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.
