Class 12 English - TELANGANA
Prose: Indigo
Indigo by Louis Fischer, prescribed for Class 12 Telangana students under TSBSE, narrates Mahatma Gandhi's struggle for the poor sharecroppers of Champaran in 1917. The chapter highlights how Gandhi established the power of effective leadership and self-reliance. It deals with the exploitation of Indian peasants by British landlords who forced them to grow indigo on 15% of their land and surrender the entire harvest as rent. The chapter is crucial for board exams as it tests narrative comprehension, analytical skills regarding historical events, and values like courage, justice, and empathy.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
The Champaran Injustice
The British landlords compelled Indian tenants to plant 15% of their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire harvest as rent, causing immense economic hardship.
Rajkumar Shukla's Persistence
A resolute yet illiterate sharecropper from Champaran who approached Gandhi at the Lucknow Congress session in 1916, ultimately convincing him to visit his district.
Gandhi's Strategy of Civil Disobedience
When served an official notice to quit Champaran, Gandhi politely refused, demonstrating the first triumph of civil disobedience in modern India.
The 25% Refund
Gandhi demanded a 50% refund from the British planters to break a deadlock, but finally agreed to a 25% compensation, teaching peasants that they had rights and defenders.
Self-Reliance (Swadeshi)
Gandhi refused to take English pacifist Charles Freer Andrews as a helper in Champaran, emphasizing that Indians must rely on themselves rather than British support.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Telangana State Board (TSBSE) Class 12 English examinations, 'Indigo' consistently carries significant weight. It frequently appears in 16-mark long-answer questions (essay type), 4-mark short-answer questions, and reference-to-context questions. Students must focus on character sketches of Gandhi and Rajkumar Shukla, the significance of the Champaran episode, and the lesson of self-reliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the chapter titled 'Indigo'?
The chapter is titled 'Indigo' because the entire conflict and Gandhi's heroic struggle revolve around the brutal exploitation of Indian sharecroppers forced to cultivate indigo by British landlords.
How did Rajkumar Shukla persuade Gandhi to visit Champaran?
Rajkumar Shukla followed Gandhi everywhere—to Cawnpore, his ashram near Ahmedabad, and finally to Calcutta—displaying unwavering determination until Gandhi agreed to accompany him.
What was the significance of the Champaran movement?
It was India's first successful civil disobedience movement, which gave the peasants courage, united the lawyers, and proved that British authority could be challenged peacefully.
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