Chapter 5 Indigo Class 12 Flamingo English NCERT Summary
Chapter 5 Indigo Class 12 Flamingo English NCERT Summary are designed to help students understand complex concepts by using simple and easy-to-understand language. The notes allows students to actively engage with the material and develop a deeper understanding of the concepts being taught.
Chapter 5 Class 12 Flamingo English NCERT Notes serve as a valuable guide for students to enhance their learning experience and excel academically.
Chapter 5 Indigo Class 12 Flamingo NCERT Notes
About the Chapter
The story is based on an interview with Mahatma Gandhi conducted by Louis Fischer. He conducted an interview with Mahatma Gandhi in 1942 at his ashram in Sevagram. During this interview, Gandhi revealed details about the Indigo Movement that he had initiated. The story focuses on the hardships faced by Gandhi and other influential leaders as they fought to protect sharecroppers from the oppressive actions of landlords.
About the Author
Louis Fischer was born in 1896 in Philadelphia, had a diverse career as a journalist and writer. Notably, he served as a volunteer in the British Army from 1918 to 1920. Fischer’s writing talents were recognized by prestigious publications such as The New York Times, The Saturday Review, and various European and Asian publications. Also, he held a position on the faculty of Princeton University, further showcasing his intellectual capabilities and expertise in his field.
Indigo Class 12 Flamingo English NCERT Summary
Louis Fischer met at Gandhi’s ashram in Sevagram in 1942. This encounter eventually led to Gandhi’s involvement in the Indian independence movement and his initiation of efforts to drive the British out of India. Gandhi recalled that it in 1917, after attending the annual meeting of the Indian National Congress in Lucknow, Gandhi visited Champaran at the request of Rajkumar Shukla, a sharecropper. During his visit, Gandhi learned about the exploitation and abuse of indigo farmers by British landlords and decided to take action.
Shukla and Mahatma Gandhi boarded a train bound for the city of Patna in Bihar, where they were headed to meet a lawyer named Rajendra Prasad. However, upon arriving at Prasad’s house, the servants mistook Gandhi for a poor peasant due to his humble and simple attire.
On the 15th of April 1917, he arrived in Muzzafarpur to gain a complete understanding of the situation. Gandhi was warmly received by Prof. J.B Kriplani and his students, which pleasantly surprised him. This warm welcome indicated the immense support he had garnered as an advocate of home rule. Also, Gandhi had the opportunity to meet with lawyers who were already representing sharecroppers in legal cases, further expanding his understanding of the situation.
In an effort to help the sharecroppers, Gandhi took action by visiting the British landlord association as a means to address the oppressive system in which 15 percent of the peasant’s land was reserved for indigo cultivation. However, due to being considered an outsider, Gandhi was denied any information or assistance by the association. Gandhi decided to approach the commissioner of Tirhut division instead. Unfortunately, his efforts were met with resistance as the commissioner threatened Gandhi and told him to leave Tirhut. To gather complete information about the indigo contract, Gandhi made the decision to travel to Motihari instead of returning. During his time in Motihari, he was accompanied by a group of lawyers who assisted him in gathering all the necessary information regarding the indigo contract.
During his journey to meet a mistreated peasant, Gandhi was halted by a messenger from the police superintendent who delivered him a notice instructing him to depart the area. Gandhi acknowledged the notice, but instead of obeying the order, he chose to defy it. As a consequence, a legal case was initiated against him. Numerous lawyers offered their advice, but rather than simply advising him, they empathized with his cause and decided to support Gandhi by willingly serving time in jail alongside him, all with the intention of aiding the impoverished peasants.
On the day of the trial, a large crowd had gathered near the court, making it extremely difficult to manage. Recognizing the chaotic situation, Gandhi stepped in to assist the officers in controlling the unruly crowd. During his statement in court, Gandhi asserted that while he may have disobeyed certain laws, he did so with the intention of aiding the struggling peasants. Thankfully, his plea was heard and he was granted bail. Later on, the case against him was dropped.
Gandhi and his associates took action by gathering information on the misuse of the indigo contract. This led to the establishment of a commission to investigate further. After conducting the inquiry, it was found that the planters were indeed guilty and were ordered to repay the peasants. However, anticipating their refusal, the planters offered to pay only 25 percent of the owed amount. Despite this lower offer, Gandhi accepted it because his main objective was to liberate the sharecroppers from the constraints of the indigo contract.
In order to improve the lives of the people in Champaran villages, Gandhi took the initiative to open six schools. He enlisted the help of dedicated volunteers such as Mahadev Desai, Narhari Parikh, and his own son, Devdas, who worked tirelessly to educate the villagers. Gandhi’s wife, Kasturbai, also played a crucial role by teaching personal hygiene to the locals. Recognizing the need for medical assistance, Gandhi arranged for a volunteer doctor to provide much-needed healthcare services to the natives of Champaran.
Andrews, a peace maker, expressed his desire to volunteer at Champaran ashram, but Gandhi declined the offer. Gandhi believed that it was essential for Indians to learn self reliance and not depend on others, including foreigners. He explained to Andrews that the incident at Champaran had made him realize that he could handle matters in his own country without seeking advice or assistance from the Britishers.