Class 12 English - TAMILNADU
Prose: Indigo
Prose: Indigo, written by Louis Fischer, is an excerpt from his book The Life of Mahatma Gandhi. It narrates Gandhi's struggle for the oppressed sharecroppers of Champaran in Bihar. The chapter highlights the exploitation of Indian peasants by British landlords who forced them to grow indigo on 15% of their land. It details how Gandhi's arrival, driven by a simple peasant named Rajkumar Shukla, marked a turning point in India's freedom struggle. For Tamil Nadu Samacheer Kalvi Class 12 board exams, this chapter is crucial for testing reading comprehension, paragraph questions, and essay-type answers.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
The Champaran Injustice
British landlords forced Indian tenants to plant 15 percent of their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire harvest as rent, causing immense economic hardship.
Role of Rajkumar Shukla
A resolute and persistent sharecropper from Champaran who approached Gandhi at the Lucknow Congress session in 1916 and successfully persuaded him to visit his district.
Gandhi's Method of Civil Disobedience
Gandhi used truth, non-violence, and moral courage to challenge British authority, famously refusing to obey the police order to leave Champaran.
The Breakthrough Settlement
Gandhi's meticulous gathering of evidence forced the British commission to agree to refund 50 percent of the extorted money, though Gandhi accepted a 25 percent settlement to break the deadlock.
Self-Reliance and Social Reform
Gandhi believed political victory was incomplete without addressing social backwardness, leading to initiatives in health, education, and hygiene in Champaran villages.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Tamil Nadu (Samacheer Kalvi) Class 12 English Board Exam, this chapter typically contributes around 6 to 10 marks. Questions usually appear as 2-mark short answers, paragraph questions (4 marks), and occasionally long essay questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the chapter named 'Indigo'?
The chapter is named 'Indigo' because the entire conflict centered around the forced cultivation and unjust taxation of indigo by British landlords on Indian peasants in Champaran.
What was the significance of the Champaran movement?
Champaran was the site of India's first civil disobedience movement, which proved that British authority could be challenged and laid the foundation for the broader Indian freedom struggle.
Why did Gandhi agree to a 25% refund?
Gandhi agreed to a 25% refund because for him, the amount of money was less important than the fact that the landlords had been forced to part with their money and prestige, thereby breaking their absolute power.
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