INDIGO
By Louis Fischer
About the Author
Louis Fischer (1896–1970) was born in Philadelphia. He served as a volunteer in the
British Army between 1918 and 1920. He 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 faculty member at Princeton University. His book 'The Life of Mahatma
Gandhi' is regarded as one of the best works on Gandhi.
Theme
The chapter highlights Gandhi’s first experiment in civil disobedience in India at
Champaran, which marked a turning point in the freedom struggle by emphasizing self-
reliance, courage, and social reforms.
Comprehensive Summary
In 1916, at the Indian National Congress session in Lucknow, Rajkumar Shukla, a poor
sharecropper from Champaran, requested Gandhi to visit his district to address the
peasants’ grievances. Shukla followed Gandhi persistently until Gandhi agreed to
accompany him. They first visited Patna to meet Rajendra Prasad, then went to
Muzaffarpur to gather information with the help of Professor J.B. Kripalani and Professor
Malkani. Here Gandhi met lawyers and criticized them for charging heavy fees from
peasants, emphasizing that true relief lay in removing fear rather than in legal battles.
Champaran peasants were forced by British landlords to grow indigo on 15% of their
land under a long-term agreement. When synthetic indigo was developed in Germany,
landlords released peasants from the system after extracting compensation. Later,
peasants realized they had been deceived and wanted their money back. Gandhi visited
Champaran, but officials tried to bully him and asked him to leave. When he disobeyed
the official notice, he was summoned to court in Motihari. Thousands of peasants
gathered outside the court in his support, showing their fearlessness for the first time. The
case was dropped, marking the first success of civil disobedience in India.
Gandhi, with lawyers like Rajendra Prasad, Brij Kishor Babu, and Mazharul Huq,
recorded testimonies of thousands of peasants. The Lieutenant-Governor later appointed
a commission with Gandhi as the sole representative of peasants. Landlords finally
agreed to refund part of the extorted money. Gandhi settled for 25% instead of
demanding full repayment, considering it a symbolic victory that broke the landlords’
prestige and instilled courage in the peasants. Within a few years, indigo sharecropping
disappeared from Champaran.
Gandhi also worked for social upliftment in the villages. He opened schools, improved
sanitation, and arranged medical aid with limited medicines like castor oil, quinine, and
sulphur ointment. Kasturbai and volunteers, including Gandhi’s sons and disciples, joined
the efforts. Gandhi emphasized self-reliance, refusing the assistance of C.F. Andrews
despite his goodwill, teaching his followers to depend on their own strength. The
Champaran episode became a turning point in Gandhi’s life and India’s freedom struggle,
proving that British authority could be challenged through truth, courage, and non-violent
civil disobedience.
Competency Based Question
Q1. How did Gandhi’s refusal to obey the official notice to quit Champaran become a
turning point in the history of India’s freedom movement?
Value Points:
• Gandhi received a notice to leave Champaran but refused.
• He explained it was obedience to the higher law of conscience.
• His trial became the first instance of civil disobedience in India.
• Thousands of peasants demonstrated, losing fear of authority.
• Case dropped, symbolizing triumph of truth and non-violence.
Q2. Discuss Gandhi’s approach in solving the Champaran issue. How was it different
from conventional methods?
Value Points:
• Gandhi focused on truth, non-violence, and moral force instead of legal battles.
• Rejected lawyers’ high fees; emphasized relief from fear.
• Opted for negotiation – accepted 25% refund as symbolic victory.
• Linked politics with social reforms (schools, sanitation, health).
• Promoted self-reliance and courage among peasants.
Q3. What lessons did Gandhi teach his followers during the Champaran episode?
Value Points:
• Lesson of self-reliance – rejected help of C.F. Andrews despite being English.
• Courage to defy unjust authority.
• Importance of service to the poor along with political struggle.
• Focus on practical solutions to social problems (education, health, hygiene).
• Inspired Indians to shed fear and challenge colonial rule.