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INDIGO, Q1. Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being ‘resolute’?, Ans: He had come all the way from Champaran district in the foothills of Himalayas to, Lucknow to speak to Gandhi. Shukla accompanied Gandhi everywhere. Shukla followed him, to the ashram near Ahmedabad. For weeks he never left Gandhi’s side till Gandhi asked him, to meet at Calcutta., Q2. Why do you think the servants thought Gandhi to be another peasant?, Ans: Shukla led Gandhi to Rajendra Prasad’s house. The servants knew Shukla as a poor, yeoman. Gandhi was also clad in a simple dhoti. He was the companion of a peasant. Hence,, the servants thought Gandhi to be another peasant., Q3.List the places that Gandhi visited between his first meeting with Shukla and his, arrival at Champaran., Ans: Gandhi’s first meeting with Shukla was at Lucknow. Then he went to Cawnpore and, other parts of India. He returned to his ashram near Ahmedabad. Later he went to Calcutta,, Patna and Muzaffarpur before arriving at Champaran., Q4.. 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?, Ans: The peasants paid the British landlords indigo as rent. Now Germany had developed, synthetic indigo. So, the British landlords wanted money as compensation for being released, from the 15 per cent arrangement. The prices of natural indigo would go down due to the, synthetic Indigo., Q5.Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of 25 per cent refund to the farmers?, Ans: For Gandhi the amount of the refund was less important than the fact that the landlords, had been forced to return part of the money, and with it, part of their prestige too. So, he, agreed to settlement of 25 per cent refund to the farmers., Q6.How did the episode change the plight of the peasants?, Ans: The peasants were saved from spending time and money on court cases. After some, years the British planters gave up control of their estates. These now reverted to the peasants., Indigo sharecropping disappeared., Q7.Why do you think Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning- point, in his life?, Ans: The Champaran episode began as an attempt to ease the sufferings of large number of, poor peasants. He got spontaneous support of thousands of people. Gandhi admits that what, he had done was a very ordinary thing. He declared that the British could not order him about, in his own country. Hence, he considered the Champaran episode as a turning- point in his, life.

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Q8. How do we know that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement?, Ans: Professor J.B. Kriplani received Gandhi at Muzaffarpur railway station at midnight. He, had a large body of students with him. Sharecroppers from Champaran came on foot and by, conveyance to see Gandhi. Muzaffarpur lawyers too called on him. A vast multitude greeted, Gandhi when he reached Motihari railway station. Thousands of people demonstrated around, the court room. This shows that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement in, India., Q9. ‘In consequence, Gandhi received a summons to appear in the court next, day.’Which events of the previous day led to this state of affairs?, Ans: The police superintendent’s messenger served an official notice on Gandhi. It ordered, him to quit Champaran immediately. Gandhi signed a receipt for the notice. He wrote on the, receipt that he would disobey the order. Hence, he was summoned to appear in the court., Q10. What according to Gandhi was the beginning of the poor peasants’ ‘Liberation, front fear of the British’ ?, Ans: The next morning the town of Motihari was black with peasants. They had heard that a, Mahatma who wanted to help them was in trouble with the authorities. They spontaneously, demonstrated, in thousands, around the courthouse. Gandhiji called their action of protest as, their liberation from fear of the British., Q11. What was the outcome of the four protracted interviews Gandhiji had with the, Lieutenant Governor?, Ans: An official commission of enquiry into the sharecroppers’ situation was appointed. This, commission consisted of landlords, government officials and Gandhi as the sole representative, of the peasants.