Class 12th English Book Flamino

1. Summary in English

2. Analysis in English

3. Summary in Hindi

4. Analysis in hindi

5. 20 MCQs Questions and Answers

1. 📘 INDIGO – Louis Fischer

Summary (English)

“Indigo” describes Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership during the Champaran movement of 1917, which marked the first successful civil disobedience campaign in India.

The chapter begins with Louis Fischer meeting Gandhi, who narrates the Champaran episode. Poor peasants of Champaran (Bihar) were forced by British landlords to cultivate indigo on 15% of their land and hand it over as rent. When synthetic indigo was invented in Germany, British landlords demanded compensation for releasing peasants from the agreement. Some peasants agreed; others refused. A poor farmer, Rajkumar Shukla, persistently requested Gandhi to visit Champaran.

Gandhi travelled to Champaran, saw the miserable condition of peasants, and decided to help them. The British officials ordered him to leave, but Gandhi refused to comply, saying that he wanted to serve the peasants. He was charged with disobedience. Thousands of peasants came to support him, and the case was dropped.

Gandhi conducted a massive inquiry into the exploitation. After negotiations, the government appointed a committee. Gandhi was the only Indian member. He demanded that the landlords repay 50% of the money they had extorted. They agreed to give 25%. Gandhi accepted it because it was a symbolic victory and boosted the peasants' confidence.

More importantly, Gandhi focused on social uplift: opening schools, improving hygiene, and creating self-reliance among villagers. The Champaran episode made Gandhi a national leader, showing that freedom comes from courage, truth (satyagraha), and non-violence.

2. 📝 Analysis (English)

1. Symbolic Victory

Accepting 25% instead of 50% shows Gandhi’s practical wisdom. Even a small concession broke the British arrogance and empowered the peasants.

2. Birth of Civil Disobedience

Champaran was Gandhi’s first experiment with satyagraha in India. It proved that non-violent resistance could defeat colonial injustice.

3. Humanitarian Leadership

Gandhi did not limit his role to politics. He worked on education, cleanliness, and empowerment. His leadership was service-oriented.

4. Peasant Unity

The success came because thousands of peasants stood with Gandhi. The story highlights that collective strength can defeat oppression.

5. Transformation of Gandhi into a National Leader

Champaran brought Gandhi into national politics and showed the country how truth and non-violence could challenge British power.

3. 🇮🇳 सारांश (Hindi Summary)

“इंडिगो” में लेखक लुई फिशर महात्मा गांधी द्वारा 1917 के चंपारण आंदोलन का वर्णन करते हैं। यह भारत में गांधी का पहला सफल सत्याग्रह था।

बिहार के चंपारण में अंग्रेज़ ज़मींदारों ने किसानों को मजबूर किया कि वे अपनी भूमि के 15% हिस्से पर नील (Indigo) की खेती करें और पूरी फसल उन्हें किराये के रूप में दें। बाद में जब जर्मनी में कृत्रिम नील बन गई, तो अंग्रेज़ों ने किसानों से मुआवज़ा माँगा। कुछ किसान मान गए, कुछ ने विरोध किया।

गरीब किसान राजकुमार शुक्ल गांधी को चंपारण आने के लिए मनाते हैं। गांधी वहाँ जाते हैं, किसानों की दयनीय हालत देखते हैं और उनकी मदद करने का निर्णय लेते हैं। अंग्रेज़ अधिकारियों ने गांधी को चंपारण छोड़ने का आदेश दिया, पर गांधी ने कानून तोड़ा और कहा कि वे किसानों की सेवा के लिए आए हैं। हजारों किसान उनके समर्थन में जुट गए। केस वापस ले लिया गया।

गांधी ने किसानों की समस्याओं की जाँच कराई। एक सरकारी समिति बनी जिसमें गांधी एकमात्र भारतीय सदस्य थे। गांधी ने ज़मींदारों से 50% मुआवज़ा माँगा। अंततः 25% मुआवज़ा तय हुआ जिसे गांधी ने प्रतीकात्मक विजय मानकर स्वीकार किया। इससे किसानों का आत्मविश्वास बढ़ गया।

गांधी ने शिक्षा, स्वास्थ्य और स्वच्छता के लिए भी काम किया। चंपारण आंदोलन ने गांधी को राष्ट्रीय नेता बना दिया और सिद्ध किया कि सत्य, अहिंसा और साहस से अन्याय का अंत किया जा सकता है।

4. 🇮🇳 विश्लेषण (Hindi Analysis)

1. प्रतीकात्मक जीत

50% की जगह 25% स्वीकार करना गांधी की व्यावहारिकता को दर्शाता है। यह छोटा कदम अंग्रेज़ों के घमंड को तोड़ता है और किसानों को शक्ति देता है।

2. भारत में पहला सत्याग्रह

चंपारण गांधी के अहिंसक आंदोलन का पहला प्रयोग था जिसने साबित किया कि बिना हिंसा के भी अन्याय को हराया जा सकता है।

3. मानवतावादी नेतृत्व

गांधी केवल राजनीतिक नेता नहीं थे; वे सामाजिक सुधारक भी थे। उन्होंने शिक्षा, सफाई और आत्मनिर्भरता पर ज़ोर दिया।

4. किसानों की एकता

आंदोलन सफल इसलिए हुआ क्योंकि किसान एकजुट हुए। यह सामूहिक शक्ति का उदाहरण है।

5. गांधी का राष्ट्रीय उदय

चंपारण ने गांधी को भारत का प्रमुख नेता बना दिया और स्वतंत्रता आंदोलन की दिशा तय की।

5. ✅ INDIGO – 20 MCQs with Answers

1. Who is the author of “Indigo”?

a) Khushwant Singh
b) Louis Fischer
c) Pearl S. Buck
d) Anees Jung
Answer: b) Louis Fischer

2. The chapter “Indigo” describes which movement?

a) Swadeshi Movement
b) Non-Cooperation Movement
c) Champaran Movement
d) Quit India Movement
Answer: c) Champaran Movement

3. When did the Champaran episode take place?

a) 1915
b) 1916
c) 1917
d) 1920
Answer: c) 1917

4. Who persuaded Gandhi to visit Champaran?

a) Rajendra Prasad
b) Jawaharlal Nehru
c) Rajkumar Shukla
d) Subhas Chandra Bose
Answer: c) Rajkumar Shukla

5. Why were peasants forced to grow indigo?

a) It was profitable for peasants
b) British wanted it as rent
c) Indian market demanded it
d) Peasants preferred indigo
Answer: b) British wanted it as rent

6. What percentage of land was used for indigo plantation under the system?

a) 10%
b) 15%
c) 20%
d) 25%
Answer: b) 15%

7. Why did British landlords demand compensation later?

a) Indigo was banned
b) Indigo quality decreased
c) Synthetic indigo was invented in Germany
d) Farmers refused to work
Answer: c) Synthetic indigo was invented in Germany

8. Gandhi was ordered to leave Champaran by:

a) The collector
b) The lieutenant governor
c) The police superintendent
d) The peons
Answer: a) The collector

9. What did Gandhi do when asked to leave Champaran?

a) Immediately left
b) Escaped
c) Disobeyed the order
d) Started a hunger strike
Answer: c) Disobeyed the order

10. What was Gandhi charged with?

a) Theft
b) Violence
c) Disobedience of official order
d) False allegations
Answer: c) Disobedience of official order

11. What did Gandhi say in court?

a) He apologized
b) He accepted he broke the law for a moral cause
c) He blamed the officials
d) He requested postponement
Answer: b) He accepted he broke the law for a moral cause

12. What happened to the case against Gandhi?

a) He was jailed
b) It was dismissed
c) The trial continued
d) He was fined heavily
Answer: b) It was dismissed

13. Gandhi was a member of the enquiry committee formed by:

a) Landlords
b) British government
c) Indian leaders
d) Peasants
Answer: b) British government

14. How much repayment did Gandhi initially demand from landlords?

a) 25%
b) 30%
c) 40%
d) 50%
Answer: d) 50%

15. What percentage was finally agreed upon?

a) 10%
b) 20%
c) 25%
d) 50%
Answer: c) 25%

16. Why did Gandhi accept 25% instead of 50%?

a) To end the dispute quickly
b) It was a symbolic victory for peasants
c) British insisted
d) Peasants demanded it
Answer: b) It was a symbolic victory for peasants

17. Who assisted Gandhi in his work in Champaran?

a) Charles Freer Andrews
b) Rabindranath Tagore
c) Bal Gangadhar Tilak
d) Annie Besant
Answer: a) Charles Freer Andrews

18. What social reforms did Gandhi focus on in Champaran?

a) Opening schools
b) Improving health and hygiene
c) Empowering villagers
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above

19. What did Gandhi believe about freedom?

a) It can be achieved only by war
b) It needs foreign help
c) It comes from courage and truth
d) It has no connection to morality
Answer: c) It comes from courage and truth