NCERT Class 12 English Flamingo: Chapter 12 — Indigo
This chapter, an excerpt from Louis Fischer's "The Life of Mahatma Gandhi," details Gandhi's first visit to Champaran in 1917. It begins with Gandhi's recollection of how he decided to urge the British to leave India. The narrative focuses on Rajkumar Shukla, an illiterate but resolute peasant from Champaran, who sought Gandhi's help to address the injustice of the landlord system. Shukla's persistence in following Gandhi, even to his ashram, impressed the Mahatma. Gandhi agreed to visit Champaran after Shukla met him in Calcutta. The chapter highlights the peasants' plight as sharecroppers under an ancient arrangement and the prevailing social hierarchy, as evidenced by the incident at Rajendra Prasad's house where Gandhi was mistaken for a peasant and denied water from the well. Gandhi's stop in Muzzafarpur to gather more information before reaching Champaran underscores his methodical approach to understanding the situation. This chapter explores themes of social injustice, peasant struggles, and Gandhi's early involvement in India's freedom movement.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 12 |
| Subject | English |
| Book | Flamingo |
| Chapter | Chapter 12 — Indigo |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 4 minutes |
| Word count | 658 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand the historical context of the Champaran peasant struggle.
- Analyze Gandhi's methods and early involvement in India's freedom movement.
- Identify the social and economic injustices faced by sharecroppers.
- Appreciate the significance of persistence and determination as exemplified by Rajkumar Shukla.
- Recognize the role of education and information gathering in social activism.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| urge the departure | To strongly advise or insist that someone leaves. |
| harbour a man like me | To give shelter or refuge to someone, especially in a way that might be risky. |
| conflict of duties | A situation where one's obligations or responsibilities clash with each other. |
| seek a prop | To look for support or assistance. |
| emaciated | Unhealthily thin due to illness or lack of food. |
| resolute | Firmly determined; unwavering. |
| tenacity | The quality of being determined and not giving up easily. |
| yeoman | A free man, especially one of the middle class; historically, a small landowner. |
| pestered | To trouble or annoy someone persistently. |
| imparting | To make information known; communicate. |
The complete chapter text is read in the official NCERT PDF viewer below (streamed from ncert.nic.in). This page provides NCERT Help study material — summary, vocabulary, practice questions, and FAQs — not a full reproduction of the textbook.
Read chapter online
This PDF is loaded from the official NCERT website (ncert.nic.in). Use the page buttons below to read — download is disabled on NCERT Help.
Read page by page below. PDF is streamed from the official NCERT website — no download button on this page.
Practice questions
- Who was Rajkumar Shukla and why did he meet Mahatma Gandhi? Answer: Rajkumar Shukla was a peasant sharecropper from Champaran. He met Gandhi to seek his help against the injustice of the landlord system in Bihar.
- Why did Gandhi decide to go to Muzzafarpur before going to Champaran? Answer: Gandhi decided to go to Muzzafarpur to obtain more complete information about the conditions in Champaran than Shukla could provide.
- What incident at Rajendra Prasad's house reveals the social hierarchy of the time? Answer: The servants at Rajendra Prasad's house did not allow Gandhi to draw water from the well, mistaking him for another peasant and considering him an untouchable.
- What does Shukla's persistence reveal about his character? Answer: Shukla's persistence in following Gandhi everywhere for weeks and waiting for him patiently shows his strong determination and commitment to his cause.
Practice MCQs
Q1. In which year did Gandhi decide to urge the departure of the British from India?
Explanation: Gandhi recounts in the text that he decided to urge the departure of the British in 1917.
Q2. Where was Champaran located?
Explanation: The text states that Champaran was in the foothills of the towering Himalayas, near the kingdom of Nepal.
Q3. What was the occupation of the peasants in Champaran under an ancient arrangement?
Explanation: The chapter mentions that under an ancient arrangement, the Champaran peasants were sharecroppers.
Q4. Who was Professor J.B. Kripalani?
Explanation: Gandhi sent a telegram to Professor J.B. Kripalani, of the Arts College in Muzzafarpur, whom he had seen at Tagore's Shantiniketan school.
Q5. Why was Gandhi not permitted to draw water from the well at Rajendra Prasad's house?
Explanation: Gandhi was not permitted to draw water lest some drops from his bucket pollute the entire source, indicating they thought he might be an untouchable.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the author of the chapter 'Indigo'?
The chapter 'Indigo' is an excerpt from the book 'The Life of Mahatma Gandhi' by Louis Fischer.
What was the main issue that led Gandhi to Champaran?
Gandhi was invited to Champaran by Rajkumar Shukla to address the injustice faced by the sharecroppers under the landlord system.
What does 'sharecropper' mean in the context of the chapter?
A sharecropper is a tenant farmer who pays as rent a share of the crops raised on the land, as distinguished from a tenant who pays a fixed money rent or a labourer who works on the land owned by someone else.
Why was Gandhi's presence considered extraordinary by Professor Malkani?
In those days, it was unusual for a government professor to host someone like Gandhi, who was actively involved in challenging British rule and advocating for the rights of common people.
What does the incident with the well at Rajendra Prasad's house signify?
It signifies the deep-rooted caste discrimination and the concept of untouchability prevalent at the time, where even Gandhi was treated with suspicion based on his perceived social standing.
What qualities of Rajkumar Shukla impressed Gandhi?
Gandhi was impressed by Rajkumar Shukla's unwavering tenacity and the compelling story of the injustice faced by the Champaran peasants.
Related resources
Important topics
Topics covered
NCERT Class 12 English — Flamingo — Chapter 12 — Indigo. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.