Indigo Class 12 English Flamingo

Key Points of the Story 

• Indigo summary is going to assist students in learning about the chapter in a summarized version. 
• Indigo is about how Mahatma Gandhi struggled for the underprivileged peasants of Champaran. 
• They were the sharecroppers with the British planters. 
• The peasants use to live a wretched life and were under an agreement to grow Indigo. 
• As Bihar has the landlord system back then, it worsened their condition. 
• Thus, Gandhi decided to fight against injustice. 
• He waged a war which lasted for a year to tackle the discrimination and got justice for the peasants. 
• After that, it helped the peasants become courageous and aware of their fundamental rights. 
• Moreover, Gandhiji did not just work to tackle political or economic issues, but he also took up social issues. 
• He worked to provide them with education, health, hygiene and taught them self-confidence.

Detailed Summary 

In 1916, this narrative unfolds with Mahatma Gandhi stepping forward to assist a group of impoverished farmers in Champaran. It details his arduous journey to secure justice and equality for them. The backdrop is the vast expanse of arable land in Champaran, divided into expansive estates owned by Englishmen, with Indian tenants working the land. Indigo is the principal cash crop, and the landlords require all tenants to cultivate and submit 15% of their indigo harvest as rent, under long-term agreements.
However, a significant development in Germany involving synthetic indigo renders the indigo crop unnecessary for the British. To release the impoverished peasants from their 15% obligation, they begin demanding compensation. While some illiterate peasants agree to this, others resist. A pivotal figure, Raj Kumar Shukla, arranges a meeting with Gandhi to convey their grievances.
During their meeting, Shukla implores Gandhi to visit Champaran and put an end to the long-standing injustice. Gandhi consents and embarks on a train journey to Patna, Bihar. Shukla facilitates Gandhi's visit to the home of Rajendra Prasad, a lawyer. Gandhi, dressed in humble attire, is initially mistaken for a destitute farmer by the servants. However, he devises a plan before seeking justice for the peasants, mindful of the British government's punitive actions against those harboring national leaders or activists.
News of Gandhi's arrival and mission rapidly spreads throughout the town, drawing numerous lawyers and peasant groups in support of his cause. The lawyers acknowledge the exorbitant and unjust charges imposed on the sharecroppers. Gandhi criticizes them for collecting excessive fees from the sharecroppers and emphasizes the importance of counseling to instill confidence in the peasants and help them overcome their fears.
After a year-long struggle on behalf of the peasants, Gandhi succeeds in securing justice. He also arranges for the education, healthcare, and sanitation of the impoverished peasants' families. Ultimately, he imparts lessons of self-sufficiency and self-confidence to the community.

Conclusion 

To sum up, Indigo summary, we learn how Gandhiji did not merely help in freeing India, but was always working for the betterment of his countrymen from the very start.

Difficult Words

• Convention - agreement
• Delegates - Representatives
• Peasant - small farmer
• Emaciated - thin
• Champaran - A place in Bihar
• Resolute - determined
• Committed - dedicated
• prop - support
• Haunches - thighs
• Boarded - get on, enter
• Pestered - bother, harass
• Permitted - allowed
• Imparting - pass on, giving
• Extraordinary - exceptional, remarkable
• Harbour - here, entertain
• Sympathy - support, pity
• Advocate - supporter, protector
• Advent - arrival
• Conveyance - transportation
• Chided - criticize, scold
• Conclusion - result, end of something
• Fear stricken - afraid
• Arable - land suitable for farming
• Tenants - occupants paying rent in cash or kind
• Estate - property
• Compelled - forced
• Surrendered - to give in
• Contract - agreement
• Indigo - plant that produces a blue color
• Learned - come to know
• Synthetic - Chemical based, artificial
• Compensation - payments
• Arrangement - Process
• Irksome - irritating
• Resisted - opposed, to be against something
• Thugs - cheats
• Illiterate - uneducated
• Proceeded - begin a course of action
• Bully - trying to harm others considering them to be weak
• Forthwith - immediately, at once
• Accompanied - go along with someone
• Multitude - a large number of people
• Investigations - inquiries
• Maltreated - ill treat
• Superintendent - Manager, supervisor
• Overtook - went ahead of him
• Complied - followed or obeyed
• Consequence - result
• Influential - powerful
• Wired - Telegraphed
• Merely - only
• Authorities - officials, power
• Spontaneous - voluntary, unforced
• Demonstrations - protest
• Courthouse - court building
• Liberation - release
• Concrete - solid
• Hitherto - Earlier, Previously
• Dreaded - regarded with great fear or apprehension
• Unquestioned - not examined or inquired into
• Baffled - confused
• Self Reliance - self sufficiency, self support
• Postpone - delay
• Apparently - seemingly, evidently
• Guilty - at fault
• Conflict - to be against someone
• Humanitarian - Concerned with human welfare
• Conscience - sense of right and wrong
• Magistrate - civil officer who administers law
• Pronounce - declare or announce
• recess - break
• Reconvened - to start again after a small break
• Liberty - free
• Vehemently - in an intense manner
• Conferred - granted
• Injustice - unfairness
• Withdrew - left
• Upshot - result, conclusion
• Consultations - discussion
• Desertion - action of leaving a place, organization etc
• Lieutenant - Governor: deputy governor
• Province - region, territory
• Civil Disobedience - peaceful form of political protest
• Triumphed - won
• Grievances - complaints
• Depositions - a formal written statement
• Evidence - proof
• Pacifist - Peace maker
• Investigators - the inspectors
• Vehement - showing strong feeling; forceful,passionate, or intense.
• Leading - prominent, popular
• Associates - supporters
• Protracted - lasting for a long time or longer than expected or usual.
• Abstractions - something which exists only as an idea
• Initial - at the start
• Uninterrupted - continuous
• Entreaty - an earnest or humble request
• Assembled - gathered
• Deceitfully - dishonestly
• Extorted - took forcibly
• Adamant - firm
• Amazement - surprise
• Obliged - required, made legally bound to do something
• Deadlock - a situation in which no progress can be made
• Unanimously - without opposition
• Prestige - honour, esteem
• Defenders - protector
• Justified - marked by a good or legitimate reason
• Intertwined - knitted
• Alleviate - uplift
• Reverted - returned
• Contented - willing to accept something, satisfied
• Residents - locals
• Volunteer - a person who offers his service free of cost