How were Shukla and Gandhiji received in Rajendra Prasad’s house?
Answer
When Shukla and Gandhiji reached Rajendra Prasad’s house, the latter was out of town. The servants knew Shukla as a poor peasant who always used to pester their master. They thought Gandhiji to be a peasant. They both were treated as peasants and were made to sit on the floor and were not allowed to draw water from the well.
After reaching Champaran, first of all, Gandhiji collected all the facts and information. He visited the secretary of the British Landlords Association, but could not get any information. He also called on the British Official Commissioner of Tirhut division, but could not get any positive response. So, finally, he proceeded to Motihari, the capital of Champaran.
How did Gandhiji react to the Commissioner’s advice and where did he go?
Answer
When Gandhiji was served an official notice with an advice from the Commissioner to leave Champaran immediately, he refused to obey it. He was then served a summons to appear in the court the following day. Then Gandhi sent a telegram to Rajendra Prasad to come along with his influential friends.
Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being resolute?
Answer
Rajkumar Shukla was a poor, illiterate peasant from Champaran. When he came to know that Gandhi was in Lucknow, he decided to meet him and ask him to help the poor sharecroppers of Champaran. He requested Gandhi to come to Champaran but Gandhi was not free. He had appointments in Cawnpore and in other parts of India. Shukla followed him everywhere and even to his Ashram at Ahmedabad and urged him to fix a date. Finally Gandhi had to agree to visit Champaran. This clearly shows that Shukla was resolute.
How did the Champaran peasants react when they heard that a Mahatma had come to help them?
Answer
When Gandhiji reached Muzzafarpur, on his way to Champaran, peasants came to know about his arrival. They all gathered in large numbers to show their support to their saviour. Moreover, when Gandhiji was to appear in the court, after he was served a summons, peasants in large numbers filled the streets of Motihari. The British officials became helpless to handle them.
What made the Lieutenant Governor drop the case against Gandhiji?
Answer
The Lieutenant Governor had to drop the case against Gandhiji after realising the support of the masses that he had. When Gandhiji arrived in the court in response to the summous he was served, the town of Motihari was filled with large crowds. The British officials felt helpless and had to take Gandhiji’s help to control the mob. Fearing the consequences, the case was postponed and later dropped.
Why did Gandhiji oppose when his friend Andrews offered to stay in Champaran and help the peasants? ### Why was Gandhiji opposed to C.F. Andrews helping him in Champaran?
Answer
Gandhiji opposed when his friend Andrews offered to stay in Champaran to help the peasants because he wanted the people of Champaran to be self-reliant. He wanted them not to depend on others to win their battle but build up their self-confidence. He did not want the support of an Englishman as a prop for his cause.
Gandhiji came to know about the plight of poor peasants of Champaran. He was told that Muzzafarpur lawyers frequently represented peasent groups in court. Gandhiji chided them for collecting big fee from the sharecroppers. After his chiding the lawyers realised that it was shameful for them not to help peasants as Gandhi being a stranger was ready even to go to jail for the peasants.
Why did Gandhi tell the court that he was involved in a ‘conflict of duties’?
Answer
Gandhiji told the court that he was involved in a ‘conflict of duties’. On the one hand, he did not want to be a lawbreaker but, on the other hand, couldn’t ignore his humanitarian and national service as demanded by his conscience. He told the court that finally he had decided to listen to the voice of his conscience and help the poor peasants of Champaran.
Why did Gandhi feel that taking the Champaran case to the court was useless?
Answer
Gandhi felt that taking the Champaran case to the court was useless. He believed that where the peasants were so crushed and fear-stricken, law courts were useless. The real relief for them would be to be free from fear.
What were the terms of the indigo contract between the British landlords and the Indian fermers?
Answer
The arable areas of Champaran were divided into large estates owned by British landlords. The peasants worked on this land as tenants. The peasants were forced to grow indigo on 15% of their land and give the entire crop of indigo as rent. This was the indigo contract between the British landlords and the Indian peasants.
“The battle of Champaran is won.” When and why did Gandhiji utter these words?
Answer
The eminent lawyers from the nearby areas came to help Gandhiji. They decided to go back in case Gandhiji was arrested. At this Gandhiji made them to realise their duty towards the peasants. They realised that it would be shameful for them to leave these peasants at a time when a stranger was ready even to go to jail for them. So they all approached Gandhiji and said that they would accompany him to jail. At this point, Gandhiji said, “The battle of Champaran is won.”
Why did Gandhiji go to Muzzafarpur before going to Champaran? What sort of reception did he get there and why was it unusal?
Answer
In order to get complete information about the condition of peasants at Champaran, Gandhiji decided to go to Muzzafarpur. He was received by Prof. J.B. Kriplani, who was a professor at Arts College, along with a large body of students. He was hosted by Prof. Malkani, a Government schoolteacher. It was an unusal thing because in those days people were afraid to show sympathy for the advocates of home rule.
What was the condition of sharecroppers at the time that Gandhiji arrived at Champaran?
Answer
Sharecroppers were in a miserable condition when Gandhi arrived at Champaran. They were supposed to grow indigo on 15% of their land and give it as rent to the landlords. But with the invention of the synthetic indigo, landlords had obtained agreements from the sharecroppers to pay them compensation for being released from 15% agreement and cheated them.