Question

Why was the official inquiry commission appointed? What did the findings of the commission reveal? What was its impact on British planters?
सरकारी जाँच आयोग की नियुक्ति क्यों की गई थी? आयोग की जाँच से क्या उजागर हुआ? इसका अंग्रेज जमींदारों पर क्या प्रभाव पड़ा?

Answer 1

Answer:

Sir Edward Gait, the Lieutenant Governor appointed a commission of inquiry to give details about the indigo sharecroppers situation. It consisted of (a) Landlords, (b) Government officials, and (c) Gandhi, as the sole representative of the peasants. The official inquiry collected very crushing proofs against the big planters. They all agreed in principle, to make refunds to the peasants. 'But how much must we pay ?' they asked Gandhi. He asked only 50 per cent. Thinking probably that he would not change his stand, they offered to refund to the extent of 25 per cent. To his surprise Mr. Gandhi took him at his word breaking the deadlock.

He explained to the peasants that the amount of refund was less important. More important was that the landlords had been obliged to surrender part of the money, and with it part of indigo - their prestige. TiII today the big planters behaved like the big planters lords. Now the peasants saw that they had rights and defenders, and courage. Within few years the British planters abandoned their estates. The peasants became the owners of the land.