Sunday, March 6, 2022

Indigo by Louis Fischer: Class 12 Chapter Summary, Q&A, MCQs & More

Indigo by Louis Fischer

Indigo by Louis Fischer is an inspiring chapter in Class 12 Flamingo that highlights Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership during the Champaran movement. It shows how truth, non-violence, and courage helped poor peasants fight against injustice.

Indigo by Luis Fischer Complete Guide

Summary of Indigo by Louis Fischer

The chapter Indigo recounts Mahatma Gandhi’s first active involvement in the Indian freedom struggle during the Champaran movement of 1917. It begins with Rajkumar Shukla, a poor but determined sharecropper, who persuaded Gandhi to visit Champaran in Bihar. The British landlords forced peasants to grow indigo on 15% of their land and surrender the harvest as rent. Later, with synthetic indigo coming from Germany, they demanded compensation to release tenants from the system. Gandhi investigated the matter, despite resistance from British officials, and encouraged peasants to shed fear. His calm defiance and support from lawyers and ordinary villagers forced the authorities to set up an inquiry commission. The planters eventually agreed to refund part of the money. More importantly, peasants gained courage and self-respect. Gandhi also initiated social reforms in Champaran such as education, health, and hygiene. The episode marked a turning-point in Gandhi’s life and showed how non-violence, truth, and self-reliance could challenge colonial power.

Explanation of Indigo by Louis Fischer

At the Congress session in Lucknow (1916), Gandhi was approached by Rajkumar Shukla, a poor but determined sharecropper from Champaran. He requested Gandhi to visit his district to look into the peasants’ problems. Shukla’s persistence impressed Gandhi, and finally, he agreed.

On the way, Gandhi stayed at Rajendra Prasad’s house in Patna, where he was mistaken for a poor peasant. Then he proceeded to Muzzafarpur, staying with Professor Malkani, who courageously hosted him despite being a government servant. This reflected how people began to trust Gandhi and his mission.

Champaran farmers were forced under a long-term system to grow indigo on 15% of their land and surrender it to landlords. When synthetic indigo was discovered, landlords demanded compensation to release tenants from the agreement. Many peasants, being illiterate, signed unfair agreements.

Gandhi began investigating farmers’ complaints despite opposition from British officials. When ordered to leave Champaran, he refused, declaring that he was obeying the “voice of conscience.” His trial in Motihari drew thousands of peasants, marking the first victory of civil disobedience in India.

Initially hesitant, the local lawyers were inspired by Gandhi’s willingness to go to prison for the peasants. They pledged to support him, showing unity among the educated and poor alike. This boosted the morale of Champaran peasants.

The Lieutenant-Governor set up a commission with Gandhi as the peasants’ representative. After much discussion, landlords agreed to refund 25% of the money they had wrongfully taken. Gandhi accepted, explaining that the real success lay not in money but in restoring peasants’ courage and dignity.

Gandhi extended his work beyond legal issues. He started schools, promoted cleanliness, and improved healthcare with the help of volunteers like Kasturba Gandhi, Mahadev Desai, and Narhari Parikh. This reflected Gandhi’s holistic approach to reform.

When English pacifist C.F. Andrews offered help, Gandhi refused, urging Indians to rely on themselves instead of seeking foreign support. This was a practical lesson in self-reliance and strength of spirit.

The Champaran episode became a turning point in Gandhi’s life. It was not just a protest against injustice but a blend of politics with social reform. Gandhi taught Indians to overcome fear, rely on truth, and fight injustice through non-violence.

Word Meaning of Indigo by Louis Fischer

Word/Phrase Meaning
Emaciated Very thin and weak, usually due to hunger or illness
Resolute Determined and firm
Tenacity The quality of being very persistent
Sharecropper A farmer who works on another person’s land and gives part of the crop as rent
Yeoman A small farmer who owns or rents land
Harbour (a man) To shelter or give protection to someone
Fee Payment made to lawyers or professionals
Bully To threaten, frighten, or force someone into submission
Summons An official order to appear in court
Conflict of duties A situation where two responsibilities clash
Civil disobedience Refusal to obey certain laws as a peaceful protest
Triumphed Achieved victory or success
Deposition A formal written statement used in legal matters
Deadlock A situation where no progress can be made because of disagreement
Irksome Annoying or troublesome
Coated tongue A medical sign where the tongue has a white or yellow layer
Self-reliance Depending on one’s own abilities rather than others
Oppressed Kept down by unjust treatment
Prestige Respect and admiration given by others
Pacifist A person who believes in peace and opposes war or violence
Prop (seek a prop) Something that gives support, especially when one feels weak
Alleviate To make suffering less severe
Conscience A person’s inner sense of right and wrong

Question and Answer of Indigo by Louis Fischer

Think as you Read I

Q1a. Strike out what is not true in the following.
Rajkumar Shukla was
(i) a sharecropper.
(ii) a politician.
(iii) a delegate.
(iv) a landlord.

Answer: He was a sharecropper. (Strike out politician, delegate, and landlord.)
Type: Very Short Answer

Q1b. Rajkumar Shukla was
(i) poor.
(ii) physically strong.
(iii) illiterate.

Answer: He was poor and illiterate. (Physically strong is not true.)
Type: Very Short Answer

Q2. Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being ‘resolute’?

Answer: Shukla followed Gandhi everywhere until he agreed to visit Champaran. His persistence and determination to seek justice for sharecroppers made him resolute.
Type: Short Answer

Q3. Why do you think the servants thought Gandhi to be another peasant?

Answer: The servants saw Gandhi in simple clothes and with Shukla, a poor farmer. Mistaking him for another ordinary villager, they even denied him access to water.
Type: Short Answer

Think as you Read II

Q1. List the places that Gandhi visited between his first meeting with Shukla and his arrival at Champaran.

Answer: Gandhi first went to Patna to meet Rajendra Prasad, then to Muzzafarpur where he stayed with Professor Malkani, and finally reached Champaran.
Type: Short Answer

Q2. What did the peasants pay the British landlords as rent? What did the British now want instead and why? What would be the impact of synthetic indigo on the prices of natural indigo?

Answer: The peasants paid rent by growing indigo on 15% of their land. With the discovery of synthetic indigo in Germany, landlords wanted cash compensation for releasing them from this system. Synthetic indigo reduced the value and demand for natural indigo.
Type: Long Answer

Think as you Read III

Q1. The events in this part of the text illustrate Gandhi’s method of working. Can you identify some instances of this method and link them to his ideas of satyagraha and non-violence?

Answer: Gandhi refused to leave Champaran despite official orders, faced trial calmly, and encouraged peasants to shed fear. His actions—peaceful defiance, truth, and courage—reflected the principles of satyagraha and non-violence.
Type: Long Answer

Think as you Read IV

Q1. Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of 25 per cent refund to the farmers?

Answer: For Gandhi, the refund symbolised the landlords’ loss of prestige. The exact amount mattered less; what mattered was that peasants realised their rights and gained courage.
Type: Short Answer

Q2. How did the episode change the plight of the peasants?

Answer: The planters’ dominance weakened, peasants learned courage and self-respect, and within a few years indigo sharecropping ended. They gained social upliftment through education, health, and sanitation efforts led by Gandhi.
Type: Long Answer

Understanding the Text

Q1. Why do you think Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning-point in his life?

Answer: The Champaran struggle demonstrated the power of non-violent protest in India. It proved that ordinary peasants could challenge unjust authority, and it marked Gandhi’s entry as a leader in the national freedom struggle.
Type: Long Answer

Q2. How was Gandhi able to influence lawyers? Give instances.

Answer: The lawyers initially hesitated but seeing Gandhi ready to go to jail for peasants, they pledged to support him. They realised abandoning the cause would be shameful compared to Gandhi’s sacrifice.
Type: Short Answer

Q3. What was the attitude of the average Indian in smaller localities towards advocates of ‘home rule’?

Answer: Most Indians in smaller towns were afraid of supporting the freedom movement openly. They feared government action and avoided showing sympathy for nationalists.
Type: Short Answer

Q4. How do we know that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement?

Answer: Thousands of peasants gathered outside the Motihari court in support of Gandhi, showing courage despite fear of authorities. Their spontaneous participation revealed people’s role in India’s struggle.
Type: Short Answer

Talking about the Text

Q1. “Freedom from fear is more important than legal justice for the poor.” Do you think that the poor of India are free from fear after Independence?

Answer: Though legal rights exist, many poor still live in fear due to poverty, corruption, and social inequality. True freedom requires courage, awareness, and equal access to justice for all citizens.
Type: Long Answer

Q2. The qualities of a good leader.

Answer: A good leader is courageous, selfless, and empathetic. He inspires trust, stands firm on truth, and uplifts the weak. Gandhi embodied these traits by living simply and fighting for justice through non-violence.
Type: Long Answer

Working with Words

Q1. List the words used in the text that are related to legal procedures.

Answer: Deposition, summons, prosecutor, trial, commission, evidence, statement, judgment.
Type: Very Short Answer

Q2. List other words that you know that fall into this category.

Answer: Affidavit, verdict, litigation, defendant, plaintiff, testimony, appeal.
Type: Very Short Answer

Thinking about Language

Q1. Notice the sentences in the text which are in ‘direct speech’. Why does the author use quotations in his narration?

Answer: Quotations make the narration lively and authentic. They capture Gandhi’s exact words, reflecting his tone and spirit, thereby making the historical account engaging and credible.
Type: Short Answer

Q2. Notice the use or non-use of the comma in the following sentences.
(a) When I first visited Gandhi in 1942 at his ashram in Sevagram, he told me what happened in Champaran.
(b) He had not proceeded far when the police superintendent’s messenger overtook him.
(c) When the court reconvened, the judge said he would not deliver the judgment for several days.

Answer: A comma separates clauses when the subordinate clause comes first (as in a & c). No comma is needed when the main clause begins the sentence (as in b).
Type: Short Answer

Things to Do (Model Answer)

1. Issue Chosen: The Bhopal Gas Tragedy (1984)

The Bhopal Gas Tragedy was one of the world’s worst industrial disasters. A poisonous gas leak from the Union Carbide factory killed thousands and affected the health of generations in Bhopal.

2. Facts of the Case

  • On the night of 2–3 December 1984, methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the pesticide plant.
  • Over 3,000 people died immediately; thousands more died later from related illnesses.
  • The gas caused respiratory problems, blindness, skin diseases, and birth defects.
  • The company was accused of negligence and poor safety standards.

3. Arguments

  • Against the Company: Union Carbide ignored safety measures and failed to protect workers and residents. Victims received inadequate compensation and medical support.
  • Against the Government: Authorities were slow to respond, and long-term rehabilitation was poorly managed.
  • For the Victims: They deserved justice, proper healthcare, environmental clean-up, and sufficient compensation.

4. Suggested Settlement

  • Higher compensation to victims and their families.
  • Free lifelong healthcare for survivors.
  • Strict laws to regulate industrial safety.
  • Holding multinational companies accountable for operations in developing nations.
  • Environmental restoration of the affected area.

MCQs on Indigo

Got it 👍 I’ll now present the 20 MCQs on Indigo by Louis Fischer with the answer key immediately after each question so students can check their responses instantly.

Detail-Based Questions

Q1. According to the passage, where did Gandhi first meet Rajkumar Shukla?

  1. Champaran
  2. Patna
  3. Lucknow Congress session
  4. Ahmedabad Ashram

Answer: c) Lucknow Congress session

Q2. What was the chief commercial crop in Champaran?

  1. Wheat
  2. Indigo
  3. Cotton
  4. Sugarcane

Answer: b) Indigo

Q3. According to the chapter, why did the servants at Rajendra Prasad’s house mistake Gandhi for a peasant?

  1. He wore simple clothes and came with Shukla
  2. He was carrying farming tools
  3. He spoke in Bhojpuri dialect
  4. He travelled barefoot from Champaran

Answer: a) He wore simple clothes and came with Shukla

Inference Questions

Q4. It can be inferred from Gandhi’s refusal to leave Champaran that he valued—

  1. Obedience to the British
  2. Money over principles
  3. Voice of conscience above orders
  4. Violence as a solution

Answer: c) Voice of conscience above orders

Q5. What is implied when Gandhi accepted a 25% refund instead of 50%?

  1. He was afraid of the landlords
  2. He believed money was less important than peasants’ courage
  3. He wanted to end the case quickly
  4. He supported the British landlords

Answer: b) He believed money was less important than peasants’ courage

Main Idea or Purpose Questions

Q6. What is the main idea of the Champaran episode?

  1. British kindness towards peasants
  2. Gandhi’s use of non-violence to fight injustice
  3. Farmers’ dependence on foreign help
  4. Landlords’ generosity in giving refunds

Answer: b) Gandhi’s use of non-violence to fight injustice

Q7. The author’s purpose in narrating this episode is to—

  1. Show Gandhi’s first success in civil disobedience
  2. Describe the beauty of Champaran
  3. Praise British legal system
  4. Emphasise the value of synthetic indigo

Answer: a) Show Gandhi’s first success in civil disobedience

Vocabulary in Context Questions

Q8. What does the word resolute (used for Shukla) mean in this context?

  1. Weak and hopeless
  2. Determined and firm
  3. Generous and kind
  4. Careless and lazy

Answer: b) Determined and firm

Q9. In the text, the phrase conflict of duties refers to Gandhi’s—

  1. Confusion between being a lawyer and politician
  2. Dilemma of respecting law versus serving humanity
  3. Disagreement with Rajkumar Shukla
  4. Problem in farming indigo

Answer: b) Dilemma of respecting law versus serving humanity

Author’s Tone or Attitude Questions

Q10. How does the author, Louis Fischer, seem to view Gandhi’s actions in Champaran?

  1. Critical and dismissive
  2. Neutral and detached
  3. Respectful and admiring
  4. Hostile and negative

Answer: c) Respectful and admiring

Q11. The author’s attitude towards Shukla can best be described as—

  1. Sympathetic to his persistence
  2. Mocking his ignorance
  3. Critical of his poverty
  4. Indifferent to his struggle

Answer: a) Sympathetic to his persistence

Sequence of Events Questions

Q12. What happened first in the sequence of events?

  1. Gandhi met Rajendra Prasad in Patna
  2. Gandhi met Rajkumar Shukla at Lucknow
  3. Gandhi appeared in Motihari court
  4. Gandhi visited Muzzafarpur

Answer: b) Gandhi met Rajkumar Shukla at Lucknow

Q13. What was the correct sequence of Gandhi’s journey?

  1. Lucknow → Muzzafarpur → Patna → Champaran
  2. Lucknow → Patna → Champaran → Ahmedabad
  3. Lucknow → Patna → Muzzafarpur → Champaran
  4. Lucknow → Ahmedabad → Patna → Champaran

Answer: c) Lucknow → Patna → Muzzafarpur → Champaran

Cause and Effect Questions

Q14. What caused the peasants to demand their money back from landlords?

  1. They realised Gandhi supported them
  2. They learned about synthetic indigo
  3. They received court orders
  4. The British government forced refunds

Answer: b) They learned about synthetic indigo

Q15. What effect did Gandhi’s trial at Motihari have on peasants?

  1. They lost faith in him
  2. They became more fearful
  3. They gained courage and unity
  4. They abandoned indigo farming immediately

Answer: c) They gained courage and unity

Comparison Questions

Q16. How did Gandhi’s approach differ from that of the lawyers in Champaran?

  1. Gandhi relied on fees, lawyers on truth
  2. Gandhi sought out-of-court settlement, lawyers preferred legal cases
  3. Gandhi avoided peasants, lawyers worked closely with them
  4. Gandhi demanded higher compensation, lawyers asked for less

Answer: b) Gandhi sought out-of-court settlement, lawyers preferred legal cases

Q17. How does Gandhi’s refusal of C.F. Andrews’ help compare to his guidance to Indian lawyers?

  1. He wanted both to depend on foreigners
  2. He wanted both to rely on themselves
  3. He distrusted lawyers but trusted Andrews
  4. He encouraged lawyers but dismissed Andrews

Answer: b) He wanted both to rely on themselves

Mixed Comprehension Questions

Q18. According to the chapter, what was Gandhi’s broader contribution in Champaran besides political struggle?

  1. He built roads and railways
  2. He promoted education, health, and sanitation
  3. He started factories for peasants
  4. He encouraged them to migrate abroad

Answer: b) He promoted education, health, and sanitation

Q19. What does the Champaran episode reveal about ordinary peasants?

  1. They lacked courage and unity
  2. They were indifferent to Gandhi
  3. They were capable of supporting a just cause despite fear
  4. They were dependent on British landlords

Answer: c) They were capable of supporting a just cause despite fear

Q20. What best describes the significance of the Champaran episode?

  1. It ended British rule in India immediately
  2. It was Gandhi’s first success in Indian civil disobedience
  3. It started the Quit India Movement
  4. It introduced synthetic indigo farming in Bihar

Answer: b) It was Gandhi’s first success in Indian civil disobedience

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