Class 12 English - ODISHA
Prose: Indigo
Indigo is an insightful prose piece written by Louis Fischer, detailing Mahatma Gandhi's struggle for the impoverished sharecroppers of Champaran in Bihar. The chapter narrates how Gandhi arrived in Champaran in 1917 to address the exploitation of peasants by British landlords who forced them to cultivate indigo on 15% of their land and surrender the entire harvest as rent. Through non-violent civil disobedience, meticulous fact-finding, and moral authority, Gandhi secured justice and instilled self-reliance among the fearful farmers. This chapter holds high importance for Odisha BSE Class 12 board exams, frequently featuring in long-answer questions and critical value-based inquiries.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
The Champaran Injustice
British planters compelled Indian tenants to plant 15 percent of their land with indigo and surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent, causing severe economic hardship.
Arrival of Gandhi
In 1917, Gandhi visited Champaran at the insistence of Rajkumar Shukla, a resolute sharecropper, to investigate the grievances of the oppressed peasants.
Civil Disobedience Triumph
Gandhi used civil disobedience and truth as his weapons, refusing to obey unjust official orders and proving that British authority could be challenged peacefully in India.
Refund and Self-Reliance
Gandhi demanded a 50 percent refund from the planters, eventually agreeing to 25 percent, which broke the prestige of the landlords and taught peasants courage and self-reliance.
Social Upliftment
Beyond political justice, Gandhi addressed cultural and social backwardness in Champaran by establishing schools, improving healthcare, and teaching personal hygiene.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Odisha (BSE) Class 12 English board examinations, 'Indigo' regularly carries significant weight (around 6 to 10 marks). Questions typically include long-answer analytical questions about Gandhi's leadership style, short-answer questions regarding Rajkumar Shukla or the Champaran episode, and reference-to-context questions based on extracts from the text.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the chapter titled 'Indigo'?
The chapter is titled 'Indigo' because the entire conflict, exploitation of sharecroppers, and Gandhi's historic movement in Champaran revolved around the forced cultivation and unjust trade of indigo.
Who was Rajkumar Shukla and what was his role?
Rajkumar Shukla was a poor, resolute sharecropper from Champaran who persistently followed Gandhi across India until Gandhi agreed to visit Champaran to investigate the peasants' plight.
How did the Champaran episode prove to be a turning point in Gandhi's life?
It was during the Champaran struggle that Gandhi openly declared that the British could not order him about in his own country, marking the successful trial and triumph of civil disobedience, which paved the way for India's independence movement.
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