NCERT Solutions
for Class 12 English Flamingo
Chapter 5 Indigo by Louis Fischer
Updated
Syllabus for 2024-2025 Exams
Q.1 Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as
being ‘resolute’?
Answer:
Rajkumar Shukla is described as ‘resolute’ because of his determination to get
Gandhi to Champaran. Despite Gandhi’s busy schedule and initial reluctance,
Shukla persisted and followed Gandhi wherever he went. He even went to Gandhi’s
ashram and stayed there until Gandhi agreed to visit Champaran. His
perseverance showed his strong resolve to address the injustice faced by the
indigo farmers.
Q.2 Why do you think the servants thought
Gandhi to be another peasant?
Answer:
The servants mistook Gandhi for another peasant because of his simple
appearance. Gandhi traveled without any pomp and wore the same simple clothes
as the peasants. Since the servants were familiar with Rajkumar Shukla, who was
a poor peasant, they assumed that Gandhi, who accompanied him, was also a
peasant and not a person of importance.
Q.3 List the places that Gandhi visited
between his first meeting with Shukla and his arrival at Champaran.
Answer:
Between his first meeting with Rajkumar Shukla and his arrival at Champaran,
Gandhi visited the following places:
- Lucknow – where he first met
Shukla at the Congress session. - Cawnpore (now Kanpur) – where
Gandhi had an appointment. - Ahmedabad – Gandhi’s ashram, where
Shukla followed him. - Calcutta – where Gandhi met Shukla
as agreed and then traveled to Patna. - Patna – where they visited
Rajendra Prasad’s house. - Muzzafarpur – where Gandhi met
Professor J.B. Kripalani and gathered information about Champaran.
Q.4 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 the British landlords as rent by growing indigo on 15% of
their land and surrendering the entire indigo harvest. However, after synthetic
indigo was developed by Germany, the British landlords no longer needed natural
indigo. Instead, they wanted compensation from the peasants for releasing them
from the sharecropping agreement. The development of synthetic indigo would
significantly lower the demand and price of natural indigo, making it less
profitable for the British landlords.
Q.5 Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of
25% refund to the farmers?
Answer:
Gandhi agreed to a settlement of a 25% refund to the farmers because, for him,
the amount of the refund was less important than the fact that the British
landlords were forced to return part of the money and acknowledge the farmers’
rights. By accepting the 25% refund, Gandhi broke the deadlock and achieved a
moral victory for the peasants, showing them that they could stand up to their
oppressors.
Q.6 How did the episode change the plight
of the peasants?
Answer:
The Champaran episode changed the plight of the peasants by giving them a sense
of self-worth and courage. The landlords had previously exploited the peasants
without fear of reprisal, but after Gandhi’s intervention, the peasants
realized they had rights and could stand up for themselves. The British
landlords were forced to refund part of the money they had taken, and within a
few years, indigo sharecropping came to an end, and the landlords abandoned
their estates, which reverted to the peasants.
Q.7 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:
Some instances that illustrate Gandhi’s method of working and link to his ideas
of satyagraha and non-violence include:
- Non-violent resistance: When Gandhi received the order
to leave Champaran, he chose to disobey it, not out of disrespect for the
law, but out of adherence to a higher moral duty. This was an example of civil
disobedience, a key principle of satyagraha. - Involving the masses: Gandhi believed in empowering
the people. The spontaneous support from thousands of peasants who
gathered at the courthouse showed their liberation from fear. Gandhi’s
approach encouraged them to stand up for their rights without resorting to
violence. - Constructive work: Gandhi did not focus solely on
political change. He also worked to improve the social and economic
conditions of the peasants by addressing issues like education, health,
and sanitation, demonstrating his holistic approach to independence.
Q.8 How was Gandhi able to influence
lawyers? Give instances.
Answer:
Gandhi was able to influence the lawyers by appealing to their sense of justice
and moral duty. For instance, when the lawyers expressed their intention to
return home if Gandhi was jailed, he questioned their commitment to the cause
of the peasants. He pointed out that as residents of the area, they had a
greater responsibility to fight for the peasants’ rights. This made the lawyers
reconsider, and they ultimately decided to support Gandhi and follow him to
jail if necessary. This shows how Gandhi’s conviction and moral leadership
inspired others to take action.
Q.9 What was the attitude of the average
Indian in smaller localities towards advocates of ‘home rule’?
Answer:
The attitude of the average Indian in smaller localities towards advocates of
‘home rule’ was one of fear and caution. In those days, people were afraid to
show open support for leaders like Gandhi who advocated for independence from
British rule. For example, when Gandhi visited Muzzafarpur, Professor Malkani,
a government school teacher, showed extraordinary courage by sheltering Gandhi
in his home. This was unusual because most people feared retribution from the
British authorities for supporting advocates of home rule.
Q.10 How do we know that ordinary people
too contributed to the freedom movement?
Answer:
Ordinary people contributed to the freedom movement in various ways, as seen in
the Champaran episode. For example, Rajkumar Shukla, a poor and illiterate
sharecropper, played a crucial role in bringing Gandhi to Champaran. Thousands
of peasants gathered at the courthouse in support of Gandhi, showing their
readiness to fight for their rights. Volunteers, including teachers and
doctors, came forward to help with education and health in the villages. These
examples demonstrate that the freedom movement was not limited to prominent
leaders but was supported by the masses, including peasants and ordinary
citizens.
Talking About the Text:
Q.1 “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:
While India has gained political independence, many poor people in the country
still live in fear, not of colonial rulers, but of other forms of oppression
such as poverty, inequality, and social injustice. For many, fear arises from a
lack of basic necessities like food, shelter, and security, as well as
exploitation by powerful individuals or institutions. Although the legal system
exists to protect the rights of the poor, many are still unable to access
justice due to a lack of education, resources, or awareness. True freedom from
fear can only come when the poor have equal opportunities and access to justice,
security, and a dignified life.
Q.2 The qualities of a good leader.
Answer:
A good leader possesses several essential qualities:
- Integrity: A leader must be honest and have
strong moral principles. Integrity earns the trust and respect of followers. - Empathy: Understanding the needs and
concerns of the people is crucial for a leader. Gandhi, for instance,
empathized with the plight of the peasants and fought for their rights. - Vision: A good leader should have a
clear vision for the future and the ability to inspire others to work
toward that vision. Gandhi’s vision of an independent and self-reliant
India motivated millions. - Resilience: A leader must be able to
persevere through difficulties and challenges without giving up. Gandhi’s
resilience in the face of British oppression was one of his defining
traits. - Humility: A good leader must remain humble
and grounded, valuing the contributions of others. Gandhi’s humility was
evident in his simple lifestyle and his reliance on the masses for support. - Decisiveness: The ability to make informed and
timely decisions is critical. Gandhi demonstrated this quality when he
agreed to the 25% refund for the peasants, breaking the deadlock and
achieving a moral victory.
Working with Words:
Q.1 List the words used in the text that
are related to legal procedures.
Answer:
Some of the words related to legal procedures mentioned in the text are:
- Summons: An official order to appear in
court. - Deposition: A formal statement taken from a
witness to be used as evidence. - Prosecutor: A legal officer who charges
someone with a crime and tries to prove them guilty. - Commission: A group of people officially
charged with investigating a particular issue or dispute. - Bail: A temporary release of an
accused person awaiting trial, sometimes on condition of a financial
guarantee. - Civil disobedience: The act of refusing to comply
with certain laws as a form of peaceful protest.
Q.2 List other words that you know that
fall into this category.
Answer:
Some additional words related to legal procedures include:
- Litigation: The process of taking legal
action. - Affidavit: A written statement confirmed by
oath or affirmation, used as evidence in court. - Verdict: The decision reached by a jury
or judge in a court case. - Plaintiff: A person who brings a case
against another in a court of law. - Subpoena: A legal document ordering
someone to attend court or produce documents.
Thinking About Language:
Q.1 Notice the sentences in the text that
are in ‘direct speech.’ Why does the author use quotations in his narration?
Answer:
The author uses direct speech and quotations in the narration to make the
events more vivid and engaging. Quotations bring authenticity to the story by
allowing the characters, particularly Gandhi, to speak for themselves. This not
only helps convey their thoughts and feelings directly but also makes the
narrative more personal and relatable. By including Gandhi’s words, the author
emphasizes his ideas, beliefs, and leadership style, making the events of the
Champaran episode more impactful for the reader.
Q.2 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: In sentence (a), a comma is
used to separate the subordinate clause (“When I first visited Gandhi in 1942
at his ashram in Sevagram”) from the main clause (“he told me what
happened in Champaran”). The comma helps to clarify the structure of the
sentence and makes it easier to read. In sentences (b) and (c),
the subordinate clause follows the main clause, and no comma is used. This
reflects a common grammatical rule: if the subordinate clause comes before the
main clause, a comma is used to separate them, but if it comes after, no comma
is needed.
Things to Do:
Q.1 Choose an issue that has provoked a
controversy like the Bhopal Gas Tragedy or the Narmada Dam Project in which the
lives of the poor have been affected.
Q.2 Find out the facts of the case.
Q.3 Present your arguments.
Q.4 Suggest a possible settlement.
Answer: (Example for the Bhopal Gas Tragedy)
- Issue: The Bhopal Gas Tragedy occurred
in December 1984 when a gas leak from the Union Carbide pesticide plant in
Bhopal, India, exposed over half a million people to toxic chemicals. It
is considered one of the worst industrial disasters in history, leading to
thousands of deaths and long-term health complications for survivors. - Facts: The gas leak resulted from poor
maintenance and safety measures at the plant. The company responsible,
Union Carbide, initially provided some compensation but many victims felt
that it was insufficient. The site was never fully cleaned up, and toxic
waste continued to affect the local population and environment. - Arguments: The victims of the tragedy argue
that the compensation provided was inadequate and that Union Carbide, now
owned by Dow Chemical, should be held accountable for the ongoing
environmental and health issues. The Indian government has also been
criticized for not ensuring proper legal redress and cleanup. - Possible Settlement: A fair settlement could include
increased compensation for victims, a full environmental cleanup of the
site, and healthcare support for those affected by long-term health issues
caused by the disaster. Additionally, multinational companies should be held
accountable for maintaining safety standards in all their operations.