Indigo and Gandhi's Movement

Overview

This lecture briefly explains the main events of the 'Indigo' chapter, the background of the Champaran Satyagraha, and Gandhi Ji's role.

The 'Indigo' chapter is taken from Louis Fischer's book 'The Life of Mahatma Gandhi'.
Louis Fischer worked as a volunteer for the British Army from 1918-1920.
The chapter tells the story of Gandhi Ji's 1917 Champaran movement.

Rajkumar Shukla, a poor farmer and sharecropper, meets Gandhi Ji and asks for his help.
Gandhi Ji stays at Rajendra Prasad's house and then at Professor Malkani's house to understand the problem of Champaran.
The farmers of Champaran were sharecroppers who gave a share of their crop to the British landlords.
British landlords forced farmers to grow only indigo on 15% of their land.
With the advent of synthetic indigo in Germany, British landlords planned to free farmers from contracts by giving compensation.
Many farmers opposed receiving compensation; landlords pressured the farmers.

Gandhi Ji set up camp in the British Landlord Association and then in Motihari to learn about the exploitation of farmers.
Despite receiving a court summons, Gandhi Ji stood firm with truth and non-violence.
Gandhi Ji received support from Rajendra Prasad and local lawyers.
Gandhi Ji sent a report to the Viceroy and led the movement by securing justice for the farmers.

Share Cropper (सेयर क्रॉपर) — Farmers who give a share of their crop as rent to landlords instead of money.
Indigo (इंडिगो) — A blue dye crop that British landlords forced farmers to grow.
Compensation (मुआवजा) — Money demanded to free farmers from contracts.
Synthetic Indigo (कृत्रिम इंडिगो) — Cheap indigo made in Germany, which reduced British profits.