Class 12 English Flamingo Indigo( Long answers)

 

NCERT Solutions For Class 12 English

Flamingo

Indigo

(Louis Fischer)

Long question answers

 

Q1. What solution to the problems of the poor did Gandhi suggest? How far did the Champaran movement help in this direction?
Ans. Sharecropper peasants were mandated to cultivate indigo on 15 percent of their land and hand over the indigo yield as rent to their landlords. However, when Germany introduced synthetic indigo, British landowners illicitly demanded money from the peasants to annul the 15 percent agreement. The peasants were coerced into signing new contracts and paying fees under the dominance of the landowners, who acted above the law. Many sought legal representation, incurring substantial expenses, and resorted to courts for justice.

 

Lawyers from Muzaffarpur informed Gandhi about these peasants, whom they frequently represented in court. Recognizing the severe oppression and fear these peasants faced, Gandhi prioritized liberating them from fear over legal justice. He was willing to face arrest on their behalf. Thousands of peasants spontaneously protested around the courthouse. Consequently, the government had to release Gandhi without bail. This voluntary uprising among the peasants marked the onset of their emancipation from British intimidation.

Q2. ‘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 arrived in Motihari, the Champaran capital, to investigate the issues facing sharecropper peasants. While en route to a nearby village where a peasant suffered mistreatment, he encountered a roadblock orchestrated by the police superintendent’s messenger, commanding him to return to town. Upon reaching home, an official notice demanded Gandhi's immediate departure from Champaran. Defying the order, Gandhi inscribed his refusal on the receipt, resulting in a summons to appear in court the following day.

The subsequent morning, Motihari was teeming with peasants, their presence overwhelming. Thousands voluntarily demonstrated outside the court. Despite the prosecutor's plea for a trial postponement, Gandhi opposed the delay and admitted guilt by reading a statement. Inquiring about the penalty, the judge declared intent to pronounce the sentence post a two-hour recess, requesting bail for that duration. Gandhi, however, declined to furnish bail. Astonishingly, the judge released him without it. Later, after the recess, the judge announced a deferred judgment delivery, allowing Gandhi to remain free in the interim.

Days passed before Gandhi received a letter revealing the dismissal of the case against him. This event marked the triumph of civil disobedience, a historic first in India.

Q3. How did Gandhi work for rural uplift during his stay in Champarant
Ans. Gandhi aimed to tackle the cultural and social backwardness prevalent in Champaran's villages. His call for educators resulted in two of his young disciples, Mahadev Desai and Narhari Parikh, along with their spouses, offering themselves for this initiative. Additionally, several others from different parts of the country responded. Kasturba Gandhi and Devdas, Gandhi’s youngest son, arrived from the Ashram to support the cause. They established primary schools in six villages. Kasturba emphasized the Ashram’s rules on personal and community cleanliness, engaging with women to address the issue of unclean garments.

The health situation was dire, prompting Gandhi to arrange for a doctor to volunteer for six months. With only three medicines at their disposal—castor oil, quinine, and sulphur ointment—specific treatments were provided based on symptoms. A coated tongue warranted a dose of castor oil, while malaria patients received quinine along with castor oil. Skin eruptions were treated with ointment accompanied by castor oil.

Gandhi's approach went beyond political or economic solutions; he dedicated himself to uplifting villages and marginalized sections of society in their entirety.

Q4. Why is the Champaran episode considered to be the beginning of the Indian struggle for Independence? [All India 2014]
Ans. The Champaran episode initiated as an endeavor to alleviate the hardships of numerous peasants, garnering spontaneous support from thousands. Gandhi asserted that the British had no authority to dictate terms in his homeland. With his leadership, the peasants gained awareness of their rights. Raj Kumar Shukla, a Champaran farmer, played a significant role in facilitating this change. Additionally, other courageous peasants contributed in various ways to the movement, culminating in their victory in the battle of Champaran.