Going Places, Summary, Theme, Glossary, Questions & Answers

CHAPTER: 8

Going Places                                                                                  A.R. Baron

SUMMARY The story explores the theme of adolescent fantasizing and hero worship. The protagonist of the story Sophie is always lost in fantasies far removed from the world of reality. She thinks of opening a boutique, becoming a fashion designer or an actress which is almost impossible for her. Her friend Jansie is quite a practical girl and feels sorry for Sophie. She tries to make her understand but it is all in vain. Sophie is quite close to her brother Geoff and confides her secrets in him. She tells him that she met Danny Casey at Royce’s window and she could not get an autograph because neither of them had any paper or pen. Geoff discloses this matter to their father which makes Sophie upset. Father knows her habit well and doesn’t believe her stories. He advises her to keep away from such fantasizings. When Jansie comes to know about it, she asks Sophie. Though Sophie dislikes sharing it with Jansie because she is a kind of newspaper, she tells her. She feels very much angry with Geoff that he let out the secret. After bidding bye to Jansie, Sophie moves away to the other side of a canal and sitting on a bench wait for Casey. After waiting for a long while she starts balancing the idea of his arrival with his not-arrival. It becomes difficult for her to accept that he will not come.

Theme

The story talks about adolescent fantasizing and hero worship through its main character Sophie who was always lost in unrealistic dreams of having a lot of money and meeting Danny Casey.

Setting

The locale of the story has not been mentioned. The action specifically takes place in the small town where Sophie and his family lives.

Characters

Sophie -                      She is the protagonist of the story. She is a school-going girl and is always lost in the dreams of Danny Casey and having high fortunes in life.

Jansie -                       She is Sophie’s schoolmate and friend. Unlike Sophie she is a practical girl and always connected to reality.

Geoff -                He is Sophie’s elder brother. He is three years out of school, an apprentice mechanic. He is a laconic person, Sophie shares her secrets with him.

Derek -                       He is Sophie’s younger brother. He is also a great fan of Danny Casey.

Sophie’s Father -       He is a plump-faced practical man. He is a man of simple means and a football fan.

Danny Casey -           He is a famous Irish footballer who plays for United.

Main Points

1.         After leaving school, Sophie dreams of opening a boutique.

2.         She wishes to be a manager; to be like Mary Quant; to be an actress.

3.         Jansie knows that they both are earmarked for the biscuit factory so shewishes her to be more sensible.

4.         Sophie’s elder brother Geoff is an apprentice mechanic. He is three years out of school.

5.         He speaks very less and Sophie feels quite jealous of his silence.

6.         Sophie also wishes to go to such places where Geoff goes.

7.         She wants herself to be admitted more deeply into Geoff’s affections.

8.         She feels that one day Geoff will take her along with him to the city and the world will greet them.

9.       She tells Geoff that she met Danny Casey in the arcade while she was looking at Royce’s window.

10.     She tells him that he has green and gentle eyes and he is not very tall. She asks for an autograph for little Derek but neither of them had any paper or pen.

11.       At home, Geoff breaks this news to their father who disapproves of it.

12.       She tells them that Casey is going to buy a shop but Dad doesn’t believe her.

13.       Sophie tells Geoff that not tell anything about Casey to Dad.

14.       Geoff makes fun of her and says that there is nothing to tell.

15.       On Saturday, they went to see the match. United won two nil and Casey drove in the second goal.

16.       All were happy. Father went to pub to celebrate.

17.     Later when Jansie met Sophie she asked about Sophie’s meeting with Casey. This annoyed Sophie.

18.       She told Jansie about the meeting and autograph and also told her that her dad shouldn’t know about that.

20.       After that both of them part and Sophie crossing the canal waits for Casey under the solitary elm tree.

21.       After some time she starts balancing the idea of his arrival with his not arrival. But resignation is no sudden thing.

22.       While returning home, she again pictures the whole thing.

23.       Next Saturday, they again go and watch the United’s match.

GLOSSARY

Earmarked                               -           Set aside, Reserved

Melancholy                             -           Sadness, Unhappiness

Scoop                                      -           Taking up, Gulping

Crooked                                  -           Twisted, Curved

Cluttered                                 -           Untidy, Littered

Tinkering                                 -           Mending, Repairing

Prize out                                  -           Pull out, Force out

Exotic                                      -           Unusual, Striking

Cradle                                     -           Hold, Support

Arcade                                                -           A roofed passage, Gallary

Chastened                               -           Insulted, Sorry

Wriggle                                   -           Wiggle, Turn or twist the body

Grimace                                   -           Frown, Scowl

Prodigy                                   -           Genius, Extraordinarily skilled person

Blend                                      -           Mixture, Amalgamation

Inquisition                               -           Inquiry, Investigation

Nosey                                      -           Prying, Curious

Gawky                                                -           Clumsy, Ungainly

Chuffed                                  -           Pleased, Delighted

Envisage                                  -           Envision, Imagine

Freckled                                  -           Spotted, Dotted

Surrender                                -           Acceptance, Submission

Gazelle                                    -           Antelope

Shimmer                                  -           Twinkle, Gleam

Lumbering                               -           Heavy, Ponderous

Melodious                               -           Sweet, Mellifluous

Exultant                                  -           Joy, Jubilance

Approbation                            -           Approval, Support

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1.         Sophie and Jansie were class-mates and friends. What were the differences between them that show up in the story?

Ans:    Sophie was a dreamer and lived far removed from the world of reality. She dreamt of opening a boutique; becoming an actress and meeting Danny Casey. On the other hand Jansie was a realist. She knew that such dreaming is of no use as it would result only in pain. She had accepted the fact of their poverty.

2.         How would you describe the character and temperament of Sophie’s father?

Ans:    Sophie’s father was a realist and a practical person. His comments about Danny Casey      and Sophie prove it. He despised Sophie’s indulging in wild fantasies. He appears to be a foodie and a fat man. He didn’t have any high aspirations. He loved football.

3.     Why did Sophie like her brother Geoff more than any other person? From her   perspective, what did he symbolize?

Ans:    Sophie liked her brother Geoff more than any other person because he always lent an ear   to all her nonsense and never criticized her for indulging in wild fantasies though he never believed her.

From her perspective he symbolized hope and mystery. She always thought that he would take her to the city one day as she always wanted to know where he went and whom he met.

4.        What socio-economic background did Sophie belong to? What are the indicators of    her family’s financial status?

Ans:    Sophie belonged to a poor middle class family. She had a small house without any servants. Her brother had to leave his studies. Her father used bicycle for conveyance. All these things including Sophie’s unrealistic dreams of becoming rich and famous point well to her poor financial status.

5.         What were Sophie’s dreams about her future?

Ans:    After quitting school, Sophie wanted to open a boutique. When Jansie asked about the money to open a boutique, she said that she would become a manager for a while. She wanted to be a fashion designer or an actress, something a bit sophisticated.

6.         “This another of your wild stories?” Who said this to whom? Why?

Ans:    Sophie’s father said this to Sophie because he knew her habit well that she was always lost in wild fantasizing and there was never a grain of truth in those stories. He might have felt that her story about Danny Casey would not be an exception.

7.          Why does Sophie not want her father to know about her meeting with Danny Casey?

Ans:   Sophie doesn’t want her father to know about her meeting with Danny Casey because he would be very angry and would scold or beat her. He would also quarrel which made her mother quite upset.

8.          How does Sophie include her brother Geoff in her fantasy of her future?

Ans:   Sophie thinks of sharing all her secrets with Geoff and him approving them all without expressing any contempt. She also imagines riding to the city on his bike and the world     rising to greet them.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1.         It is natural for teenagers to have unrealistic dreams. What would you say are the benefits and disadvantages of such fantasizing?

Ans:    Such fantasizing has some very good aspects. They act as a driving force and keep one motivated even in adverse situations. They are a way out of all the problems and sorrows. They give one aims and ambitions so that one can keep on moving out of the drudgery of life. But on the other hand there are negatives too. Unrealistic dreams can cordon one off from reality leading one into a load of troubles. It may make one unable to accept the realityand dump down into the pits of depression. Such dreams enfeeble one draining all the energy to act and leaving one all passive.

2.         Sophie’s dreams and disappointments are all in her dreams. Discuss in detail.

Ans:    Sophie was a dreamer who always in wild fantasies and cooked up stories. The story of Danny Casey was also a cock and bull story which she had made just to grab the attention of her brother. But slowly she got so much engrossed in her dream that she started living it. She dreamt of her meeting with Danny Casey and reveled in that. Though she knew that he was not going to come yet she didn’t want to come out of the sweet pain which the dreaming offered to her. She had got into dreaming so much so that she wanted others to believe her stories. Her dreams made her happy and they disappointed her as well.

PREVIOUS YEARS' QUESTIONS

(2018)    In one’s approach to life one should be practical and not live in a world of dreams. How is Jansie’s attitude different from that of Sophie?                                                         [6 Marks]

(2017)    What was Sophie’s ambition in life? How did she hope to achieve that?                 [3 Marks]

(2016)    Every teenager has a hero/ heroine to admire. So many times they become role models for them. What is wrong if Sophie fantasises about Daney Casey and is ambitious in life?

(2015)  Sophie lives in a world full of dreams which she does not know she cannot realise. Comment.                                                                                                                   [6 Marks]

              How different is Jansie from Sophie ?                                                                       [6 Marks]

              It is not unusual for a lower middle class girl to dream big. How unrealistic were Sophie's dream's?                                                                                                                      [6 Marks]

(2014)    Why did Sophie long for her brother's affection?                                                     [2 Marks]

(2013)    Why was Sophie jealous of Geoff's silence?                                                             [2 Marks]

(2012)    Attempt a character sketch of Sophie as a woman who lives in her dreams.

                                                                                                                                                [10 Marks]

(2011)    Why didn't Sophie want Jansie to know about her story with Danny?                     [2 Marks]

(2010)    Why did Sophie like her brother Geoff more than and other person?                       [2 Marks]

(2009)    Jansie is just as old as Sophie but she is very different from her. Bring out the contrast between the two friends cities relevant instances from the story, 'Going Places'.                                                                                                                                                         [10 Marks]

Adlestrop by Edward Thomas English Version

Indigo, Theme, Summary, Characters, Questions & Answers

CHAPTER: 5

Indigo                                                                                          Louise Fischer

SUMMARY This chapter is an excerpt from the book “The Life of Mahatma” written by Louise Fischer. It involves three issues such as- self reliance, help to sharecroppers and Indian independence. It begins with the problem of sharecropping in Champaran. A peasant named Rajkumar Shukla goes to Mahatma Gandhi and requests him to visit Champaran and solve the problem of the sharecroppers. Gandhi ji goes to Champaran with him and first he visits Dr. Rajendra Prasad’s house. But he is not treated well by his servants and even not allowed to draw water from the well. Prof. G. B. Kriplani of Arts College and Prof. Malkani help him. Gandhi ji chides the lawyers who represent peasants’ cases in the law courts, for collecting big fee from the peasants. He meets the secretary of British Landlords’ association and the British official commissioner of Tirhut Division. He is asked to quit Tirhut but he disobeys. He is summoned to court but with the support of the villagers he comes out of the court without being punished and the case against him is dropped which proves to be the first victory of Civil Disobedience in Modern India. Later he meets Sir Edward Gait, the Lt. Governor of the province. The meeting results in setting up of an enquiry commission which brings out evidences against the big planters. The landlords agree to pay the refund thus indigo sharecropping disappears and lands are reverted to the peasants. Gandhi ji worries about the social and cultural backwardness of Champaran villages. He appeals to his disciples. Several people volunteers. His son Devdas and Kasturba Gandhi also come to volunteer. They open primary schools in six villages. Gandhi ji seeks the help of a doctor also. Moreover, when the lawyers thinks of taking Charles Freer Andrews to their side, Gandhi ji chides them and asks them to be rely on themselves. Thus he teaches them self reliance as well.  Thus self-reliance, Indian independence and help of sharecroppers were all bound together.

Theme

This story revolves around the issues of help to sharecroppers, Indian independence and self-reliance. Gandhi ji visited Champaran at the entreaty of a peasant named Rajkumar Shukla to remove sharecropping system from Champaran. In his attempt to do this Gandhi ji taught them self reliance as well. Moreover, he also had the first victory of Civil Disobedience Movement in this process.

Setting

Champaran is the locale where most of the action takes place. Apart from this, some other parts of Bihar also find a mention in it.

Characters

1.    Rajkumar Shukla -   He is a peasant in Champaran and is troubled by the sharecropping                                                        system. He was illiterate but resolute. He never left Gandhi ji’s side until                                                he agreed to visit Champaran.

2.    Gandhi ji -                 He visited Champaran on the request of Rajkumar Shukla. He spent                                                      almost a year of his life there. During his stay there, he removed the                                                     problems of sharecropping, contributed in the Indian Independence                                                         struggle and also taught them self-reliance.

3.    Edward Gait -           He was Lt. Governor of the province. He ordered to drop the case against                                              Gandhi ji. Later as a result of his meetings with Gandhi ji, an enquiry                                                     commission was set up to find out the problems.

4.  Rajendra Prasad-       He was a lawyer who later became the President of Indian National                                                       Congress and also of India.

5.  C. F. Andrews -          He was an English pacifist and devoted follower of Gandhiji. He was                                                    ready to stay at Champaran and help Gandhi ji but Gandhiji opposed it.

Main Points

1.      Ganhi ji went to attend December 1916 Annual Convention of Indian National Congress in Lucknow.

2.         During the proceedings, a peasant from Champaran, named Rajkumar Shukla met him.

3.         Under an ancient arrangement, Champaran peasants were sharecroppers.

4.         Rajkumar Shukla was one of them. He was illiterate but resolute.

5.         He didn’t leave Gandhiji until he agreed to visit Champaran.

6.        Gandhi ji was to be in Calcutta on a certain date. Shukla received him from there and then they boarded the train to Patna.

7.         Shukla first took Gandhi ji to the house of  a lawyer named Rajendra Prasad who later became the President of Indian Natinal Congress and India.

8.        Rajendra Prasad was out of town and his servant didn’t allow Gandhi ji to draw water from the well thinking him to be an untouchable.

9.        Gandhi ji first decided to go to Muzzafarpur. He was received by Prof. J. B. Kriplani of Arts College, at the railway station.

10.       Gandhi ji stayed at the house of Prof. Malkani for two days.

11.    It was an extraordinary thing for Prof. Malkani to harbor Gandhi ji because in smaller   localities people were afraid to show sympathy for the advocates of home rule.

12.       As soon as Gandhi ji reached Champaran, people went to see him.

13.       The lawyers told Gandhi ji that they represented peasant groups in the court and also reported the size of their fee.

14.       Gandhi ji chided the lawyers for collecting such a big fee and told them its no use taking their cases to the law courts.

15.       The chief commercial crop in Champaran was Indigo. The landlords compelled all tenants to plant three twentieths or 15 percent of their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent.

16.      Meanwhile Germany developed synthetic Indigo. The landlords asked the peasants to pay   them compensation for being released from the 15% agreement.

17.       Later when the peasants came to know about the synthetic Indigo, they wanted their money back.

18.       Gandhi ji reached Champaran at this stage.

19.      Gandhi ji first went to the Secretary of the British Landlord’s association and then to the British Official Commissioner of Tirhut Division. None of them helped Gandhi ji instead he was asked to leave Tirhut.

20.       But Gandhi ji, instead of leaving Tirhut, went to Motihari.

21.      There again he got an official notice to quit Champaran. Gandhi ji signed a receipt for the order but he wrote on the back that he would disobey the order.

22.       In consequence, he got summons to appear in the court.

23.     Gandhi ji informed all about it and the next morning all the people gathered in the court premises.

24.       The officials felt powerless without Gandhi ji’s cooperation.

25.      Gandhi ji helped them to regulate the crowd but he had given them proof that their might   could be questioned.

26.       Gandhi ji told the court that he was caught in a conflict of duties. On the one hand, he didn’t want to set a bad example as a law breaker and on the other hand, he wanted to do national and humanitarian service.

27.       When the court was reconvened, the judge said the he would deliver the judgement several days later and meanwhile he allowed Gandhi ji to be at liberty.

28.       Later the Lt. Governor ordered the case to be dropped against him and it proved to be the first victory of Civil Disobedience in Modern India.

29.       In June Gandhi ji was summoned by Sir Edward Gait. They had four protracted meetings as a result of which an enquiry commission was set up.

32.       The enquiry brought crushing mountain of evidences against the big planters.

33.       Gandhi ji asked 50% refund but the planters wanted to pay only 25%.

34.       Gandhi ji agreed even to that. He said the amount of refund was less important than the fact that the landlords had been obliged to surrender part of the money and with it part of their prestige.

35.       Gandhi ji was also concerned about the social and economical backwardness of Champaran villages.

36.        He appealed to the people to volunteer their services.

37.       Primary schools were opened in six villages. Kasturbai taught the ashram rules on personal   cleanliness and community sanitation.

38.       Health conditions were also miserable. Three medicines were available- castor oil, quinine    and sulphur ointment.

39.       Gandhi ji’s politics was intertwined with the practical day to day problems of the millions. His was not a loyalty to abstractions; his was the loyalty to living human beings.

40.    Gandhi ji’s lawyer friends wanted Charles Freer Andrews who was Gandhi ji’s devoted follower to stay in Champaran and help them but Gandhi ji was vehemently opposed. He told them to rely on themselves instead of seeking a prop in Mr. Andrews.

GLOSSARY

Urged                          -           Pressed, Prompted

Departure                    -           Exit, Withdrawal

Convention                 -           Meeting, Assembly

Delegates                    -           Representatives, Deputes

Emaciated                   -           Thin, Skinny

Resolute                      -           Determined, Firm

Tenacity                      -           Stubbornness, Obduracy

Yeoman                       -           Attendant, Farmer

Impart                         -           Give, Render

Harbour                       -           Shelter, Shield

Brief                            -           Inform, Report

Arable                         -           Cultivable, Productive

Bully                           -           Threaten, Intimidate

Maltreated                   -           Illtreated, Abuse

Complied                    -           Obeyed, Agreed

Summons                    -           Order to appear in the court of law

Spontaneous                -           Natural, Instinctive    

Liberation                    -           Freedom, Emancipation

Hitherto                       -           So far, Till now

Baffled                                    -           Confused, Puzzled

Apparently                  -           Clearly, Evidently

Confer                         -           Discuss, Consult

Sentenced                   -           Penalized, Condemned

Disregarded                -           Ignored, Overlooked

Upshot                                    -           Result, Outcome

Adjoining                    -           Nearby, Neighbouring

Desertion                     -           Abandonment, Withdrawal

Far-flung                     -           Remote, Distant

Deposition                   -           Evidence, Testimony

Protracted                   -           Long, Extended

Entreaty                      -           Request, Appeal

Deadlock                     -           Stalemate, Impasse

Contented                   -           Satisfied, Happy

Disciple                       -           Pupil, Student

Trench                         -           Ditch, Pit

Pacifist                                    -           Peace lover, Disarmer

Vehemently                 -           Strongly, Fiercely

Prop                             -           Support, Help

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1.         What was the sharecropping system in Champaran?

Ans:    The chief commercial crop in Champaran was indigo. The landlords compelled all tenants to plant three twentieths or 15 percent of their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent.

2.         What was the conflict of duties Gandhi ji found himself caught in?

Ans:    On the one hand he did not want to set a bad example as a law breaker and on the other   hand he wanted to render national and humanitarian service for which he had come. But he couldn’t do one without violating the other. This was the conflict, Gandhi ji found himself caught in.

3.         Which incidence points to the first victory of civil disobedience?

Ans:    When Mahatma Gandhi disobeyed the order to leave Tirhut, he was summoned to court. But when the people came to know about this, they gathered around the court in thousands. The judge allowed Gandhi Ji to remain at liberty and even the case against him was dropped. This was the first victory of civil disobedience.

4.         How did Gandhi Ji’s meeting with Sir Edward Gait help?

Ans:    After Gandhi Ji’s meeting with Sir Edward Gait, he appointed an official commission of enquiry into the grievances of sharecroppers’ situation. The enquiry brought out a lot of evidences against the big planters and they agreed to make refund.
  

5.         Why did Gandhi Ji accept twenty five percent refund?

Ans:    According to Gandhi Ji, the amount of the refund was less important than the fact that   the landlords had been obliged to surrender part of the money and with that part of their prestige. He wanted to give the peasants courage and to teach them that they also have rights and defenders.

6.         How was the health condition in Champaran?

Ans:    The health condition in Champaran was very poor. Only three medicines were available. If anybody showed a coated tongue, he would be given a dose of castor oil; anybody with malaria fever received quinine plus castor oil; and anybody with skin eruptions received sulfur ointment plus castor oil.

7.         What was typical Gandhi pattern?

Ans:    Gandhi Ji’s politics was intertwined with the practical day-to-day problems of the millions. His was not a loyalty to abstractions but to living human beings. This was typical Gandhi pattern.

8.         Why, according to Gandhi ji, was it extraordinary for Prof. Malkani to harbour Gandhi Ji?

Ans:    In smaller localities people were afraid to show sympathy to the advocates of home-rule and in case of Prof. Malkani, it was more risky as he was a govt. servant and he could lose his job. That’s why it was extraordinary for Prof. Malkani to harbour Gandhi Ji.

9.         How was Gandhi ji able to influence the lawyers?

Ans:    Though Gandhi Ji was a stranger at Champaran yet he was ready to go to prison for their sake. He spent one whole year of his life just at the entreaty of a peasant. Seeing his dedication and sacrifice, the lawyers also were influenced.

Very Important Questions

Q1. Gandhi said, “The real relief for them is to be free from fear.” In what context did he say this, and how did it reflect his approach to the Champaran struggle?

Answer: Gandhi observed that the peasants’ greatest suffering was not rent or money but fear of the British planters.They never came together against the British. By insisting that freedom from fear was the real relief, he meant moral courage over legal battles, showing his belief in empowering peasants psychologically to defeat the British.

Q2. Gandhi said, “The battle of Champaran is won.” Why did he declare victory even before any formal concession from the British planters?

Answer: Gandhi realized that once the peasants had shed fear and joined him openly in defiance of unjust authority, the psychological victory was complete. For him, courage and unity were greater triumphs than legal or financial settlements.

Q3. Gandhi said, “What I did was a very ordinary thing.” In what way was it “ordinary,” and why did it have extraordinary consequences?

Answer: Gandhi called his work “ordinary” because he simply listened, investigated, and stood by the peasants. Yet, it had extraordinary consequences because it challenged colonial injustice and awakened the masses to self-reliance, boosting their morale and  giving them confidence to fight against the British.  His humility contrasted with the transformative impact of his actions.

Q4. The author notes, “Civil disobedience had triumphed, the first time in modern India.” What does this mean in the context of Champaran?

Answer: For the first time, Indians had successfully resisted unjust British authority through non-violent civil disobedience. Gandhi’s refusal to leave and the peasants’ mass support forced the administration to retreat. This triumph in Champaran became a rehearsal for India’s larger freedom struggle.

Q5. Fischer writes, “Champaran did not begin as an act of defiance. It grew out of an attempt to alleviate distress of a large number of peasants.” How does this distinction matter?

Answer: Gandhi’s entry into Champaran was humanitarian, not political. By focusing on alleviating suffering rather than confronting power, he gained trust and moral ground. This distinction shows how Gandhi’s social service naturally evolved into political resistance without losing ethical legitimacy.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1.         Both William Douglas in Deep Water and Mahatma Gandhi in Indigo highlight the crippling effect of fear on human life. Referring closely to the texts, discuss how the two authors portray fear and the ways in which it is overcome. What larger lessons about courage and freedom do these narratives offer?

Answer: In Deep Water, William Douglas recounts his childhood terror of water after a near-drowning                 experience. The fear haunted him for years, restricting his freedom and joy. However, through                     persistent effort, training, and determination, he eventually conquered it. His triumph demonstrates             that fear can be dissolved by courage, patience, and willpower.

            Similarly, in Indigo, Louis Fischer presents Gandhi’s struggle in Champaran, where peasants lived             under constant fear of British landlords. Gandhi recognized that “the real relief for them is to be                free from fear.” By teaching peasants to resist injustice non-violently, he replaced their fear with                confidence and dignity. Their psychological liberation was as important as their economic relief.

            Both texts highlight fear as a barrier to freedom—personal or political. Douglas shows how                        individuals must face fear to live fully, while Gandhi demonstrates that entire community must                    overcome fear to achieve justice. Together, they affirm that fearlessness is the foundation of true                freedom.

2.         Both Indigo by Louis Fischer and Lost Spring by Anees Jung highlight the importance of social                and educational reform as a means to liberate the underprivileged from cycles of exploitation and             poverty. Discuss with reference to the texts.

Ans:      Both Indigo by Louis Fischer and Lost Spring by Anees Jung stress the need for social and                         educational reform to uplift the marginalized sections of society. In Indigo, Gandhi not only fought             against the economic exploitation of Champaran peasants but also realized that their real freedom              lay in social progress. He opened schools, promoted cleanliness and health awareness, and                       encouraged villagers to shed fear and ignorance. His vision of reform extended beyond political                independence to moral and educational empowerment of the people.

            Similarly, in Lost Spring, Anees Jung portrays the plight of children like Saheb and Mukesh who             are trapped in child labour due to poverty and lack of education. While Saheb is denied schooling            and forced into rag-picking, Mukesh aspires to be a motor mechanic, showing that education and skill         development are essential for breaking this cycle of deprivation.

        Thus, both texts reveal that true freedom and dignity for the poor cannot be achieved without social           change and educational opportunities. Reform in these areas is the foundation for justice, equality, and         a better future.

    

3.       “Self-reliance, Indian independence and help to sharecroppers were all bound            together.” Explain.

Ans:    Gandhi Ji’s visit to Champaran was intended to solve the problem of sharecroppers.He went to Champaran at the request of a peasant named Rajkumar Shukla, fought against the injustice to the sharecroppers as a result the sharecropping disappeared and the lands were reverted to the peasants. All this contributed to Indian independence as well as due to his defiance for government order, he was summoned to court but with the support ofall the peasants, the case against him was dropped and the civil disobedience won for the first time in modern India. Finally when Gandhi Ji’s lawyer friends wanted Charles Freer Andrews to be on their side, Gandhi Ji opposed and asked them to rely on themselves. Thus he taught them self-reliance.

4.         “Freedom from fear is more important than legal justice for the poor.” Explain with reference to the story “Indigo.”

Ans:    Freedom from fear is more important than legal justice for the poor as until one is free from fear one cannot use law for one’s benefit. On the contrary, the enemies can use one’s fear to serve their interests. The weak are always bullied and their possessions are captured by the enemies. In Indigo, the peasants were very much afraid of the British who bullied them, beat them and captured their lands, and the peasants could not do             anything. They never had the courage to rebel and protest. It was only because of the courage which Gandhi Ji’s presence passed on to them, the peasants came out in thousands and protested against the British.

PREVIOUS YEARS' QUESTIONS

(2018)    Though the sharecroppers of Champaran received only one-fourth of the compensation, how can the Champaran struggle still be termed a huge success and victory?                  [3 Marks]

(2015)    How did the visit to Champaran become a turning point in Gandhi ji’s life? How does this show Gandhi ji’s love and concern for the people of India?                                      [6 Marks]

(2015)    How did RajkumarShukla establish that he was resolute?                                        [3 Marks]

              How was Gandhi treated at Rajendra Prasad's house?                                               [3 Marks]

         What were the terms of the indigo contract between the British landlords and the Indian peasants?                                                                                                                    [3 Marks]

(2014)    Why is the Champaran episode considered to be the beginning of the Indian struggle for Independence?                                                                                                            [5 Marks]

              Gandhiji's was not a loyal to abstractions; it was a loyalty to living, human beings. Why did Gandhiji continue his stay in Champaran even after indigo sharecropping disappeared?                                                                                                                                              [5 Marks]

(2013)    Why did Gandhiji agree to a settlement of 25 percent refund to the farmers? How did it influence, the peasant-landlord relationship in Champaran ?                                  [10 Marks]

(2011)    Why do you think Gandhiji considered the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life?                                                                                                                          [10 Marks]

Adlestrop by Edward Thomas Hindi Version