Chapter 5 Indigo

a. (ii) a politician

b. (ii) physically strong

Raj Kumar Shukla is a sharecropper from champaran district. He went lucknow only to meet Gandhi. He followed Gandhi everywhere. Shukla followed Gandhi to the Ashram near Ahmedabad. Gandhi was impressed by him and gave him a date to meet at Calcutta, so shukla went to champaran that’s why he was being called a “resolute”.

Servants knew shukla as a poor yeoman who pertused their master to help the Indigo sharecroppers. Shukla was a peasant and Ghandi was being accompanied by shukla so servant through Gandhi as a peasant as he was with another peasant.

Gandhi and Shukla first met at Lucknow, then he went to lauinpore and other parts of India. Then he went back to ashram near ahmedabad. And then he went to Calcutta, Patna and Muzaffarpur before going to Champaran.

Indigo was being paid as lunt to Britishers. But Germany has developed synthetic Indigo which was cheaper then the natural Indigo to Britishers wanted money as compensation for being released from the is percent arrangement.

There are many instances, in the tent went can be linked to Gandhi’s idea of non-cooperation and Satyagraha. Gandhi was supporting the peasants to court orders him to leave champaran but Gandhi disobeyed the order and when court’s proceedings was getting late to he protested against the delay also an instance of his belief in civil disobedience.

He opposed the wrong laws or unjust laws. He was luddy to get arrest for breaking court laws and going to jail.

The famous Dandi March to break the ‘Salt Law’ is another instance, The opposition of laws was very peaceful from where it was linked divercity to his ideas of Satyagraha and Non-violence.

Gandhi agree to 25 per cent refund to the farmers because at that time amount of refund was very important then the fact that the Britishers reverend and was refunding money. So it was a prestige for them and a happy moment that they won their first fight and this reverend fear of Britishers from the sharecroppers.

After getting refunds from the Britishers, it boost confidence in the peasants, now the peasant scure that they had rights and defenders. They got coverage to fight for their rights.

And later Gandhi opened schools in 6 districts where Kasturbai used to teach in the school and she taught the ashram rules on personal cleanliness and community sanitation.

Gandhi came to champaran to help peasants but this whole episode or journey became his turning - point in his life as he started alone but now thousands of people were supporting Gandhi. Gandhi admits whatever he had done was an very ordinary thing. He said Britishers could not orders him to do anythings in his country. Hence, he considered this champaran episode to be turning point in his life.

The first instance was when he was able to influence the lawyers throughout his conviction earnestness and pertinent questioning. When Gandhi get to know that lawyers of Muzaffarpur for charging a large sum of money as fee from the peasants is he re-approached those lawyers.

Then lawyers said when Gandhi would be sent to imprisonment so they will return home. But Gandhi made them realize that a stranger was ready to get himself imprisoned for the peasants. So they also agreed to follow him to jail.

3rd instance was when as englishman wanted to support Gandhi to lawyers said it will great if he support us. But Gandhi said it would be helpful if we have an englishman on our side. But this shows the weakness of you must early upon yourselves to win the battle.

The average Indian in smaller localities were afraid to help educators of ‘home rule’. It was profesor Malkani, who gave shetter for two days to Gandhi in Muzaffarpur instead he know that Gandhi was there to oppose the current government. It was an extraordinary thing in those days for a government professor to provide shelter to one who opposed the government.

When Gandhi reached Muzaffarpur railway station there was a professor J.B. Kridani who came there to revive Gandhi.

• Sharecroppers from champaran came to meet Gandhi. They covered the whole distanced with feet only.
• A vast multitude glueted Gandhi when he reached Motihari railway station.
• Thousands of people gathered outside the court room to support Gandhi.
• These are instance wish shows ordinary people contributed to the freedom movement.