"The country, thus, had its first direct object-lesson in Civil Disobedience," Gandhi wrote in his autobiography.
The struggle against forced indigo cultivation continued. Now, however, the possibility of Gandhi's arrest was more eminent. But he put together a plan, a chain of people who would take over the work if he, or anyone after him, was arrested. This way, the struggle would go on, with or without him.
The struggle went on, the civil disobedience continued. The protests and hunger strikes ultimately ended with the abolishing of the cultivation of Indigo, or as it was known then, the tinkathia system.
The landlords under the British government were made to sign an agreement that granted the farmers more control over what they wanted to grow on their own lands, among other benefits.
It was during this movement when Gandhi was first referred to as Bapu and Mahatma, or so goes the legend.
And that was the story of India's first civil disobedience movement, Champaran Satyagraha.
The chapter ‘Indigo’ pays a tribute to the leadership shown by Mahatma Gandhi to secure justice for oppressed people through convincing argumentation and negotiation. Gandhi had a magnetic attraction and great persuasive power. He could draw people of all classes to himself and make them partners in the freedom movement. Even ordinary people were inspired to make contribution to the freedom movement.
Gandhi emerges as a champion of the downtrodden and the oppressed. Rural uplift was his favourite programme. His knowledge of legal procedure and respect for law is also highlighted. He does not want to be a lawbreaker. At the same time he wants to render the humanitarian and national service in obedience to the higher law of our being, the voice of conscience. He also appears as a polite and friendly person. Gandhi’s ability to read the minds of others made them speechless. He believed in self-reliance, just cause and purity of means to achieve India’s Independence.
SYNOPSIS
The lesson highlights an important event in the history of India’s freedom struggle, namely the Champaran episode. Share croppers of indigo in Champaran were victims of injustice and exploitation by the British landlords. They demanded the whole of indigo harvest as rent and 15% of the land had indigo cultivation. The resoluteness, patience, loyalty and sacrifice of an illiterate peasant named Rajkumar Shukla were outstanding in redeeming the miserable indigo farmers with the help of Gandhi whom he took to Champaran after Gandhi’s engagements were over up to Calcutta. The lawyers were charging heavy fees from the peasants to plead for them in courses against the British landlords.
When Gandhi asked them what they would do if he was arrested, they said honestly that they would go home. Gandhi then made the thought provoking and conscience-striking question, “What about the injustice to the sharecroppers?” after consultation among themselves, the lawyers said that they were ready to be arrested, and Gandhi prepared a list of pairs to court arrest.
In Champaran, Gandhi gathered more information about the sharecroppers’ issue. He met the Secretary of the British Landlord’s Association who refused to give any information citing the reason that Gandhi was an outsider. His visit to the British Official Commissioner of the Tirhut division also proved futile as he bullied Gandhi and ordered him to leave Tirhut forthwith. When he heard about the maltreatment of a peasant in a nearby village, Gandhi went there on elephant back. The messenger of the police superintendent ordered him to return to town, Gandhi complied, but when served an official notice to quite Champaran, he disobeyed.
He sought the help of Rajendra Prasad and other influential people before appearing in court the next day by a summons. When Gandhi reached Motihari, the capital of Champaran, the place was crowded with peasants. The officials realized that their might, hitherto dreaded and unquestioned was being challenged for the first time. Gandhi was polite, friendly and cooperative in regulating the crowd. Gandhi declared that he was being faced with a “conflict of duties” – on the one hand by disobeying the law he was setting a bad example and on the other he was compelled to listen to the “voice of conscience”. The judge was forced to delay the proceedings and finally the Lieutenant-General of the province dropped the case. He had four interviews with the Lieutenant-General, the landlords and government officials. When the planters saw the mountain of evidence of injustice against them, they agreed to pay compensation to the peasants.
Some wanted 100% repayment, others 50% and finally Gandhi accepted a 25% refund because of the fact that the landlords were obliged to surrender part of their money and with it their prestige. The peasants realized that they had courage, rights and defenders. The land was returned to the farmers.
The invention of synthetic indigo in Germany had made the landlords do this and they had earlier wanted compensation from the sharecroppers for releasing them from the sharecropping agreement.
Kasturba Gandhi and Devdas Gandhi, Gandhi’s youngest son arrived in Champaran to teach ashram rules on personal cleanliness and community sanitation. Three medicines were available – castor oil, quinine and sulphur ointment. Latrine trenches were filled and new ones dug, as part of sanitation. Finally Gandhi turned down C.F. Andrews’ offer of mediation with the British reassuring that ‘our cause is just and we must rely upon ourselves to win the battle and should not seek a prop in an Englishman.
Lessons from the Champaran episode
a. Self-reliance
b. Success of mass civil-disobedience
c. Resoluteness succeeds in a noble cause.
d. Injustice and exploitation cannot last for long.
e. In dire needs, a redeemer is found / appears.
Important Questions
1. Why did Gandhi consider the Champaran episode a turning point his life?
2. What made Gandhi comment / exclaim, “The battle of Champaran is won”?
3. Explain Gandhi’s “conflict of duties”.
4. Give a character sketch of Rajkumar Shukla.
Q1. What solution to the problems of the poor did Gandhi suggest? How far did the Champaran movement help in this direction?
OR
“The real relief for them is to be free from fear”, remarked Gandhi. What do you think, was “the beginning of their liberation from the fear of the British” ?
The sharecropper peasants had to grow indigo on 15 per cent of their holdings and surrender the indigo harvest as rent to the landlord. When Germany developed synthetic indigo, the British planters started extracting money illegally and deceitfully as compensation from the peasants for being released from the 15 per cent arrangement. The peasants were made to sign new agreements and pay money. The planters behaved as lords above the law. Many peasants engaged lawyers at hefty fees and went to courts.
The Muzaffarpur lawyers briefed Gandhi about the peasants for whom they frequently represented in courts. Gandhi realised that these peasants were badly crushed and fear- stricken. Freedom from fear was more important than legal justice for them. Gandhiji was ready to court arrest for them. Thousands of peasants demonstrated spontaneously around the court. The government had to release Gandhi without bail. This voluntary uprising of the peasants marked the beginning of their liberation from the fear of the British.
Q2. Give an account of Gandhi’s efforts to secure justice for the poor indigo sharecroppers of Champaran.
OR
“Indigo sharecropping disappeared.” Which factors do you think, helped to achieve freedom for the fear-stricken peasants of Champaran?
Gandhi went to Champaran on receiving reports of exploitation of the poor sharecropper peasants at the hands of British planters. He began by trying to get the facts. The British landlords as well as the Commissioner of Tirhut were non-cooperative. Lawyers from MuZaffarpur briefed him about the court cases of these peasants.
Gandhi and the lawyers collected depositions by about ten thousand peasants. Notes were made on other evidence. Documents were collected. The whole area throbbed with the activities of the investigators and forceful protests of landlords.
The lieutenant governor summoned Gandhi. After four protracted interviews an official commission of inquiry was appointed to look into the indigo sharecroppers’ condition. Gandhi was the sole representative of the peasants. The official inquiry assembled huge quantity of evidence against the big planters. They agreed, in principle, to make refunds to the peasants. After consultation, a settlement of 25 per cent refund to the farmers was agreed on. This was a moral victory of the peasants. They recognised their rights and learned courage.
Within a few years the British planters gave up their estates. These now went back to the peasants. They became the masters of land. Thus, indigo sharecropping disappeared.
Q3. ‘Civil disobedience had triumphed, the first time in modern India.’Relate the events during Gandhi’s stay in Champaran that led to the triumph.
Ans. Gandhi had reached Motihari, the Capital of Champaran, to study the problems of the sharecropper peasants. He was on his way to a neighbouring village, where a peasant was ill-treated. On the way, he was stopped by the police superintendent’s messenger and ordered to return to town. When he reached home, he was served with an official notice to quit Champaran at once. Gandhi wrote on the receipt that he would disobey the order. So Gandhi received a summons to appear in the court the next day.
Next morning the town of Motihari was black with peasants. Thousands of peasants demonstrated voluntarily outside the court. The prosecutor requested the judge to postpone the trial. Gandhi protested against the delay. He read out a statement pleading guilty. He asked the penalty. The judge announced that he would pronounce the sentence after a two-hour recess. He asked Gandhi to furnish bail for that period. Gandhi refused. The judge released him without bail. After the recess, the judge said that he would not deliver the judgement for several days. Meanwhile he allowed Gandhi to remain at liberty.
Several days later Gandhi received a letter. The case against him had been dropped. Thus, civil disobedience had triumphed, for the first time in India.
Q4. Give an account of Gandhi’s efforts to secure justice for the poor indigo sharecroppers of Champaran.
OR
“Indigo sharecropping disappeared.” Which factors do you think, helped to achieve freedom for the fear-stricken peasants of Champaran?
Ans. Gandhi went to Champaran on receiving reports of exploitation of the poor sharecropper peasants at the hands of British planters. He began by trying to get the facts. The British landlords as well as the Commissioner of Tirhut were non-cooperative. Lawyers from MuZaffarpur briefed him about the court cases of these peasants.
Gandhi and the lawyers collected depositions by about ten thousand peasants. Notes were made on other evidence. Documents were collected. The whole area throbbed with the activities of the investigators and forceful protests of landlords.
The lieutenant governor summoned Gandhi. After four protracted interviews an official commission of inquiry was appointed to look into the indigo sharecroppers’ condition. Gandhi was the sole representative of the peasants. The official inquiry assembled huge quantity of evidence against the big planters. They agreed, in principle, to make refunds to the peasants. After consultation, a settlement of 25 per cent refund to the farmers was agreed on. This was a moral victory of the peasants. They recognised their rights and learned courage.
Within a few years the British planters gave up their estates. These now went back to the peasants. They became the masters of land. Thus, indigo sharecropping disappeared.
Q5. How did Gandhi work for rural uplift during his stay in Champaran?
Ans. Gandhi wanted to do something to remove the cultural and social backwardness in Champaran villages. He appealed for teachers. Two young disciples of Gandhi, Mahadev Desai and Narhari Parikh and their wives volunteered themselves for work. Several others responded from distant parts of the country. Mrs. Kasturba Gandhi and Devdas, Gandhi’s youngest son, arrived from the Ashram. Primary schools were opened in six villages. Kasturba taught the ashram rules on personal cleanliness and community cleanliness. She also talked to women about their filthy clothes.
Health conditions were miserable. Gandhi got a doctor to volunteer his services for six months. Only three medicines were available: Castor oil, quinine and sulphur ointment. Anyone 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 caster oil.
Thus, Gandhi never contented himself with large political or economic solutions. He worked for total uplift of villages and the poor sections of the society.
Q6. ‘Self-reliance, Indian independence and help to sharecroppers were all bound together.’ Elucidate on the basis of reading ‘Indigo’ by Louis Fischer.
OR
‘The Champaran episode was a turning-point in Gandhi’s life. Explain with examples from ‘Indigo’ by Louis Fischer.
Ans. Gandhi stayed in Champaran for a long time. The Champaran episode was a turning point in his life. It was during this struggle in 1917 that he decided to urge the departure of the British.
Champaran episode did not begin as an act of defiance. It grew out of an attempt to make the sufferings of large numbers of poor peasants less severe. Gandhi concentrated on their practical day to day problems. He analysed the root cause of the problem-fear, and tried to eradicate it. The voluntary demonstration of the poor peasants against the government for putting Gandhi in trouble was the beginning of the end of their fear of the British.
In everything Gandhi did, he tried to mould a new free Indian who could stand on his own feet and thus make India free. He taught his lawyer friends a lesson in self-reliance by opposing the involvement of C.F. Andrews, an Englishman in .their unequal fight. His help would be a prop. This would reflect their weakness. Their cause was just and they must rely on themselves to win the battle. Thus self-reliance, Indian independence and help to sharecroppers were all bound together.
Q7. Justify the appropriateness of the title ‘Indigo’ to this extract.
Ans. The title ‘Indigo’ is quite appropriate, to the point and suggestive. It at once focuses our * attention on the central issue-the exploitation of the indigo sharecropper peasants at the hands of cruel British planters. They compelled them through a long term agreement to raise indigo on 15 per cent of their landholding and surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent.
After the development of synthetic indigo by Germany, the British planters extracted money from the peasants as compensation for being released from the 15 per cent agreement. The peasants who wanted their money back had filed civil suits. The planters who behaved as lords above the law and were dreaded by the poor were obliged to surrender part of money and with it part of their prestige.
The extract also points out the work done by Gandhi and his associates to improve the economic, political, cultural and social fife of the indigo sharecroppers. Their education, health and hygiene also received due attention. The plight of indigo sharecroppers, then- struggle under Gandhi’s leadership and ultimate victory when Indigo sharecropping disappeared from important landmarks. Thus, the title ‘Indigo’ is highly suggestive and apt.
to be continued..
