Class | Subject | Book | Chapter | Session | Questions covered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XII | English | Flamingo (NCERT) | 5 – Indigo | 2026-27 | 19 of 19 |
Chapter at a glance
Aspect | Key point |
|---|---|
Author | Louis Fischer (1896–1970), American journalist; excerpt from The Life of Mahatma Gandhi |
Background | Champaran, Bihar (1917): sharecroppers were forced by British planters to grow indigo on 15% of their land and give the whole harvest as rent (tinkathia system) |
Rajkumar Shukla | A poor, illiterate sharecropper who met Gandhi at the Lucknow Congress (December 1916) and followed him for months until Gandhi agreed to visit Champaran |
Journey | Lucknow → Cawnpore → Ahmedabad (ashram) → Calcutta → Patna (Rajendra Prasad’s house) → Muzaffarpur (Professor J.B. Kripalani) → Motihari, Champaran |
Struggle | Gandhi was served a notice to leave; he disobeyed; thousands of peasants gathered at the court; the case was dropped; inquiry; planters agreed to refund 25% of the money |
Significance | First civil disobedience in India; peasants became free from fear; Gandhi called it a turning point — self-reliance, Hindu–Muslim unity, sanitation, education and health work alongside |
Think as you read
Question C1
Strike out what is not true in the following: (a) Rajkumar Shukla was (i) a sharecropper (ii) a politician (iii) delegate (iv) a landlord. (b) Rajkumar Shukla was (i) poor (ii) physically strong (iii) illiterate.
Answer
(a) Rajkumar Shukla was a sharecropper who came to the Congress session as a delegate; he was not a politician and not a landlord. Strike out (ii) a politician and (iv) a landlord.
(b) He was poor and illiterate (the text describes him as poor and emaciated, so he was not physically strong). Strike out (ii) physically strong.
- Strike out “a politician” and “a landlord” (he was a sharecropper and a delegate). (b) Strike out “physically strong” (he was poor, emaciated and illiterate).
Question C2
Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being ‘resolute’?
Answer
Rajkumar Shukla was determined to take Gandhi to Champaran. Gandhi told him he had appointments elsewhere, but Shukla accompanied him everywhere — to Cawnpore, and back to Gandhi’s ashram near Ahmedabad — and followed him for weeks. He did not leave Gandhi’s side until Gandhi agreed to come. Impressed by his tenacity, Gandhi asked him to meet him in Calcutta, and Shukla was waiting there when Gandhi arrived.
He was resolute because he refused to give up — he followed Gandhi from Lucknow to Cawnpore, to his ashram near Ahmedabad and waited for him in Calcutta, until Gandhi agreed to come to Champaran.
Question C3
Why do you think the servants thought Gandhi to be another peasant?
Answer
When Shukla took Gandhi to Rajendra Prasad’s house in Patna, the servants knew Shukla as a poor peasant who pestered their master to help the indigo sharecroppers. Gandhi was with him; he was simply dressed and accompanied by a peasant, so the servants took him to be another peasant. They allowed him to stay but did not let him draw water from the well, fearing he might be an untouchable.
Because Gandhi came with Shukla, a poor peasant they knew, and was very simply dressed, the servants assumed he was another peasant (even forbidding him to draw water from the well, lest he be an untouchable).
Question C4
List the places that Gandhi visited between his first meeting with Shukla and his arrival at Champaran.
Answer
Lucknow (Congress session, first meeting) → Cawnpore (Kanpur) → Ahmedabad (his ashram) → Calcutta → Patna (Rajendra Prasad’s house) → Muzaffarpur (stayed with Professor J.B. Kripalani; met lawyers) → Motihari, the capital of Champaran.
Lucknow → Cawnpore → Ahmedabad (ashram) → Calcutta → Patna → Muzaffarpur → Motihari (Champaran).
Question C5
What did the peasants pay the British landlords as rent? What did the British now want instead and why? What would be the impact of synthetic indigo on the prices of natural indigo?
Answer
- Rent: under the long-term contract, the sharecroppers had to plant 15% of their land with indigo and surrender the entire indigo harvest to the British landlords as rent.
- What the British now wanted: Germany had developed synthetic indigo, so natural indigo was no longer profitable. The British planters therefore wanted the sharecroppers to pay compensation in money for being released from the 15% arrangement.
- Why: the planters knew that natural indigo would lose its value, so they wanted to extract money from the peasants before the peasants learnt about it.
- Impact of synthetic indigo: the prices of natural indigo would fall sharply, as synthetic dye was cheaper.
The peasants had to grow indigo on 15% of their land and give the whole indigo crop as rent. When Germany developed synthetic indigo, the British wanted money compensation for releasing them from this agreement, knowing natural indigo would lose value — synthetic indigo would make natural indigo prices fall sharply.
Question C6
The events in this part of the text illustrate Gandhi’s method of working. Can you identify some instances of this method and link them to his ideas of satyagraha and non-violence?
Answer
- Gathering facts – he first tried to get the facts from the Secretary of the British landlords’ association and the commissioner; he did not act on hearsay.
- Peaceful disobedience of an unjust order – when served a notice to leave Champaran, he refused politely and accepted the consequences (court summons) — civil disobedience, the essence of satyagraha.
- Openness and honesty – he informed the authorities of his plans and pleaded guilty in court, saying he was obeying “the voice of conscience”.
- Mass non-violent support – thousands of peasants gathered peacefully outside the court; Gandhi helped the officials regulate the crowd — non-violent, disciplined protest.
- Self-reliance – he refused the help of the Englishman C.F. Andrews so that Indians would learn to rely on themselves.
- Willingness to suffer – he was ready to go to jail; the lawyers too decided to court arrest. These show satyagraha — resisting injustice through truth, non-violence and suffering, not hatred.
Gandhi first gathered facts, politely disobeyed the order to leave Champaran and accepted the consequences, openly pleaded guilty in court in obedience to his conscience, led a disciplined non-violent crowd of peasants, refused C.F. Andrews’ help to teach self-reliance, and was ready to go to jail — all reflecting satyagraha and non-violence.
Question C7
Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of 25 per cent refund to the farmers?
Answer
Gandhi asked for a 50% refund; the planters offered 25%, and Gandhi accepted it. He 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. The British planters, who had behaved as lords above the law, had been forced to accept defeat. This broke the deadlock and showed the peasants that they had rights and could challenge injustice.
Because the amount mattered less than the principle: the planters had been forced to refund part of the money and, with it, give up part of their prestige — which broke the deadlock and showed peasants they could resist.
Question C8
How did the episode change the plight of the peasants?
Answer
- The planters gave up the indigo estates within a few years; the estates reverted to the peasants, and indigo sharecropping disappeared.
- The peasants got back part of their money.
- More importantly, the peasants learnt courage — they became free from fear and realised that they had rights and defenders.
- Gandhi also started schools, health work and sanitation in the villages, improving their social and cultural backwardness.
Within a few years the planters abandoned their estates, which reverted to the peasants, and indigo sharecropping disappeared; the peasants regained some money, learnt courage and freedom from fear, and benefited from Gandhi’s schools, health and sanitation work.
Understanding the text
Question U1
Why do you think Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning-point in his life?
Answer
- It was the first successful civil disobedience (satyagraha) movement in India; Gandhi disobeyed an unjust order and the British had to withdraw the case.
- It showed that the British could not order Indians about in their own country; Gandhi called the event the day he “declared” this.
- It made the poor peasants free from fear and gave them confidence — an essential condition for freedom.
- It showed the effectiveness of non-violence, truth and self-reliance, and brought ordinary people into the freedom struggle.
- It was not just a political struggle but a social and cultural one — Gandhi worked on education, health and sanitation.
- It gave Gandhi confidence in his methods, which he later used on a national scale.
Champaran was the first successful civil disobedience in India: Gandhi showed that the British could not order Indians about in their own country, freed poor peasants from fear, proved the power of non-violence and self-reliance, combined political struggle with social uplift, and gained confidence in methods he later used nationally.
Question U2
How was Gandhi able to influence lawyers? Give instances.
Answer
- At Muzaffarpur, Gandhi chided the lawyers for charging the poor sharecroppers high fees and said that taking such cases to court did little good when the peasants were so crushed and fear-stricken; the real relief for them was to be free from fear.
- When Gandhi was summoned to court for disobeying the order, the lawyers discussed what they would do if he went to jail. Gandhi asked them what they would do. They thought it over, realised that he, a total stranger, was ready to go to prison for the peasants, and felt it would be shameful desertion if they went home. So they told Gandhi they were ready to follow him into jail.
- They also stayed in Champaran to record the complaints of the peasants and served without fees. His personal example of self-sacrifice and moral courage influenced them.
Gandhi chided the Muzaffarpur lawyers for charging poor peasants high fees and argued that freeing them from fear mattered more than court cases; and when he was ready to go to jail for the peasants, the lawyers felt it would be shameful to desert him and agreed to court arrest too — influenced by his example of self-sacrifice.
Question U3
What was the attitude of the average Indian in smaller localities towards advocates of ‘home rule’?
Answer
In smaller localities, the average Indian was afraid to show sympathy for advocates of home rule, because of fear of the British authorities. For example, at Muzaffarpur, Professor J.B. Kripalani received Gandhi at the station, but the text notes that Professor Malkani, a government school teacher who gave Gandhi shelter, was taking a risk — it was extraordinary for a government employee to harbour someone like Gandhi.
People in smaller localities were afraid to show sympathy for advocates of home rule, fearing the British — e.g. it was unusual and risky for Professor Malkani, a government teacher, to give Gandhi shelter at Muzaffarpur.
Question U4
How do we know that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement?
Answer
- Rajkumar Shukla, an illiterate sharecropper, persuaded Gandhi to come to Champaran.
- Thousands of peasants spontaneously gathered at Motihari when Gandhi was summoned to court, showing their support; they came to give testimony.
- Peasants came forward fearlessly to record their complaints.
- Lawyers, teachers (Professor Malkani), and volunteers helped; Gandhi’s wife Kasturba, his son, and disciples (Mahadev Desai, Narhari Parikh) and many others worked in the villages as teachers and health workers.
- Gandhi’s movement relied on mass participation of ordinary people.
Ordinary people like Rajkumar Shukla, an illiterate sharecropper, brought Gandhi to Champaran; thousands of peasants gathered at Motihari and came forward to record their complaints; lawyers, teachers and volunteers worked in the villages — showing that the freedom movement rested on mass participation.
Talking about the text
Question T1
“Freedom from fear is more important than legal justice for the poor.” Do you think that the poor of India are free from fear after Independence?
Answer
Partly yes, but not fully. After Independence, the poor have constitutional rights, the vote, laws against exploitation, reservation, and welfare schemes; many have become more aware and assertive (e.g. RTI, MGNREGA, social movements). However, many poor people are still not free from fear: 1. Fear of moneylenders, landlords and powerful castes in villages; bonded labour still exists in places. 2. Fear of police harassment and of approaching courts, which are costly and slow. 3. Fear of unemployment, hunger, illness and eviction; informal workers have no security. 4. Marginalised groups (Dalits, adivasis, women) face discrimination and violence. As Gandhi realised, real freedom requires education, awareness, economic security and the confidence to stand up for one’s rights.
Only partly. The poor now have rights, the vote, laws and welfare schemes, and many are more assertive, but many still fear moneylenders, landlords, dominant castes and police, cannot afford justice, and live with insecurity of jobs, food and housing; true freedom from fear needs education, awareness and economic security.
Question T2
The qualities of a good leader.
Answer
Gandhi’s conduct in Champaran shows the qualities of a good leader: 1. Commitment to truth and justice – fighting for the oppressed. 2. Courage – defying unjust orders peacefully and accepting punishment. 3. Leading by example – simple living, self-sacrifice (willing to go to jail). 4. Empathy – understanding the suffering of the poor. 5. Fact-based approach and clear thinking – gathering facts before acting. 6. Ability to inspire and unite people – lawyers, peasants, volunteers. 7. Flexibility and pragmatism – accepting the 25% settlement for a larger principle. 8. Self-reliance and vision – refusing outside help (C.F. Andrews), and working on education, health and sanitation for long-term change. 9. Honesty, humility and discipline.
A good leader, as Gandhi showed, has commitment to truth and justice, courage, leads by example, empathises with the poor, acts on facts, inspires and unites people, is pragmatic (accepting the 25% settlement), promotes self-reliance with a long-term vision, and is honest, humble and disciplined.
Working with words
Question W1
List the words used in the text that are related to legal procedures. For example: deposition.
Answer
Legal words in the text: deposition, summons, court, trial, judge, magistrate, lawyers/advocates, case, prosecutor, plead guilty, sentence, bail, penalty, notice, order, inquiry/commission of inquiry, adjourned/postponed, reconvened, judgment, testimony, complaint, legal aid, government counsel, jail/prison, rent, contract/agreement, refund, compensation, settlement, defendant, statement.
Deposition, summons, notice, court, trial, judge, magistrate, lawyers, case, prosecutor, plead guilty, statement, bail, penalty, sentence, judgment, adjourned, reconvened, inquiry/commission, testimony, complaint, settlement, refund, compensation.
Question W2
List other words that you know that fall into this category.
Answer
Affidavit, plaintiff, defendant, petition, appeal, verdict, acquittal, conviction, hearing, witness, evidence, cross-examination, warrant, injunction, litigation, jurisdiction, attorney, advocate, solicitor, barrister, parole, writ, habeas corpus, FIR, charge sheet, tribunal, jury, legal notice, stay order, decree.
Affidavit, plaintiff, defendant, petition, appeal, verdict, acquittal, conviction, hearing, witness, evidence, cross-examination, warrant, injunction, litigation, jurisdiction, attorney, barrister, parole, writ, FIR, charge sheet, tribunal, jury, decree.
Thinking about language
Question L1
Notice the sentences in the text which are in ‘direct speech’. Why does the author use quotations in his narration?
Answer
The author (Louis Fischer) uses direct speech — mostly Gandhi’s own words as told to him in 1942 at Sevagram, and statements from the court and the lawyers — because: 1. It makes the account authentic and credible — the reader hears the actual words of Gandhi and other participants. 2. It makes the narration vivid, dramatic and lively, like a story. 3. It reveals the character and thinking of Gandhi directly (e.g. his reasons for accepting the 25% refund, his statement in court). 4. It brings the reader closer to the events, as if witnessing them.
Fischer uses direct speech — largely Gandhi’s own words told to him at Sevagram, and court and lawyers’ statements — to make the account authentic and credible, vivid and dramatic, to reveal Gandhi’s character and thinking directly, and to bring readers closer to the events.
Question L2
Notice the use or non-use of the comma in the following sentences: (a) When I first visited Gandhi in 1942 at his ashram in Sevagram, he told me what happened in Champaran. (b) He had not proceeded far when the police superintendent’s messenger overtook him. (c) When the court reconvened, the judge said he would not deliver the judgment for several days.
Answer
- (a) and (c) begin with a subordinate (adverbial) clause (“When I first visited…”, “When the court reconvened”). When a subordinate clause comes before the main clause, it is separated from the main clause by a comma.
- (b) The subordinate clause (“when the police superintendent’s messenger overtook him”) comes after the main clause (“He had not proceeded far”), so no comma is needed.
Rule: use a comma after an introductory subordinate clause; usually no comma when the subordinate clause follows the main clause.
In (a) and (c) the “when” clause comes first, so a comma separates it from the main clause; in (b) the “when” clause follows the main clause, so no comma is used.
Things to do
Question D1
Choose an issue that has provoked a controversy like the Bhopal Gas Tragedy or the Narmada Dam Project in which the lives of the poor have been affected. Find out the facts of the case. Present your arguments. Suggest a possible settlement.
Answer
Issue: The Bhopal Gas Tragedy (1984)
Facts of the case: - On the night of 2–3 December 1984, about 40 tonnes of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas leaked from the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. - Thousands of people — mostly poor slum dwellers living near the plant — died within days; official estimates put immediate deaths at about 3,800, while other estimates are much higher; over five lakh people were exposed, and many suffered lifelong illnesses (lung, eye, neurological damage, birth defects). - Investigations pointed to poor maintenance, faulty safety systems and cost-cutting. - In 1989, Union Carbide paid US $470 million in an out-of-court settlement with the Government of India — widely criticised as inadequate. The site remains contaminated; groundwater pollution continues to affect residents.
Arguments: 1. The victims were poor, uninformed and powerless; the company and authorities failed to protect them. 2. Compensation was meagre and delayed; many victims received very small amounts. 3. Those responsible (company executives) were not adequately punished. 4. The toxic waste has still not been fully cleaned up, harming the next generation.
Possible settlement: 1. Enhanced compensation for all victims, including those suffering chronic illness and second-generation effects. 2. Complete clean-up of the site and groundwater at the cost of the polluters (polluter pays principle). 3. Free, quality health care, rehabilitation and livelihood support for survivors. 4. Strict industrial safety laws, regular inspections, and holding corporations accountable. 5. Involving victims’ organisations in decisions.
Sample — Bhopal Gas Tragedy: on 2–3 December 1984, methyl isocyanate leaked from Union Carbide’s plant, killing thousands of mostly poor people and injuring lakhs; a 1989 settlement of $470 million was inadequate, and contamination persists. Arguments: victims were powerless, compensation meagre, culprits unpunished, waste uncleared. Settlement: higher compensation, full clean-up on the polluter-pays principle, free health care and rehabilitation, stricter safety laws and involvement of victims.
Topic checklist
- ☒ Rajkumar Shukla and Gandhi’s journey (C1–C4)
- ☒ The indigo problem and the settlement (C5, C7, C8)
- ☒ Gandhi’s methods; Champaran as a turning point (C6, U1–U4)
- ☒ Freedom from fear and leadership (T1, T2)
- ☒ Legal vocabulary, direct speech, commas (W1, W2, L1, L2)
- ☒ Controversy project (D1)