INDIGO -LOUIS FISCHER About the Author: Louis Fischer (1896-1970
INDIGO
-LOUIS FISCHER
About the Author: Louis Fischer (1896-1970) was born in Philadelphia in 1896. He served as a volunteer in the British Army between 1918-1920. Fischer made a career as a journalist and wrote for The New York Times, The Saturday Review and for European and Asian publications. He was also a member of the faculty of Princeton University.
Introduction:
In this story, Louis describes Gandhi’s struggle for the poor peasants of Champaran who were the sharecroppers with the British planters. They led a miserable life and were forced to grow indigo according to an agreement. They suffered a great injustice due to the landlord system in Bihar. Gandhi waged a war for about a year against their atrocities and brought justice to the poor peasants.
Characters:
▪ Raj Kumar Shukla: A sharecropper ▪ Charles Freer Andrews: A follower of Gandhi ▪ Kasturba: Wife of Gandhi ▪ Devdas: youngest son of Gandhi
Gist of the lesson:
• Raj Kumar Shukla- A poor sharecropper from Champaran wishing to meet Gandhiji. • Raj Kumar Shukla – illiterate but resolute, hence followed Gandhiji to Lucknow, Cawnpore, Ahmedabad, Calcutta, Patna, Muzzafarpur and then Champaran. • Servants at Rajendra Prasad’s residence thought Gandhiji to be an untouchable. • Gandhiji considered as an untouchable because of simple living style and wearing, due to the company of Raj Kumar Shukla. • Decided to go to Muzzafarpur first to get detailed information about Champaran sharecropper. • Sent telegram to J B Kriplani & stayed in Prof Malkani’s home –a government servant. • Indians afraid of showing sympathy to the supporters of home rule. • The news of Gandhiji’s arrival spread –sharecroppers gathered in large number to meet their champion. • Gandhiji chided the Muzzafarpur lawyer for taking high fee. • Champaran district was divided into estate owned by English people, Indians only tenant farmers. Landlords compelled tenants to plant 15% of their land with indigo and surrender their entire harvest as rent. • In the meantime Germany had developed synthetic indigo –British landlords freed the Indian farmers from the 15% arrangement but asked them to pay compensation. • Many signed, some resisted engaged lawyers, and landlords hired thugs. • Gandhiji reached Champaran –visited the secretary of the British landlord association to get the facts but denied as he was an outsider • Gandhiji went to the British Official Commissioner who asked him to leave Tirhut , Gandhiji disobeyed, went to Motihari the capital of Champaran where a vast multitude greeted him, continued his investigations. • Visited maltreated villagers, stopped by the police superintendent but disobeyed the order • Motihari black with peasants spontaneous demonstrations, Gandhiji released without bail Civil Disobedience triumphed. • Gandhiji agreed to 25% refund by the landowners, it symbolised the surrender of the prestige • Gandhiji worked hard towards social economic reforms, elevated their distress aided by his wife, Mahadev Desai, Narhari Parikh. • Gandhiji taught a lesson of self reliance by not seeking help of an English man Mr. Andrews.
Role of Rajkumar Shukla • Poor, emaciated peasant from Champaran • Contacted Gandhiji in 1916 in Lucknow • Gandhi dismissed him • Shukla came to complain about the injustice and the landlord system in Bihar. • Shukla followed Gandhi to Sewagram • Impressed by the sharecropper’s tenacity and story Gandhi relented.
Issue • Arable land in Champaran divided into estates owned by Englishmen, worked by Indian tenants. • Chief commercial crop indigo. • Tenants to plant on 15% indigo. • To surrender entire indigo as rent. • Synthetic indigo in the market. • Landlords force new agreements. • Ask for 15% compensation. • Peasants resist, widespread unrest.
How Gandhi reached Champaran • Went to Muzaffarpur with Shukla • Obtained complete information • Discussed with Prof. Kriplani • Met lawyers, chided them, understood legal angle. • Met peasants, sensed unrest. • Realised peasants fear- stricken. • Felt he should arm them with tool of courage, fearlessness.
Role of Lawyers • Represented cases in courts, collected fees • Gandhi criticized them for being money minded. • They gave legal support. • However, they were non-committal if he was arrested. • Gandhi appealed for justice for sharecroppers when arrested. • Lawyers feel guilty of desertion. • They supported Gandhi’s Civil Disobedience Movement. • They helped him file grievances against landlords.
Steps were taken by Gandhi • Approached British landlord association. • Commissioner, cold-shouldered. • Proceeded to Motihari, got mass support from peasants, continued investigation. • Served official notice to leave Champaran. • Signed, said would disobey the order. • Served summons, Motihari black with peasants. • Peasants demonstrate outside the courtroom. • Officials powerless, Government baffled. • Gandhi was encouraged by mass support. • Court arrest, says obeying the voice of conscience. • Convinces lawyers to join the movement. • Continues to collect legal evidence. • The government forced to set up the Inquiry Commission. • deadlock broken • Agrees to 25%, landlords learned they were not above the law, peasants got courage. • Battle of Champaran won.
Qualities of Gandhi • Appreciates loyalty/commitment. • Understands the issue e.g. meets Kriplani/lawyers/peasants. • Connect with masses. • Organised e.g., civil disobedience plan. • Fairleader e.g. won lawyers’ support. • Visionary e.g., improves social, cultural backwardness in Champaran.
MIND MAP
QUESTION AND ANSWERS
Q1. Why did magistrate release Gandhiji?
Gandhiji pleaded guilty of disobedience. The peasants held a demonstration around the court. The Government was confused and the officials were powerless. The peasants were mounting pressure on the government. So, the magistrate released Gandhiji without bail.
Q2. Why did Gandhiji say ‘the battle of Champaran is won’?
The lawyers had decided to go home, if Gandhiji went to prison. But Gandhiji asked them what would become of the injustice to the sharecroppers. The lawyers thought over it and decided that they too would follow Gandhiji. This was the time that Gandhiji said that the battle of Champaran was won.
Q3. Why did Gandhiji agree to the settlement of 25% refund to the peasants?
Gandhiji had demanded 50 percent refund from the landlords. The landlords offered only 25 per cent. Gandhiji agreed to the settlement of 25 percent because according to Gandhiji money was not important. He had made the Britishers bow down before the Indian peasants.
Q4. How did Indigo sharecropping come to an end in Champaran? Indigo sharecropping came to an end in Champaran as Germany had developed synthetic Indigo. Sharecropping was no longer profitable for the British planters. They had to surrender their prestige and money to the peasants. So, they gave up their estates which came back to the peasants.
Q5. Why was Gandhiji summoned to appear in court? Gandhiji went to see a badly treated peasant. He was served with a notice from the Superintendent of Police to quit Champaran. Gandhiji received the notice and wrote on it that he would never quit Champaran. As a result, he was summoned to appear in the court.
Q6. Why did Gandhiji rebuke the Muzzafarpur lawyers? Gandhiji rebuked the Muzzafarpur lawyers because they used to charge very high fees from the poor peasants.
Q7.What was the condition of the peasants before Gandhiji’s arrival in Champaran? The peasants were copmpelled to plant 15 per cent of their land with indigo crop and surrender the entire harvest as rent. When Germany developed synthetic indigo they were asked to give compensation for making them free from 15 per cent indigo plantation. Those who disobeyed were beaten by the hired criminals.
Q8. How did Gandhiji regulate the crowd around the courthouse? The officials were powerless as they could not control the crowd outside the courthouse. Gandhiji regulated the crowd in a polite and friendly manner.
Q9.Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being ‘resolute’? Raj Kumar Shukla is described as being ‘resolute’ because he wanted that Gandhiji should reach Champaran for their welfare. He accompanied Gandhiji everywhere. When Gandhiji returned to his ashram Shukla followed him there also. He even went to Calcutta to take Gandhiji along with him and forced him to give a date.
Q10. “Freedom of fear is more important than legal justice for the poor.”-Explain. Legal justice offers short term benefits in the case of oppressors. The most important is the freedom from fear as it brings a permanent change in one’s attitude. It helps them to face life more boldly and live it more fruitfully. Hence freedom from fear is more important than legal justice for the poor and oppressed.