Which factors helped the fear-stricken peasants of Champaran to achieve freedom? [CBSE (F) 2010]

Question: Which factors helped the fear-stricken peasants of Champaran to achieve freedom? [CBSE (F) 2010]

Answer: There were several factors in which Gandhiji’s contribution was remarkable. The peasants were sharecroppers with the British planters. According to an old agreement, the peasants had to produce indigo on 15 per cent of the land and give it as rent to the landlords. Around 1917, it was told that Germany had developed synthetic indigo. So the British planters now no longer desired the indigo crop. To release the peasants from the old agreement, they demanded compensation from them. Most of the illiterate peasants agreed to it. However, others refused. Lawyers were engaged to go to the court. At that time, Gandhiji appeared in Champaran. He fought a long battle for the poor peasants for one year and managed to get justice for them. The peasants now became courageous and became aware of their rights. Along with the political and economic struggle, Gandhiji worked on the social level also. He made arrangements for the education, health and hygiene of the families of poor peasants by teaching the lesson of self-reliance. It was one of the ways to forward the struggle for Indian independence. The peasants now had courage. They believed that they had rights that they could defend. Gradually, the British planters left their estates. These estates now came back to the peasants. Indigo sharecropping disappeared for all times to come.

More Question-

1. What ideology does Aunt Jennifer’s poem propound?
2. Greed is the greatest evil force that has tempted man into doing a lot of misdeeds
3. How can we transform and clean an evil-doing person? Give example from the story
4. Have you known/heard of an episode where a good deed or an act of kindness has changed a person’s view of the world?
5. The story ‘The Rattrap’ focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others. Explain
6. The story also focuses on human loneliness and the need to bond with others
7. Why did the crofter repose confidence in the peddler? How did the peddler betray that and with what consequences?
8. How did the peddler betray the confidence reposed in him by the crofter in ‘The Rattrap’?
9. Edla proved to be much more persuasive than her father while dealing with the peddler. Comment.
10. The peddler declined the invitation of the ironmaster but accepted the one from Edla. Why?
11. Describe the peddler’s meeting with the ironmaster. Why did he decline his invitation?
12. Attempt a character sketch of the peddler in the story ‘The Rattrap’
13. The peddler enjoys the sympathy of readers right from the beginning of the story. Draw a character sketch of the peddler justifying the sympathy he generates among the readers.
14. Do you think the title ‘The Rattrap’ is appropriate? Give examples from the text in support of your view
15. Describe the events which led to the change in the peddler’s way of life
16. 'All' we have to fear is fear itself. When did Douglas learn this lesson?
17. What deep meaning did his experience at the YMCA swimming pool have for Douglas?
18. Mention any two long term consequences of the drowning incident on Douglas
19. How did the instructor turn Douglas into a swimmer?
20. What efforts did Douglas make to get over his fear of water?
21. Why did Douglas go to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire? How did he make his terror flee?
22. Which factors led Douglas to decide in favour of the Y.M.C.A. pool?
23. Why did Douglas go to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire?
24. What sort of terror seized Douglas as he went down the water with a yellow glow? How could he feel that he was still alive?
25. When Douglas realised that he was sinking, how did he plan to save himself?