Indigo

Summary

Louis Fischer begins the chapter by recalling his meeting with Mahatma Gandhi at Sevagram Ashram in 1942. Gandhi shared his desire to start the process of British withdrawal from India, which began in 1917. At the Congress session in Lucknow in December 1916, Gandhi met a farmer named Rajkumar Shukla, who sought his help in addressing the unfair treatment faced by farmers under the landlord system in Bihar.

Shukla persistently followed Gandhi until he agreed to visit Champaran. Later, from Calcutta, Shukla took Gandhi to lawyer Rajendra Prasad’s house in Patna, but Prasad was away, so Gandhi proceeded to Muzaffarpur. He was welcomed at the station by Professor J.B. Kripalani and several students. Despite fear among locals of supporting Gandhi, Professor Malkani— a government school teacher— hosted him for two days.

Gandhi learned that the farmers, who were sharecroppers, were forced to grow indigo on fifteen percent of their land and give the entire harvest to British landlords. When synthetic indigo was developed in Germany, the landlords stopped the indigo cultivation and demanded compensation from farmers for freeing them from the arrangement. Some farmers agreed, while others fought the demand in court. Later, upon learning about synthetic indigo, farmers wanted their money back.

Government officials avoided addressing the problem, but Gandhi remained firm and filed a case with the help of lawyers and farmers. After discussions with the Lieutenant-Governor, an investigation was launched, revealing strong evidence against the landlords. The enquiry ordered a refund; Gandhi proposed fifty percent, but settled for twenty-five percent, valuing the symbolic defeat of the landlords’ pride over the actual amount.

This victory encouraged farmers to become fearless and self-reliant. Gandhi then worked to improve lives in Champaran by starting schools, and running health and sanitation drives, supported by his wife, followers, and volunteers. The writer highlights that Gandhi’s politics focused on serving people directly rather than just sticking to abstract principles.

Long Answers

1. Describe the court scene at Motihari.

The court scene at Motihari during the Champaran movement in 1917 was a landmark moment. Mahatma Gandhi was charged with violating Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which restricted his movement in the district. On April 18, 1917, Gandhi appeared in the Motihari court, accompanied by around two thousand local farmers and supporters, showing strong solidarity. The magistrate, surprised by Gandhi’s presence and the large crowd, wanted to postpone the trial. However, Gandhi shocked everyone by pleading guilty and refusing to defend himself. He declared that his duty to the oppressed farmers outweighed the order to leave, saying he disobeyed not out of disrespect for authority, but in obedience to a higher law of conscience. The trial eventually collapsed, and the Lieutenant Governor ordered the case against Gandhi to be withdrawn, allowing him to continue his inquiry. This event is seen as India’s first lesson in civil disobedience and nonviolent resistance against British rule, inspiring hope among the farmers and the nation.

2. Write a note on Gandhian philosophy and his working style.

Mahatma Gandhi’s working style during the Champaran movement was marked by his deep commitment to nonviolence, truth, and direct engagement with the affected people. He began by personally investigating the plight of indigo farmers, immersing himself in their hardships rather than relying on secondhand reports. Gandhi gathered information by interviewing hundreds of farmers and organizing them into a united force. His method combined peaceful civil disobedience, constructive social work, and moral persuasion. He openly challenged British authorities but avoided confrontation, emphasizing dialogue and justice. Gandhi involved local leaders and volunteers to support education, health, and sanitation alongside the struggle for farmers’ rights. He practiced total transparency and insisted on acting without political affiliations, focusing purely on the welfare of the people. His approach instilled self-respect and courage in oppressed peasants, turning them into active participants rather than passive victims. Overall, Gandhi’s style in Champaran blended activism with social reform under the guiding principles of satyagraha and nonviolence.