INDIGO
EXTRACT-BASED QUESTIONS
(1). “They thought, amongst themselves, that Gandhi was totally a stranger, and yet he was
prepared to go to prison for the sake of the peasants: If they, on the other hand, being not only
residents of the adjoining districts but also those who claimed to have served these peasants,
should go home, it would be shameful desertion.”
i. Who are ‘They’ being referred to in the above lines?
a) Lawyers of Bihar
b) Indian Lawyers
c)Landlords of Bihar
d)Prominent landlords.
ii. For whom the stranger was ready to go to prison?
a) Indian peasants
b) Lawyers
c)Gandhi
d)People of Bihar.
iii. Find the synonym of the word ‘adjoining’ used in the above lines?
a) Contiguous
b) Endear
c)Conceited
d)similar
iv. What would be- shameful desertion?
a) Leaving Gandhi alone
b) Telling Gandhi to leave
c)Staying back with Gandhi
d)Feeling sorry for Gandhi
(2). “…You should not seek a prop in Mr. Andrews because he happens to be an Englishman”.
He had read our minds correctly,” Rajendra Prasad comments, “and we had no reply …Gandhi in
this way taught us a lesson in self-reliance.” Self-reliance, Indian Independence and help to
sharecroppers were all bound together.
i. Who had read their thoughts clearly?
a) Gandhi
b) Rajendra Prasad
c) Mr. Andrews
d)British Lawyers.
ii. What the Indian lawyers should not seek?
a) Prop in an Englishman
b) Prop in lawyers.
c)Prop in farmers
d)Prop in Rajendra Prasad.
iii. What did Gandhi teach Rajendra Prasad and the other people?
a) Self-reliance
b) Indian independence
c)Prop in Englishman.
d)Faith in Englishman.
iv. Indian independence is bound with….
a) Self-reliance and helping sharecroppers.
b) Self-reliance and sharecroppers.
c)Self-reliance and Indians not looking for prop.
d)Indian farmers and self-knowledge.
ANSWER IN 30-40 WORDS
1. How did Rajkumar Shukla establish that he was resolute?
2. How was Gandhiji treated at Rajendra Prasad’s house?
3. What were the terms of the indigo contract between the British landlords and the Indian
peasants?
4. What did the landlords do when they know that Germany had developed synthetic indigo?
5. Why did many sharecroppers sign the agreement letters willingly? What did the others do who
had not signed the letters?
6. Why did Gandhiji meet Secretary of the British landlord’s association? How was he treated by
him?
7. Why did Gandhiji go to Muzzafarpur? Where did he stay there?
8. Why did Gandhiji chide the lawyers of Muzzafarpur?
9. How did the peasants of Champaran react when they came to know about the arrival of
Gandhiji?
10. Why did Gandhiji feel that taking the Champaran case to the court was useless?
11. How did Champaran peasants react when they came to know that a Mahatma had come to
help them?
12. What made the lieutenant-governor drop the case against Gandhiji?
13. Why did Gandhiji tell the court that he was involved in a ‘conflict of duties’ ?
14. How was civil disobedience won for the first time in India?
15. How much did the planters ready to refund to the peasants? How did Gandhiji react to it?
16. Why did Gandhiji agree for only 25 per cent refund?
17. What social work did Gandhiji do in the villages of Champaran?
18. Why was Gandhiji against taking the help of Charles Freer Andrews?
19. Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being ‘resolute’?
20. Why do you think that the servants thought Gandhiji to be another peasant?
ANSWER IN 120-150 WORDS:
1. Imagine Gandhi were to deliver a speech to students in present day India showing them the
path to become responsible world leaders. Based on your understanding of Gandhi’s own
leadership skills, write a speech, as Gandhi, addressing the students about the qualities that
every leader and politician should nurture. Dear students, you are all leaders of social change. I
see many bright and enthusiastic faces that assure me that our future is in good hands. I have
learnt from my own experience.
2. How did Gandhiji use satyagraha and non-violence at Champaran to achieve his goal?
3. Who was Rajkumar Shukla? What did he want from Gandhiji?
4. How did the court scene at Motihari change the course of India’s struggle for freedom?
5. What information did Gandhiji get about the sharecropping system in Champaran?
6. How did Civil Disobedience triumph at Motihari?
