INDIGO BY LOUIS FISCHER
POINTS TO REMEMBER
Rajkumar Shukla- A poor sharecropper from Champaran wishing to meet Gandhiji.
Raj Kumar Shukla- an illiterate but resolute hence followed Gandhiji Lucknow, Cawnpore,
Ahemdabad, Calcutta, Patna, Muzzafarpur & 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 Rajkumar Shukla.
Decided to go to Muzzafarpur first to get detailed information about Champaran sharecropper.
Sent telegram to J B Kriplani &stayed in Prof Malkani home- a government servant.
Indians afraid to show 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 Trihut, 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 symbolized 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 Sukla
1. Poor, emanciated peasant from Champaran
2. Contacted Gandhiji on 1916 in Lucknow
3. Gandhi dismissed him.
4. Shukla came to complain about the injustice and the landlord system in Bihar.
5. Shukla followed Gandhi to Cawnpore Later at Calcutta.
6. Impressed by the sharecropper’s tenacity and story Gandhi relented.
The Issue
1. Arable land in Champaran divided into estates owned by Englishmen, worked by Indian tenants.
2. Chief commercial crop was indigo.
3. Tenants to plant on 15% indigo.
4. To surrender entire indigo as rent.
5. Synthetic indigo was introduced in the market. Value of natural indigo was affected
6. Landlords force new agreements.
7. Ask for 15% compensation.
8. Peasants resist, widespread unrest.
How Gandhi reached Champaran
1. Went to Muzaffarpur with Shukla
2. Obtained complete information
3. Discussed with kriplani
4. Met lawyers, chided them, understood legal angle.
5. Met peasants, sensed unrest.
6. Realised peasants were fear- stricken.
7. Felt he should arm them with tool of courage, fearlessness.
Role of Lawyers
1. They represented cases in courts, collected fees
2. Gandhi criticized them for being money minded.
3. They gave legal support.
4. However, they were non-committal if he was arrested.
5. Gandhi appealed for justice for sharecroppers when arrested.
6. Lawyers feel guilty of desertion.
7. They supported Gandhi’s Civil Disobedience Movement.
8. They helped him file grievances against landlords.
Steps taken by Gandhi
1. Approached British landlord association.
2. Commissioner, cold-shouldered.
3. Proceeded to Motihari, got mass support from peasants, continued investigation.
4. Served official notice to leave Champaran.
5. Signed, said would disobey the order.
6. Served summons, Motihari black with peasants.
7. Peasants demonstrate outside the courtroom.
8. Officials powerless, Government baffled.
9. Gandhi was encouraged by mass support.
10. Court arrest, says obeying the voice of conscience.
11. Convinces lawyers to join the movement.
12. Continues to collect legal evidence.
13. The government forced to set up the Inquiry Commission.
14. Meeting, the deadlock overcompensation.
15. Agrees to 25%, landlords learned they were not above the law, peasants got courage.
16. Battle of Champaran won.
Qualities of Gandhi
1. Appreciates loyalty/commitment.
2. Understands the issue e.g., meets Kriplani/lawyers/peasants.
3. Connect with masses.
4. Organized e.g., civil disobedience plan.
5. Fairleader e.g. won lawyers’ support.
6. Visionary e.g., improves social, the cultural backwardness of Champaran.