Indigo Class 12 Important Questions Answers AHSEC 2024

Indigo Class 12 Important Questions Answers AHSEC 2022

Indigo Class 12 Important Questions Answers AHSEC 2024: Indigo is chapter no four from class 12 English NCERT text book Flamingo. It is a biographical work on Mahatma Gandhi written by Louis Fischer. Here, you'll get Indigo Class 12 Important Questions Answers AHSEC 2024.

Indigo HS 2nd Year Important Questions Answers AHSEC 2024

Q1. Why did Rajkumar Shukla want to take Gandhi to Champaran ?

Ans: Rajkumar Shukla was a poor peasant from Champaran. He had come from Bihar to meet Gandhi in the congress session. He wanted Gandhi to visit Champaran to see the miserable condition of the sharecroppers in Champaran and injustice done by the British landlords.

Q2. Why was Gandhi not allowed to draw water from the well ?

Ans: When Gandhi went with Shukla to Rajendra Prasad's house in Patna, that time Rajendra Prasad was out of town. The servants knew that Shukla a poor peasant and belongs to low caste and they took Gandhi to be another peasant. Thus he was not allowed to draw water from the well because it may pollute the whole well.

Q3. Why did Gandhi chide the lawyers of Muzzafarpur ?

Ans: Gandhi chided the lawyers for collecting big fee from the poor sharecroppers. He thought that taking such cases to the court did little good to the crushed and fear-stricken peasants. The relief for them according to Gandhi was to be free from fear.

Q4. Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of 25 percent refund to the farmers ?

Ans: Gandhi agreed to the 25 percent refund to the farmers because according to him the refunding amount was less important than the British had to surrender their prestige and land holding more over peasant learned courage.

Indigo HS 2nd Year Common Questions Answers AHSEC 2024

Q5. How did the episode change the plight of the peasants ?

Ans: The episode changed the plight of the peasants.They realised they had legal right to fight against. They became fear free learned courage and sharecropping disappeared.

Q6. What did Gandhi do to remove the cultural and social backwardness in the Champaran villages ?

Ans: Gandhiji's politics was intertwined with the normal people. He saw social backwardness in Champaran was a curse. He wanted to remove, many more volunteers came from other parts of india to help for that cause. Primary schools were opened in six villages. Kasturbai taught cleanliness and sanitation. Gandhi also got a doctor to volunteer his service for six months.

Q7. Why was the Champaran episode so significant in Gandhi's life ? AHSEC 2016

Ans: Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning-point in his life, because it was the first satyagraha movement in India and it had given back courage and self-reliance back to the Champaran peasants. Hence, Gandhi considered it important in his life and in the course of Indian independence.

Q8. What was the incident that promoted Gandhi to raise his voice of protest against the British ? AHSEC 2017

Ans: The incident of Champaran promoted Gandhi to raise his voice against the British. When Gandhi visited Champaran and saw the plight of the share croppers and the injustice done by the British land lords, he decided to urge the departure of the British from India.

Indigo Class 12 | HS 2nd Year Common Questions Answers AHSEC 2024

Q9. Why did Gandhi choose to go to Muzzafarpur before going on to Champaran ? AHSEC 2018

Ans: Gandhi wanted to obtain more complete information about conditions than Shukla was capable of imparting. Muzaffarpur lawyers who frequently represented peasant groups in courts brief Gandhi about their cases.

Q10. How was a solution to the problem of indigo sharecroppers of Champaran found ? AHSEC 2019

Ans: When Gandhi came to know about the plight and injustice done by the Britishers. He came forward and fought a year long battle to get the poor peasants justice. He knew well that when the people of Champaran become fear and gather courage to face the Britishers. After collecting evidence and documents, he pressurised the government officials to organise official inquiry and after then landlords had to surrender land holding and refund money.

Q11. Why was Professor Malkani's action of offering shelter to Gandhi 'extraordinary' ? AHSEC 2020

Ans: This instance was called an extraordinary thing by Gandhi because Professor Malkani was a government employee and by giving shelter Gandhi, he was going against the government that could lead his suspension from his job and could create problem to his family as well.

Indigo HS 2nd Year Important Long Questions Answers for AHSEC 2024

Q1.Why did Gandhi consider freedom from fear more important than legal justice for the poor peasants of Champaran?

Ans: The poor peasants were ruthlessly exploited by the landlords of Champaran. Germany had developed synthetic indigo which resulted in a steep fall in indigo prices. The landlords had a long-term contract and compelled all tenants to plant three twentieths or 15 percent of their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent. The landlords no longer needed indigo and very cleverly wished to give up this arrangement for compensation. When the news of synthetic indigo reached the peasants, they demanded their money back and engaged lawyers to fight their battles. There was no respite for the farmers under the unjust system. When Gandhi came to Champaran, he realised that the fear-stricken peasants got no help from courts. The real relief for them was to be free from fear of the British. Gandhi was summoned to appear in court for having refused the official notice to quit Champaran. The news of Gandhi being in trouble with the authorities spread fast. The peasants gathered in thousands around the courthouse. They shook off their fear and held demonstrations. The officials were baffled and helpless. This voluntary uprising of the peasants was their liberation from fear. For them, the British power was no longer unchallengeable. This was more important than legal justice as revealed in future events.

Q2. What idea do you get about Gandhiji from the lesson ‘Indigo’?

Ans: The lesson ‘Indigo’ highlights the greatness of Gandhiji who was simple, unassuming and yet a force to be reckoned with. His humility is revealed by his comment on the victory of civil disobedience ‘What I did was a very ordinary thing’. He was even mistaken as a peasant by Dr Rajendra Prasad’s servants. He was a simple and unassuming man. At the same time, Gandhi was firm and resolute. He faced the officials with boldness and with conviction. He also disregarded the orders to leave Champaran. The case against him had to be dropped. He fearlessly faced four protracted interviews with the Lt. Governor for the justice of the indigo sharecroppers. Even though he was the sole representative of the peasants, he proved his point. He broke the deadlock settling for only a 25% refund. He was wise and judicious. He agreed because the refund instilled courage in the peasants as the landlords were obliged to surrender part of their money and prestige. Gandhi demonstrated by his actions an important lesson of self-reliance in the freedom struggle. He refused the help of Mr Andrews and claimed that if the cause was just one must rely on oneself.

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. AHSEC 2023

Ans: Gandhi visited Champaran to look into the problems of the poor peasants. At Motihari, he was greeted by thousands of peasants. This was the beginning of the peasant liberation from fear of the British. A peasant had been maltreated in a nearby village. Gandhi set out to see him. The police superintendent’s messenger overtook him and ordered him to return. Gandhi complied. At home, he was served an official notice to quit Champaran. Gandhi signed the receipt and wrote on it that would disobey the order. This was the beginning of Civil disobedience. Gandhi received a summons to appear in court the next day. The peasants thronged the courtroom. They wanted to help the ‘Mahatma’ who was in trouble with the authorities for trying to help them. The officials were powerless. Gandhi helped them regulate the crowd. This baffled the officials. The magistrate postponed announcing the sentence by two hours and asked Gandhi to furnish bail. Gandhi declined. The judge released him without bail. The judge said he would not deliver the judgment for several days. Later, the case was dropped by the Lt. Governor himself. Civil disobedience had triumphed.

Q4. Why did Rajkumar Shukla invite Gandhiji to Champaran ? How did Gandhiji solve the problem of the indigo farmers ?

Ans: Rajkumar Shukla was a poor, illiterate peasant who requested Gandhiji to visit Champaran and told him about the plight of the sharecroppers. Gandhiji, first of all, instilled fearlessness and confidence in the farmers. He was served a summons to appear in the court as he had refused to obey the civil order. The entire town of Motihari was crowded with the peasants who had come to support him. This demonstration around the courthouse was the showcase of the beginning of fearlessness in the farmers. Finally, the case was dropped and it marked the first triumph of civil disobedience. Gandhiji instilled the farmers with the courage to speak for their right. Due to continuous efforts of Gandhiji, a committee was formed and 25% money was refunded to the farmers. In this way, Gandhiji solved the problem of the indigo farmers by making it a people’s struggle, involving everyone from sharecroppers to the lawyers.

Q5. Give an account of Gandhiji’s efforts to secure justice for the poor indigo sharecroppers of Champaran.

Ans: In 1916, during the annual meet of Indian National Congress at Lucknow, Gandhiji met a poor fanner from Champaran, who told him about the plight of the sharecroppers at Champaran and requested him to visit his state. After persistent efforts of Rajkumar Shukla, a peasant from Champaran, Gandhiji finally went to Champaran after many months. Gandhiji came to know that the arable land in Champaran was divided into large estates owned by British landlords. Earlier these landlords had compelled the peasants to grow indigo on 15% of their land and give it as rent but later with the invention of synthetic indigo in Germany, the landlords got the agreement signed by these farmers for compensation. Gandhiji tried to collect all facts but was asked to go back. When he refused, he was summoned to appear before the court. But due to the massive support of farmers, the case was dropped. It brought the first triumph of civil disobedience. After this, a committee was formed after Gandhiji met the Lieutenant Governor four times. Gandhiji accepted a 25% refund of the money to break the deadlock. This instilled confidence in farmers and within a few years, the landlords relinquished their claims over the estates.

Q6. Gandhi was impressed by the sharecropper’s tenacity and this led to a series of events which had a far-reaching impact on Indian freedom struggle. Discuss with reference to the excerpt by Louis Fischer’s ‘Indigo’.

Ans: Rajkumar Shukla was resolute, whose persistent efforts brought Gandhiji to Champaran to help the poor farmers. On his arrival at Motihari, Gandhiji was summoned to appear before the court as he had refused to obey the civil order to leave the place immediately. The case was dropped as the British got scared of the multitudes of farmers who demonstrated in support of Gandhi outside the courthouse. This brought this first triumph of civil disobedience. In fact, this triumph embarked on the civil disobedience movement in the Indian freedom struggle. Moreover, the courage that the farmers had shown proved the fact that Indians were coming out of their fears and were ready to fight for their rights. Thus, all the events at Champaran strengthened the Indian freedom movement.

Q7. Self-reliance, Indian Independence and help to sharecroppers were all bound together. Elucidate with reference to the excerpt ‘Indigo’.

Ans: When Gandhiji reached Champaran, he came to know that the arable areas of Champaran were divided into large estates owned by British landlords. As per the long-term contract, these sharecroppers were supposed to grow indigo on 15% of the land and give it as rent. But due to the advent of synthetic indigo in Germany, landlords got the compensation agreement signed by these peasants, who later on felt cheated. Gandhiji’s first triumph in the form of civil disobedience at Motihari laid the foundations of the Indian Independence Movement. No doubt this brought a good result for sharecroppers in the form of a committee through which 25% of the money was given by the landlords. Gandhiji taught the lesson of unity and courage to the sharecroppers. His refusal to keep his friend Andrews at Champaran to help him emphasized the importance of self-reliance for him. He trained the peasants to be self-reliant and not to be dependent on others.

Q8. Why did Gandhi consider freedom from fear more important than legal justice for the poor peasants of Champaran ?

Ans: The poor peasants were ruthlessly exploited by the landlords of Champaran. Germany had developed synthetic indigo which resulted in a steep fall in indigo prices. The landlords had a long-term contract by which peasants grew indigo and in 15% land and handed it over as rent. The landlords no longer needed indigo and very cleverly wished to give up this arrangement for compensation. When the news of synthetic indigo reached the peasants, they demanded their money back and engaged lawyers to fight their battles. There was no respite for the farmers under the unjust system. When Gandhi came to Champaran, he realised that the fear-stricken peasants got no help from courts. The real relief for them was to be free from fear of the British. Gandhi was summoned to appear in court for having refused the official notice to quit Champaran. The news of Gandhi being in trouble with the authorities spread fast. The peasants gathered in thousands around the courthouse. They shook off their fear and held demonstrations. The officials were baffled and helpless. This voluntary uprising of the peasants was their liberation from fear. For them, the British power was no longer unchallengeable. This was more important than legal justice as revealed in future events.

Q9. "The battle of Champaran is won" he exclaimed. Explain the context in which this was said. 2015, 2016

What was the significance of Champaran movement ?

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

Ans: When Rajkumar Shukla requested Gandhi to visit Champaran, Gandhi decided to go to Champaran. In Patna Gandhi went to meet Rajendra Prasad and then to Muzzafarpur. After collecting complete information about the injustice done by the British landlords. Gandhi was ordered to leave Champaran, he opposed to obey the order. Then he was summoned to appear in the court. A huge mass of farmers came to the meet Gandhi and gathered around the court in Motihari. This marked the beginning of their liberation from fear of the British. Gandhi helped the official to control the crowd, then British got to know that they could be challenged by the Indians. The government prosecutor asked for postponement of the trial but Gandhi protested the delay and pleaded his guilty, he advocated his reason of disobedience. He was ready to pay penalty for this.Then the judge announced a break for two hours and ordered Gandhi only to pay the bill amount for that time, Gandhi refused. The judge had to let him free without bail, it was announced that the judgement could not be announced for dew days and Gandhi could remain freely. When everything were normal Gandhi asked the lawyers there what they would have done if he had to be in jail, The lawyers told that they would have followed him to jail. At this point Gandhi exclaimed The battle of Champaran is won.

Q9. Describe the exploitation of the indigo sharecroppers by the English landlords. Did Gandhi help them to get an honourable settlement. H.S. 2013, 2017, 2019

Ans: The British landlords in Champaran compelled the sharecroppers to plant 15 % of their land holding with indigo and surrender the entire as rent. It was done on the long term contract. They the landlords came to know about the synthetic indigo developed by Germany then the landlords demanded compensation from the sharecroppers. Some of the sharecroppers agreed and paid and some opposed to sign and pay. Rajkumar Shukla a sharecropper from Champaran met Gandhi and sought his help. Gandhi went to Champaran. At first Gandhi had to fight with British official and then got the supports of a number of eminent lawyers of Bihar. There was a huge demonstration of thousands of people. A commission of enquiry was conducted and at last British landlords had to pay 25% of the money to the peasants and from then sharecropping disappeared and landlords had to surrender their land holdings.

Q10. Describe the efforts made by R. K. Shukla to persuade Gandhi to go to Champaran? H.S. 2014

Ans: R. K. Shukla was one of the poor sharecropper peasants of Champaran, Bihar. He met Gandhi at the Lucknow annual convention of Indian National Congress in 1916. He requested Gandhi to visit his home district Champaran to rescue the indigo peasants from the exploitation of their cruel British landlords.

Gandhi had to visit several places in India for months before going to Champaran. All these months, Shukla followed Gandhi wherever he went. Impressed by the sharecropper's tenacity and story, Gandhi told Shukla to take him from Calcutta on a particular date. Finally, Gandhi and Shukla met Calcutta and started for Champaran.