Question Bank — Indigo

NCERT Class 12 English · Chapter 11 · CBSE Board Pattern

Class 12 English Chapter 11 Question Bank CBSE Board Pattern

Section A — MCQs (10 questions, 1 mark each)

  1. Rajkumar Shukla was
    (a) a sharecropper
    (b) a politician
    (c) a delegate
    (d) a landlord

  2. Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as “resolute”?
    (a) He was literate and wealthy
    (b) He followed Gandhi persistently until Gandhi agreed to visit Champaran
    (c) He was a lawyer from Patna
    (d) He owned large indigo estates

  3. The servants at Rajendra Prasad’s house allowed Gandhi to stay because
    (a) they recognised him as a leader
    (b) they mistook him for another peasant accompanying Shukla
    (c) Gandhi showed them a letter of introduction
    (d) Rajendra Prasad had instructed them

  4. Assertion (A): Gandhi refused to leave Champaran when ordered by the police superintendent.
    Reason (R): He believed he was obeying the higher law of conscience and rendering humanitarian service.
    (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
    (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
    (c) A is true but R is false.
    (d) A is false but R is true.

  5. Assertion (A): The peasants of Champaran demonstrated spontaneously outside the Motihari courthouse.
    Reason (R): They had read Gandhi’s writings on satyagraha in South Africa.
    (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
    (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
    (c) A is true but R is false.
    (d) A is false but R is true.

  6. The British landlords wanted compensation from the sharecroppers because
    (a) synthetic indigo had been developed in Germany
    (b) the peasants had refused to grow indigo
    (c) the government had increased land rent
    (d) Gandhi had advised them to do so

  7. Gandhi asked the landlords to refund only 50 per cent of the money because
    (a) he wanted to break the deadlock and teach the peasants they had rights
    (b) the commission had already fixed 25 per cent
    (c) the peasants demanded full repayment
    (d) the Lieutenant-Governor ordered this amount

  8. Which of the following shows Gandhi’s method of self-reliance?
    (a) He allowed Charles Freer Andrews to stay and help
    (b) He opposed Andrews staying because the cause was just and Indians must rely on themselves
    (c) He sought help from the Viceroy’s office
    (d) He asked the lawyers to fight the case in court

  9. The word “deposition” in the text refers to
    (a) a formal written statement by peasants
    (b) a court order to leave Champaran
    (c) a telegram sent to the Viceroy
    (d) an agreement signed with landlords

  10. Gandhi stayed in Champaran for
    (a) a few days only
    (b) seven months continuously and several shorter visits
    (c) two years without interruption
    (d) one week

Section B — Reference to Context (3 extracts, 4 marks each)

Extract 1

“Months passed. Shukla was sitting on his haunches at the appointed spot in Calcutta when Gandhi arrived…”

(i) Who is the speaker/narrator and what context is being described?
(ii) What does this incident reveal about Shukla’s character?
(iii) Identify the literary device used in the phrase “sitting on his haunches”.
(iv) What does the word “appointed” suggest about Gandhi’s earlier promise?

Extract 2

“He disregarded the order to leave, ‘not for want of respect for lawful authority, but in obedience to the higher law of our being, the voice of conscience’.”

(i) Who is speaking and in what situation?
(ii) Explain the meaning of the quoted statement.
(iii) Identify the literary device in “voice of conscience”.
(iv) What inference can be drawn about Gandhi’s approach to law?

Extract 3

“‘The battle of Champaran is won,’ he exclaimed.”

(i) Who said this and to whom? What had just happened?
(ii) What does the statement signify?
(iii) Identify the figure of speech in calling the event “the battle of Champaran”.
(iv) What does this reveal about Gandhi’s view of the lawyers’ decision?

Section C — Short Answer (5 questions, 3 marks each)

  1. Why did Gandhi decide to go to Muzzafarpur before proceeding to Champaran?
  2. How did the ordinary peasants of Motihari show their support for Gandhi?
  3. What lesson in self-reliance did Gandhi teach his lawyer friends regarding Charles Freer Andrews?
  4. Why did Gandhi agree to a 25 per cent refund instead of demanding 50 per cent?
  5. How did the Champaran episode change the attitude of the peasants towards the British landlords?

Section D — Long Answer (2 questions, 6 marks each)

  1. “The Champaran episode was a turning-point in Gandhi’s life.” Discuss with reference to the text.
  2. How did Gandhi’s method of working in Champaran reflect the principles of satyagraha and non-violence? Give examples from the text.

Section E — Language and Writing (2 questions, 4 marks each)

  1. From the unit, list five words related to legal procedures (e.g., deposition). Use any two of them in sentences of your own.
  2. Imagine you are one of the sharecroppers of Champaran. Write a short paragraph (80–100 words) describing how Gandhi’s arrival gave you courage and hope.
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Section A

  1. (a)
  2. (b)
  3. (b)
  4. (a)
  5. (c)
  6. (a)
  7. (a)
  8. (b)
  9. (a)
  10. (b)

Section B (Marking: 1 mark per sub-question)
Extract 1: (i) Louis Fischer describing Shukla’s persistence; (ii) shows determination and tenacity; (iii) visual imagery; (iv) Gandhi had given a definite date.
Extract 2: (i) Gandhi in court at Motihari; (ii) he chose conscience over an unjust order; (iii) personification; (iv) he respected higher moral law.
Extract 3: (i) Gandhi to the lawyers after they agreed to follow him to jail; (ii) the peasants now had committed supporters; (iii) metaphor; (iv) he valued collective courage.

Section C (Key points)
1. To gather reliable information as Shukla was illiterate.
2. Thousands gathered spontaneously around the courthouse.
3. He refused Andrews’ help and told them to rely on themselves.
4. To break the deadlock and prove peasants had rights.
5. They learned they had rights and were no longer afraid.

Section D (Key content points)
Q1: First civil disobedience success; taught self-reliance; combined political and practical work; gave peasants courage.
Q2: Fact-finding, negotiation, refusal to use English help, readiness for jail, focus on removing fear.

Section E

  1. Words: deposition, summons, bail, prosecutor, commission. Sentences must be original and contextually correct.
  2. Paragraph: personal fear to hope, mention Gandhi’s presence, learning of rights, spontaneous gathering (format: first-person narrative, 80–100 words).
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All questions are answerable from the NCERT chapter text. Reviewed by GFIS faculty.