Poets and Pancakes
TEXTBOOK EXERCISE
1. Strike out what is not true
(a) Rajkumar Shukla was —
i) A sharecropper
ii) A politician
iii) A delegate
iv) A landlord
Answer: iv) A landlord
(b) Rajkumar Shukla was —
i) Poor
ii) Physically strong
iii) Illiterate
Answer: ii) Physically strong
2. Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as “resolute”?
Ans: Rajkumar Shukla was determined to make Gandhi help the poor peasants of Champaran. He met Gandhi at the Lucknow Congress session and repeatedly requested him to visit Champaran. Although Gandhi had many engagements, Shukla followed him everywhere and waited patiently until Gandhi agreed. His strong determination shows why he is called “resolute”.
3. Why did the servants think Gandhi was another peasant?
Ans: When Gandhi reached Patna, Rajkumar Shukla took him to the house of Rajendra Prasad. The servants already knew Shukla as a poor farmer who often came to complain about the problems of indigo farmers. Seeing Gandhi with him, they assumed that Gandhi was also another poor peasant like Shukla.
4. List the places Gandhi visited before reaching Champaran.
Ans: After meeting Rajkumar Shukla at Lucknow, Gandhi went to his ashram near Ahmedabad. Later he travelled to Calcutta. From there he took a train to Patna. Then he went to Muzaffarpur and Motihari, and finally reached Champaran.
5. What did peasants pay as rent and what did the British want later?
Ans: The peasants were forced to grow indigo on 15% of their land and give the entire crop to the British landlords as rent. Later, when synthetic indigo was developed in Germany, natural indigo became less profitable. The British landlords then demanded compensation from the peasants for freeing them from this arrangement.
6. How do the events illustrate Gandhi’s method of working?
Ans: Gandhi respected the law but opposed injustice. When he was ordered to leave Champaran, he refused because his conscience told him to help the peasants. His peaceful resistance and dedication to truth reflected his principles of Satyagraha and non-violence.
7. Why did Gandhi agree to a 25% refund?
Ans: The landlords feared that Gandhi might demand a full refund. Gandhi first asked for 50%, but the landlords offered 25%. Gandhi accepted it because the important thing was that the landlords had admitted their wrongdoing and returned part of the money. This reduced their power and prestige.
8. How did the episode change the condition of the peasants?
Ans: The Champaran settlement improved the condition of the peasants. The oppressive system of indigo cultivation ended. The peasants realised that they had rights and gained confidence. Within a few years the British planters left their estates and the land was returned to the peasants.
UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT
1. Why was the Champaran episode a turning point in Gandhi’s life?
Ans: The Champaran movement was the first major success of Gandhi’s method of civil disobedience in India. He fought for the rights of poor peasants who were exploited by British landlords. The movement showed the power of non-violent resistance and inspired people across the country. It also freed the peasants from their fear of the British and marked the beginning of mass participation in the freedom struggle.
2. How did Gandhi influence the lawyers?
Ans: When Gandhi came to Champaran, many lawyers arrived to support him. Gandhi criticised them for charging high fees from poor farmers and asked what they would do if he was jailed. Initially they said they would return home. Gandhi was disappointed and asked who would then help the peasants. Feeling ashamed, the lawyers decided to support Gandhi and were ready to go to jail with him.
3. What was the attitude of average Indians toward “Home Rule”?
Ans: Before Gandhi’s leadership, most ordinary Indians in small towns were indifferent and afraid to support movements like Home Rule. They avoided political involvement because they feared the British authorities. Only a few courageous individuals openly supported such movements.
4. How did ordinary people contribute to the freedom movement?
Ans: The freedom movement became strong because ordinary people participated in it. Gandhi encouraged common people to join the struggle for independence. Men and women across the country took part in protests, boycotts of British goods and movements like Quit India (1942). Their participation weakened British rule and helped India achieve independence..
THINK AS YOU READ
1. What does “the fiery misery” mean?
Ans: The phrase refers to the discomfort actors experienced during make-up because of the heat from the lights in the make-up room.
2. Example of national integration in the text?
Ans: The make-up department of Gemini Studios had people from different regions and religions of India working together, such as Bengalis, Maharashtrians, Kannadigas, Andhras, Christians and Tamils.
3. What work did the office boy do?
Answer:
The office boy applied make-up to the junior actors who appeared in crowd scenes. He mixed paint in a large vessel and quickly applied it on their faces.
4. Why did the author appear to be doing nothing?
Answer:
The author’s job was to collect newspaper clippings and file them for reference. Since he was often seen reading newspapers, people thought he was doing very little work.