Question

Give an account of gandhi efforts to secure justice for the poor indigo sharecroppers at champaran

Answer 1

Gandhi went to Champaran on receiving reports of exploitation of the poor sharecropper peasants at the hands of British planters. He began by trying to get the facts. The British landlords as well as the Commissioner of Tirhut were non-cooperative. Lawyers from MuZaffarpur briefed him about the court cases of these peasants.
Gandhi and the lawyers collected depositions by about ten thousand peasants. Notes were made on other evidence. Documents were collected. The whole area throbbed with the activities of the investigators and forceful protests of landlords. The lieutenant governor summoned Gandhi. After four protracted interviews an official commission of inquiry was appointed to look into the indigo sharecroppers’ condition. Gandhi was the sole representative of the peasants. The official inquiry assembled huge quantity of evidence against the big planters. They agreed, in principle, to make refunds to the peasants. After consultation, a settlement of 25 per cent refund to the farmers was agreed on. This was a moral victory of the peasants. They recognised their rights and learned courage. Within a few years the British planters gave up their estates. These now went back to the peasants. They became the masters of land. Thus, indigo sharecropping disappeared.

Answer 2

Gandhi Ji was a man of deep insight, firm determination, and unshakable conviction. When Raj Kumar Shukla approached him to take his help and guidance in fighting against the injustice of the British landlords in Champaran, he took his own time. He took the following steps to solve the problem:

1. He studied the entire situation thoroughly.

2. He collected enough evidence against the British landlords.

3. He rallied the people together.

4. He made a thorough plan to execute it.

5. He presented the proofs against the landlords in the court.

6. He even informed the higher British authorities.

7. He proved to the British authorities and landlords that the latter were wrong.

8. Finally he won and the British landlords had to pay the compensation to the sharecroppers.

This was the first defeat of the British that led to India’s Freedom.