ACTION PLAN

I always envy the freedom fighters of our nation. It is important to

understand the contributions of freedom fighters because they fight
for the rights and independence of people who face constant
[Link] take risks to help people who do not have a voice or
representation in their country. They work towards building an
independent nation without borders and any separation between
people.I feel that we are supposed to pay tribute to them and be
grateful to our ancestors who play a major role in our independent life
that we lead today. This made me [Link] Indigo for my
assignment as I wanted to analyse it in a deeper manner.I believe that
this would help me to know more about our freedom struggles.
 AUTHOR

LOUIS FISCHER

Born: 29 February 1896, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US

Died: 15 January 1970, Princeton, New Jersey, United States
Nationality: American
Education: South Philadelphia High School, Gratz College
Awards: National Book Award for History and Biography
Louis Fischer was an American journalist. Among his works were a
contribution to the ex-communist treatise The God that Failed (1949),
The Life of Mahatma Gandhi (1950), basis for the Academy
Award-winning film Gandhi (1982), as well as a Life of Lenin, which
won the 1965 National Book Award in History and Biography.
 SUMMARY
The Indian Independence movement was a series of historic events with
the ultimate aim of ending British rule in India also known as British Raj.
It lasted from 1857 to [Link] important movements include

[Link] of 1857
The Revolt of 1857 was the first war of Independence against the British.
The revolt began in Meerut on 10th May 1857. The movement slowly
spread to Delhi, Agra, Kanpur, and Lucknow. It has a significant impact on
the masses and inspired the sentiments of the Indian citizens to join hands
for the Independence [Link] independence movement marked the
end of rule by the British East India Company which earlier had direct
control over India.

[Link] Movement
The Swadeshi movement was started after the announcement of Lord
Curzon about the partition of Bengal in 1905. The British government
declared the division of Bengal into two provinces to undermine national
unity. On 7th August 1905, the Boycott resolution was adopted during the
conference held at the Calcutta Town [Link] Swadeshi movement aimed
to encourage the usage of local goods and services.
[Link] Disobedience Movement
The Civil Disobedience Movement was started by Mahatma Gandhi in
1930 and is credited for paving the way for freedom in [Link]
movement commenced with the Dandi March on 12th March 1930.
Gandhi ji with 78 other members left Sabarmati Ashram on foot and
reached Dandi to break the salt law. The production of salt was considered
illegal and was controlled by the government. After this event, the civil
disobedience movement was accepted all across the country.

[Link] India Movement

The Indian National Congress launched the Quit India Movement after the
arrival of the Cripps Mission which arrived in India in March 1942, and it
was not able to promise any type of constitutional remedy for India’s
issues. Mahatma Gandhi began the Quit India movement in August 1942
to compel the British to leave India. The movement is also known as
‘Bharat Chhodo Andolan’. The Quit India Movement, also known as
the Bharat Chhodo Andolan, was a movement launched at the
Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee by Mahatma
Gandhi on 9 August 1942, during World War II, demanding an end to
British rule in [Link] movement included boycotting the British
government and rejection of transactions involving the government.

[Link] Movement
Champaran Movement was started by Mahatma Gandhi. It was Mahatma
Gandhi’s first act of civil disobedience during the freedom struggle in
India. It took place in the Champaran district of Bihar in 1917. Indigo
farmers of the Champaran district of Bihar have miserable conditions
under the Tinkathiya System. The Tinkathiya System forces the farmers or
cultivators to cultivate indigo on the best 3/20th part of their land and
forces them to sell it at a cheaper price.

Rajkumar Shukla had met Mahatma Gandhi and asked him for help.
Mahatma Gandhi reached Champaran and approached the civil
disobedience movement. He launched strikes and demonstrated against the
landlords in Champaran.
It put an end to the planters’ long-standing tyranny of the peasant through
forced cultivation and subpar [Link] Champaran movement resulted
in the passage of the Champaran Agriculture Act, which brought great
relief to the indigo planters and the tenants of the [Link] Champaran
Satyagraha gave direction to India's youth and freedom struggle, which
was tottering between moderates who prescribed Indian participation
within the British colonial system, and the radicals from Bengal who
advocated the use of violent methods to topple British colonial rule in
India.
India is a land of great freedom fighters who have contributed in
making India a free nation. The greatest role in the freedom of India
was played by our great heroes majorly includes

[Link] Chandra Bose

Subhash Chandra Bosewas born in Cuttack, Orissa, in 1897. He grew up

deeply identifying with the Indian Freedom Movement and subsequently
became a part of it in the 1920s. He led a radical wing of the Indian
National Congress (INC) throughout the 1920s and 1930s and eventually
gained enough popularity and support to rise to a position of leadership in
the INC. He eventually became the Congress President in 1938. He made
his way to Germany by 1941, where he secured the sympathy and help of
the Nazi party in his plan to overthrow the British Occupation. With help
from Germany's ally Japan, he Bose headed the Indian National Army
(INA). In 1941, a Free India Radio was set up with help from Germany,
on which Bose regularly spoke about the Indian Freedom Movement. Due
to his charisma and charm, he succeeded in generating a wave of support
for the Indian Freedom Movement.

[Link] Patel

Vallabhbhai Patel, in full Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel, byname Sardar

Patel (Hindi: “Leader Patel”), (born October 31, 1875, Nadiad, Gujarat,
India—died December 15, 1950, Bombay [now Mumbai]), Indian barrister
and statesman, one of the leaders of the Indian National Congress during
the struggle for Indian independence. During the first three years of Indian
independence after 1947, he served as deputy prime minister, minister of
home affairs, minister of information, and minister of statesFrom 1917 to
1924 Patel served as the first Indian municipal commissioner of
Ahmadabad and was its elected municipal president from 1924 to 1928.
 CHARACTER
SKETCH
[Link] Gandhi

The “Indigo” chapter recognizes Mahatma Gandhi's leadership in

achieving justice for oppressed people. Gandhiji is portrayed as a man of
moral convictions who supported nonviolent protests and nonviolent
demonstrations. He wants to finish the landlord system in Champaran and
gives justice to the poor peasants.

[Link] Shukla

Rajkumar Shukla was a poor sharecropper of Champaran ( Bihar). He met

with Mahatma Gandhi at the annual convention of the Indian National
Congress party in Lucknow.
He was uneducated but resolute because he did not leave the side of
Mahatma Gandhi till he had not to get a fixed date to come to Champaran.
 THEME
The chapter begins by describing the indigo industry in India during the
colonial era, which was dominated by British planters. These planters
forced Indian peasants to cultivate indigo on their lands and sell it to them
at low prices. The planters would then sell the indigo at high prices in the
global market, earning significant profits. The chapter explains how this
system of exploitation led to widespread poverty and suffering among the
Indian peasants, who were forced to work long hours in the fields for
meagre wages.

The chapter also highlights the role of Mahatma Gandhi in leading the
indigo farmers’ struggle against British oppression. Gandhi saw the indigo
industry as a symbol of the British exploitation of India and advocated for
the rights of the Indian peasants. He encouraged the peasants to unite and
resist the planters’ demands.

Gandhi also advocated for non-violent resistance as a means of achieving

social and political change. He believed that violence would only lead to
more suffering and that non-violent resistance was a more effective way to
challenge British oppression. The chapter describes how Gandhi’s ideas
and leadership inspired the indigo farmers to organize protests and
boycotts against the planters.

Overall, the theme of the chapter “Indigo” is the exploitation of

Indian peasants by British planters during the colonial era and the struggle
of the indigo farmers against this oppression. The chapter highlights
Gandhi’s role in this struggle and his advocacy of non-violent resistance as
a means of achieving social and political change.
 TITLE JUSTIFICATION

The title ‘Indigo’ focuses our attention on the issue of exploitation of

indigo sharecroppers at the hands of cruel British planters. The British
compelled them through a long-term agreement to plant indigo on 15
percent of their land and surrender the entire harvest as rent. After the
development of synthetic indigo by Germany, the British planters
extracted money from the peasants as compensation for being released
from the 15 percent agreement. The peasants who wanted their money
back filed civil suits. Rajkumar Shukla persuaded Gandhi to take up the
case of Indigo sharecroppers. So indigo sharecropping exemplifies the
injustice of the British and the Indians’ submission to British authority.
The Champaran movement that centred on indigo sharecropping led to the
social and cultural upliftment of the peasants. Thus the title ‘Indigo’ is
highly suggestive and appropriate.
 MESSAGE
The story ‘Indigo’ highlights the unequal economic system that existed
during colonial British rule. It resulted in Indian peasants suffering, while
the British planters exploited them. It also highlights the importance of
Gandhi’s decision to take up their case, which exposed the unjust system.
The main theme of the chapter Indigo by Louis Fischer is how effective
leadership can overcome any problem as shown by Mahatma Gandhi in
securing justice for the oppressed in Champaran through convincing
arguments and negotiation.

It is not impossible to conquer and win over the powerful. If the people
get together and fight against injustice, no power in the world can stop
them from achieving what they [Link] is also observed that the message
conveyed by the story is that it is not impossible to conquer and win over
the powerful. If the people get together and fight against injustice, no
power in the world can stop them from achieving what they desire.
Louis Fischer conveyed us how effective leadership can overcome any
problem as shown by Mahatma Gandhi in securing justice for the
oppressed in Champaran through convincing arguments and
[Link] and disciplined nonviolence can disarm and change
the world – and our lives, our relationships and our communities. It depicts
that non-violence is without exception superior to violence, [Link] power
at the disposal of a nonviolent person is always greater than he would have
if he was violent. There is no such thing as defeat in non-violence. The end
of violence is surest defeat. The ultimate end of non-violence is surest
victory.
VALUES HIGHLIGHTED
The Champaran Movement, also known as the Champaran Satyagraha,
was an important event in India's struggle for independence led by
Mahatma Gandhi. This movement was characterised by several key values
and principles, which I can highlight:

Nonviolence (Ahimsa): Mahatma Gandhi's approach to the Champaran

Movement, like his overall philosophy, was rooted in the principle of
nonviolence. He encouraged peaceful protest and resistance as a means to
bring about social and political change.

Civil Disobedience: Gandhi advocated for civil disobedience, which

involves breaking unjust laws or regulations peacefully, in order to draw
attention to the issues faced by the indigo plantation workers and to
challenge the British authorities.

Empowerment of the Marginalised: The Champaran Movement aimed to

address the exploitation of indigo plantation workers, who were mostly
poor and marginalised peasants. It emphasised empowering these
vulnerable groups and fighting for their rights and dignity.
Social Justice: The movement was driven by the values of social justice
and fairness. Gandhi and his supporters demanded better working
conditions, fair wages, and an end to the forced cultivation of indigo.

Satyagraha: Satyagraha, which means "truth force" or "soul force," was a

concept central to Gandhi's approach. It involved the use of nonviolent
resistance to expose the truth and bring about change. Satyagraha was a
key value in the Champaran Movement.

Unity and Solidarity: Gandhi encouraged unity and solidarity among the
peasants and the Indian community at large to collectively stand against
the British authorities and the indigo planters.

Grassroots Mobilisation: The Champaran Movement was organised at the

grassroots level, involving the active participation of local communities
and peasants. This bottom-up approach was a fundamental value in
Gandhi's strategy.

The Champaran Movement was a significant episode in India's struggle for

independence and a precursor to many other movements led by Gandhi. It
highlighted the power of nonviolence, civil disobedience, and grassroots
mobilisation in achieving social and political change while upholding
values of justice and truth.
 STUDENTS
REFLECTION

The lesson Indigo helped me understand about Gandhi's role in the

Champaran movement. It shows how a peasant can be an initial point of a
life-changing movement in India. It made me understand the importance of
unity and its power to achieve anything. The lesson Indigo also highlights
the loyalty and sincerity which Gandhi holds towards the people of
Champaran. It taught me about not giving up. Even during hard and
difficult times Gandhi didn't give up. I came to know about various
freedom struggle movements and freedom fighters who contributed for the
independence of India. It is always important to realise the real strength of
non violence which acted as a strength for Gandhi in every situation and
didn't end up losing lives of innocent Indians. This lesson gives a great
value about self reliant to me which I would implement in my life.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
BOOKS
NCERT
SUBHASH DEY’s REFERENCE BOOK

WEBSITES
[Link]
WIKIPEDIA

NEWSPAPER
THE HINDU
THE TIMES OF INDIA