describe the exploitation of the indigo share-croppers by english landlords in champaran.did gandhiji help them to get honourable settlement?
Most of the land in Champaran was under the possession of greedy and profit driven English landlords. Hence many people were left with no other option than to accept any demand of the masters to get their lands on rent. So did the Indigo sharecroppers. They agreed the settlement of British that gave them a opportunity of cultivating but forced them to reserve 15 percent of their land for indigo planting and give all of the indigo harvest as a rent. This was done on a long term basis and hence the exploited sharecroppers were forced to continue the same profession. Many of the sharecroppers were against this and rebelled but they lacked knowledge and resources for the same. Finally when Germany discovered synthetic indigo, expecting a huge drop in prices of natural indigo, the landlords befooled the innocent sharecroppers by offering them a freedom from the settlement on payment of compensation. Thus, the British landlords neglecting the plight of the poor sharecroppers continued to exploit them financially to quench their thirst of money.
Yes, Ganndhiji played a very important role in getting them a honourable settlement. The sharecroppers lacked the knowledge and confidence to rebel against the wrongs of the British. The landlords considered them lords above the law and the peasants were living a terrified life. they had no leader to guide their actions. They could not do anything illegally as they possessed no power and legal methods needed money. Realising their plight, Gandhiji started helping them to get them out of of this miserable situation by his means of non-violence. He met many officials and discusses the matter with them. He had four meetings with the Lt. Governor of the British government and finally achieved a refund of 15 percent of the money raised as the compensation. The refund seems very little but according to Gandhi it was not money that mattered much. The settlement of Gandhi forced the landlords to give away their money and thus with it a part of the indigo, their prestige. It made clear that the landlords (British) could also be questioned.
Yes, Ganndhiji played a very important role in getting them a honourable settlement. The sharecroppers lacked the knowledge and confidence to rebel against the wrongs of the British. The landlords considered them lords above the law and the peasants were living a terrified life. they had no leader to guide their actions. They could not do anything illegally as they possessed no power and legal methods needed money. Realising their plight, Gandhiji started helping them to get them out of of this miserable situation by his means of non-violence. He met many officials and discusses the matter with them. He had four meetings with the Lt. Governor of the British government and finally achieved a refund of 15 percent of the money raised as the compensation. The refund seems very little but according to Gandhi it was not money that mattered much. The settlement of Gandhi forced the landlords to give away their money and thus with it a part of the indigo, their prestige. It made clear that the landlords (British) could also be questioned.
