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Indigo
Mention the fact that compelled Gandhi to decide to urge the departure of the Britishers from India?
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Why did Gandhi go to Lucknow in December 1916? Who met him there and why?
The author visited the ashram of Gandhi in Sevagram in 1942. The latter explained to him that in 1917 it came to his mind to urge the departure of the Britishers. In December 1916, Gandhi had gone to attend the annual convention of the Indian National Congress in Lucknow. There came Raj Kumar Shukla, a poor share-cropper from Champaran to complain Gandhi about the injustice of the landlords in Bihar. At his vehement insistence, Gandhi went there and saw the poor peasants in pitiable and terrified conditions. This episode made home in Gandhi and he decided that the British must quit India.
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Why do you think the servants thought Gandhi to be another peasant?
List the places that Gandhi visited between his first meeting with Shukla and his arrival at Champaran.
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?
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?
Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of 25 per cent refund to the farmers?
How did the episode change the plight of the peasants?
Why do you think Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning-point in his life?
How was Gandhi able to influence lawyers? Give instances.
What was the attitude of the average Indian in smaller localities towards advocates of ‘home-rule’?
How do we know that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement?
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