NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 5 - Indigo

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(a) The correct options are: (i) a sharecropper and (iii) delegate

(b) The correct options are: (i) poor and (iii) illiterate

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Rajkumar Shukla is called resolute because he had a very strong determination to bring Gandhi to Champaran. He was stubborn and persistent in his approach. He followed Gandhi everywhere and didn't give up easily. For many weeks, he stayed close to Gandhi, constantly requesting him to visit Champaran. His unwavering commitment to solving the problems of his fellow farmers showed his resolute nature.

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The servants mistook Gandhi for a peasant because of his simple appearance and clothing. Gandhi always wore basic, plain clothes similar to what poor farmers wore. He dressed in a simple dhoti and didn't look like a wealthy or important person. Since he came with Rajkumar Shukla, who was also a farmer, the servants naturally assumed Gandhi was just another poor peasant visiting the house.

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After meeting Shukla for the first time and before reaching Champaran, Gandhi traveled to several places. His journey included stops at Cawnpore (now called Kanpur), then he went to his ashram in Ahmedabad, followed by visits to Calcutta and Patna. From Patna, he went to Muzaffarpur, and finally reached Champaran. This shows how much he traveled before actually getting to the place where he was needed.

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The farming land in Champaran was mostly owned by British landlords and worked by Indian farmers. These farmers had to grow indigo on 15% of their land (which means three-twentieths of their total farming area). They had to give their entire indigo crop to the British landlords as rent payment. This was part of a long-term agreement that bound the farmers.

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When the British landlords learned that Germany had created synthetic (artificial) indigo, they realized that natural indigo would become less valuable. Synthetic indigo could be produced more cheaply and in larger quantities than natural indigo. This meant that the prices of natural indigo would drop significantly, making it less profitable for the landlords. So they started asking farmers for money compensation instead of indigo crops, knowing that the indigo business was no longer profitable.

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Gandhi's working method showed his commitment to truth and non-violence. First, he always tried to gather complete and accurate information before taking any action. He visited the British landlords' association secretary and the British commissioner, even though they refused to help him and told him to leave. This shows he believed in seeking truth through proper channels.

When he received an order to leave Champaran, Gandhi chose to disobey it peacefully. He was ready to face the consequences in court. The massive support from thousands of farmers who gathered around the courthouse showed that his non-violent approach was winning people's hearts. This peaceful resistance was the foundation of Satyagraha - fighting injustice through truth and non-violence rather than violence. The Champaran experience became a testing ground for the methods he would later use in India's freedom struggle.

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Gandhi agreed to the 25% refund because he understood that the exact amount of money was not the most important thing. What mattered more was that the British landlords had to admit they were wrong and give back some money to the farmers. This was a big victory because it broke the landlords' pride and showed that they could be challenged. The farmers learned that they had rights and could stand up for themselves. Gandhi was proven right because within a few years, the British landlords left their estates completely, and the land went back to the farmers.

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Gandhi didn't stop at just solving the immediate problem. He noticed that the villages in Champaran were lacking in education and healthcare. So he took steps to improve the overall condition of the farmers. He called teachers and volunteers, including his own family members, to help start primary schools in six villages. He also arranged for basic medical services to be provided to the villagers. This comprehensive approach helped improve not just their economic situation but also their social and cultural development.

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The Champaran episode was a major turning point for Gandhi because it was his first successful fight against British authority in India. In 1917, he spent seven months continuously in Champaran and made several shorter visits later. This experience taught him that he could challenge British power and win.

Gandhi realized that this wasn't just about defying the government - it started as a genuine effort to help suffering farmers. This became his typical approach: connecting big political movements with the everyday problems of ordinary people. Through Champaran, he learned how to create a new type of Indian citizen who could stand up for their rights and help make India free. This experience shaped his future strategies for the independence movement.

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Gandhi influenced the lawyers through his example and moral courage. When he stopped at Muzaffarpur, local lawyers met him and briefed him about the farmers' problems. Gandhi criticized these lawyers for charging high fees from poor farmers who were already suffering.

The real test came when Gandhi was summoned to court. He asked the lawyers what they would do if he was sent to prison. Initially, they said they would go home since they had only come to advise him. But then Gandhi made them think: how could they abandon the farmers when he, a complete stranger, was willing to go to jail for the farmers' cause?

This made the lawyers realize their responsibility. They felt ashamed that someone from outside was showing more commitment to their local farmers than they were. So they decided to follow Gandhi to jail if necessary. Gandhi then declared that the battle of Champaran was already won because he had their support.

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Home-rule means the right of a country to govern itself instead of being ruled by foreigners. During British rule, people like Gandhi who wanted India to be free were called advocates of home-rule. The British government saw such people as enemies and troublemakers.

In smaller towns and villages, most Indians were afraid to openly support or help people who spoke about independence. When Gandhi went to Muzaffarpur, he stayed with Professor Malkani, who was a government school teacher. Gandhi later commented that it was quite unusual and brave for a government employee to give shelter to someone like him who supported home-rule. This shows that ordinary people in small places were generally scared to show support for independence activists because they feared punishment from the British authorities.

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The participation of ordinary people was crucial for the success of any freedom movement. Leaders can guide and inspire, but without common people's support, no movement can succeed. In Champaran, while Gandhi and other educated leaders provided direction, it was the spontaneous response of thousands of farmers that made the movement powerful.

When Gandhi was called to court, thousands of peasants gathered around the courthouse without being asked. They didn't know much about Gandhi personally, but they understood that he had come to help them. This massive show of support from ordinary farmers put pressure on the British authorities and forced them to take notice. The farmers learned to overcome their fear of the British and became conscious of their rights. This participation of common people was the real strength behind the freedom movement.

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Fear is a dangerous emotion that makes people weak and helpless. Only when someone is free from fear can they truly be brave and stand up for their rights. For poor people who have suffered oppression for many years, freedom from fear is often more valuable than going through slow and expensive legal processes.

During British rule, the legal system was costly and time-consuming, making it difficult for poor people to seek justice. Gandhi's approach was brilliant - he first made people fearless, which gave them the courage to fight against the powerful British Empire. This mass movement based on truth and non-violence could never have succeeded if people were waiting for legal solutions.

After independence, I believe the poor in India are much more free from fear than before. Our Constitution gives equal rights to all citizens, whether rich or poor. The right to vote empowers even the poorest person to have a say in the government. Freedom of speech allows people to express their opinions without fear. However, there's still room for improvement in ensuring that all citizens feel completely secure and fearless.

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A good leader should have strong moral principles and genuine care for their people and country. They should be respected and admired by the people they lead. A great leader has the power to influence positive change and shape history through their thoughts and actions.

Like Mahatma Gandhi, a good leader should be truthful and peaceful, believing firmly in non-violence. They should fight for equality and justice for everyone, regardless of their background, religion, or social status. A true leader works towards unity among all people and opposes discrimination of any kind.

In today's world, we need leaders who can bring people together for peace and understanding. A good leader should possess qualities like simplicity, honesty, truthfulness, and strong determination. They should work to eliminate poverty and suffering from their society. Most importantly, a leader should act as a friend, guide, and philosopher to the people they serve, always putting the welfare of others before their own interests.

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Legal words found in the text include: represented, brief them, cases, contract, released, agreements, notice (to serve), summons (to appear in court), trial, pleading guilty, penalty, sentence (to pronounce), bail (to furnish), judgement, dropped (case to be), court arrest, depositions, and evidence.

Other legal terms you might know: lawsuit, attorney, prosecutor, defendant, plaintiff, witness, testimony, verdict, appeal, warrant, subpoena, affidavit, litigation, settlement, and injunction.

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Authors use direct speech with quotation marks when they want to show the exact words that someone spoke. This makes the story more realistic and allows readers to hear the actual voice and personality of the speakers. Using quotation marks helps distinguish between what the narrator is saying and what the characters actually said, making the text clearer and more engaging.

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Commas are used to show short pauses in sentences. In sentences (a) and (c), commas are used after the dependent clauses that begin with "When." In sentence (b), no comma is used because the dependent clause comes after the main clause. Generally, when a sentence starts with a dependent clause, we use a comma to separate it from the main clause.

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Rajkumar Shukla proved his determination by persistently following Gandhi wherever he went until Gandhi finally agreed to help. He was so focused on bringing Gandhi to Champaran that he wouldn't take no for an answer. His unwavering commitment and refusal to give up showed how resolute he was about solving the farmers' problems.

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When Gandhi arrived at Rajendra Prasad's house with Rajkumar Shukla, the servants treated him poorly because of his simple appearance. They thought he was just another poor farmer and even refused to let him draw water from the well, treating him as if he were untouchable. This shows how people were judged by their appearance rather than their true worth.

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Under the indigo contract system, Indian farmers who worked on British-owned land had to plant indigo on 15% of their total land area. They were required to give their entire indigo harvest to the British landlords as rent payment. This was a long-term agreement that bound the farmers to this unfair arrangement for many years.

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Gandhi noticed that the Champaran villages had problems beyond just the indigo issue. The people lacked education and proper healthcare. To address this, he organized volunteers, including teachers and his own family members, to start primary schools in six villages. He also arranged for medical services and taught villagers about cleanliness and hygiene, showing his commitment to overall development.

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Gandhi criticized the Muzaffarpur lawyers because they were charging high fees from poor farmers who were already struggling financially. He felt that taking these farmers to expensive courts was not helpful since the farmers were too scared and crushed to benefit from legal proceedings. Instead, he believed the farmers needed to be freed from fear first.

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The Champaran episode is seen as the starting point of India's independence movement because it was the first time Gandhi successfully challenged British authority in India. This small but significant event opened Gandhi's eyes to the unfair policies of the British government and showed him that the British could be defeated through peaceful resistance.

The massive support Gandhi received from ordinary farmers proved that the Indian people were ready to stand up against British rule. The success of civil disobedience in Champaran encouraged Gandhi to use these same methods on a larger scale throughout India's freedom struggle. Most importantly, it demonstrated that British authority could be questioned and defeated, giving hope and confidence to the entire nation.

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Gandhi's work in Champaran showed that his loyalty was to real people and their problems, not just abstract political ideas. Even after winning the battle against the indigo system, he continued to stay in the region because he saw that the farmers needed help in other areas of their lives.

He started schools for education, arranged medical care for health problems, and taught people about cleanliness and hygiene. This comprehensive approach proved that Gandhi's politics was always connected to the practical, everyday needs of ordinary people. He wanted to improve every aspect of people's lives, showing that true leadership means caring for the complete well-being of those you serve.

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Gandhi's Champaran campaign teaches us valuable lessons that are still relevant today. Just like the indigo farmers were exploited by British landlords, we still see exploitation of workers in many industries today. Gandhi showed us that the most important step in fighting exploitation is to help people overcome their fear.

The path of non-violence and peaceful resistance is still the most effective way to bring about lasting change. Gandhi also taught us the importance of self-reliance - people must learn to stand up for themselves rather than always depending on others for help. Finally, his approach shows us that we should address not just the immediate problem but also work on improving the overall conditions of those who are suffering. These principles can guide us in fighting injustice and exploitation in our modern world.