The Indigo Stain

Champaran is the land of King Janaka. Just as it abounds in mango groves, so used it to be full of indigo plantations until the year 1917. The Champaran tenant was bound, by law, to plant three out of every twenty parts of his land with indigo for his landlord. This system was known as the tinkathia system, as three kathas out of twenty (which make one acre) had to be planted with indigo.

Champaran is the land of King Janaka. Just as it has many mango groves, it was full of indigo plantations until 1917. By law, each Champaran tenant had to plant indigo for his landlord on three out of every twenty parts of his land. This was known as the tinkathia system. Under it, three kathas out of twenty had to be planted with indigo. Twenty kathas make one acre.

I must confess, that I did not then know even the name, much less the geographical position, of Champaran, and I had hardly any notion of indigo plantations. I had seen packets of indigo, but little dreamed that it was grown and manufactured in Champaran at great hardship to thousands of agriculturists.

I must admit that, at the time, I did not even know the name Champaran, let alone where it was. I also knew hardly anything about indigo plantations. I had seen packets of indigo, but I never imagined it was grown and manufactured in Champaran, causing great hardship to thousands of farmers.

Rajkumar Shukla was one of the agriculturists who had been under this harrow, and he was filled with a passion to wash away the stain of indigo for the thousands who were suffering as he had suffered.

Rajkumar Shukla was one of the farmers who had suffered under this oppression. He was determined to wipe away the stain of indigo for the thousands who had suffered as he had.

This man caught hold of me at Lucknow, where I had gone for the Congress of 1916. ‘Vakil Babu will tell you everything about our distress,’ he said, and urged me to go to Champaran. ‘Vakil Babu’ was none other than Babu Vrajakishore Prasad who became my esteemed co-worker in Champaran, and who is the soul of public work in Bihar. Rajkumar Shukla brought him to my tent. He was dressed in a black alpaca achkan and trousers. Vrajakishore Babu failed then to make an impression on me. I took it that he must be some vakil exploiting the simple agriculturists. Having heard from him something of Champaran, I replied as was my wont: ‘I can give no opinion without seeing the condition with my own eyes. You will please move the resolution in the Congress, but leave me free for the present.’ Rajkumar Shukla of course wanted some help from the Congress. Babu Vrajakishore Prasad moved the resolution expressing sympathy for the people of Champaran, and it was unanimously passed.

This man approached me in Lucknow, where I had gone for the Congress of 1916. ‘Vakil Babu will tell you everything about our troubles,’ he said, and urged me to go to Champaran. ‘Vakil Babu’ was none other than Babu Vrajakishore Prasad. He became my esteemed co-worker in Champaran and is the soul of public work in Bihar. Rajkumar Shukla brought him to my tent. He wore a black alpaca achkan and trousers. Vrajakishore Babu did not impress me at the time. I assumed he must be a lawyer exploiting the simple farmers. After he told me something about Champaran, I gave my usual reply: ‘I cannot give an opinion without seeing the conditions for myself. Please move the resolution in the Congress, but leave me free for now.’ Rajkumar Shukla, of course, wanted some help from the Congress. Babu Vrajakishore Prasad moved the resolution expressing sympathy for the people of Champaran, and it passed unanimously.

Rajkumar Shukla was glad, but far from satisfied. He wanted me personally to visit Champaran and witness the miseries of the ryots there. I told him that I would include Champaran in my tour which I had contemplated, and give it a day or two. ‘One day will be enough,’ said he, ‘and you will see things with your own eyes.’

Rajkumar Shukla was glad, but far from satisfied. He wanted me to visit Champaran myself and see the suffering of the tenant farmers there. I told him I would include Champaran in the tour I was planning and spend a day or two there. ‘One day will be enough,’ he said, ‘and you will see things with your own eyes.’

From Lucknow I went to Cawnpore. Rajkumar Shukla followed me there. ‘Champaran is very near here. Please give a day,’ he insisted. ‘Pray excuse me this time. But I promise that I will come,’ said I, further committing myself.

From Lucknow I went to Cawnpore. Rajkumar Shukla followed me there. ‘Champaran is very close to here. Please give it a day,’ he insisted. ‘Please excuse me this time. But I promise I will come,’ I said, committing myself further.

I returned to the Ashram. The ubiquitous Rajkumar was there too. ‘Pray fix the day now,’ he said. ‘Well,’ said I, ‘I have to be in Calcutta on such and such a date, come and meet me then, and take me from there.’ I did not know where I was to go, what to do, what things to see.

I returned to the Ashram. Rajkumar, who seemed to be everywhere, was there too. ‘Please set the date now,’ he said. ‘Well,’ I said, ‘I have to be in Calcutta on a certain date. Come and meet me there then, and take me from there.’ I did not know where I was going, what I would do, or what I would see.

Before I reached Bhupen Babu’s place in Calcutta, Rajkumar Shukla had gone and established himself there. Thus this ignorant, unsophisticated, but resolute agriculturist captured me.

Before I reached Bhupen Babu’s place in Calcutta, Rajkumar Shukla had already settled in there. In this way, the ignorant, unsophisticated, but determined farmer captured me.

So early in 1917, we left Calcutta for Champaran, looking just like fellow rustics. I did not even know the train. He took me to it, and we travelled together, reaching Patna in the morning.

So early in 1917, we left Calcutta for Champaran, looking just like other villagers. I did not even know which train to take. He took me to the train, and we traveled together, reaching Patna in the morning.

This was my first visit to Patna. I had no friend or acquaintance with whom I could think of putting up. I had an idea that Rajkumar Shukla, simple agriculturist as he was, must have some influence in Patna. I had come to know him a little more on the journey, and on reaching Patna, I had no illusions left concerning him. He was perfectly innocent of everything. The vakils that he had taken to be his friends were really nothing of the sort. Poor Rajkumar was more or less as a menial to them. Between such agriculturist clients and their vakils, there is a gulf as wide as the Ganges in flood.

This was my first visit to Patna. I had no friend or acquaintance I could think of staying with. I thought that Rajkumar Shukla, though a simple farmer, must have some influence in Patna. I got to know him a little better during the journey. By the time we reached Patna, I had no illusions left about him. He was completely innocent of how things worked. The lawyers he thought were his friends were really nothing of the sort. Poor Rajkumar was more or less a servant to them. Between such farmer clients and their lawyers, there is a gulf as wide as the Ganges in flood.

Rajkumar Shukla took me to Rajendra Babu’s place in Patna. Rajendra Babu had gone to Puri or some other place, I now forget which. There were one or two servants at the bungalow who paid us no attention. I had with me something to eat. I wanted dates which my companion procured for me from the bazaar.

Rajkumar Shukla took me to Rajendra Babu’s home in Patna. Rajendra Babu had gone to Puri or somewhere else. I now forget where. One or two servants were at the bungalow, but they paid us no attention. I had some food with me. I wanted dates, and my companion bought some for me at the market.

There was strict untouchability in Bihar. I might not draw water at the well whilst the servants were using it, lest drops of water from my bucket might pollute them, the servants not knowing to what caste I belonged. Rajkumar directed me to the indoor latrine, the servant promptly directed me to the outdoor one. All this was far from surprising or irritating me, for I was inured to such things. The servants were doing their duty, and as they thought, doing what Rajendra Babu would wish them to do.

Untouchability was strictly enforced in Bihar. I was not allowed to draw water from the well while the servants were using it. They did not know my caste, and drops from my bucket might pollute them. Rajkumar directed me to the indoor latrine, but the servant promptly directed me to the outdoor one. None of this surprised or irritated me, because I was used to such treatment. The servants were doing their duty. They believed they were doing what Rajendra Babu would want them to do.

These entertaining experiences enhanced my regard for Rajkumar Shukla, if they also enabled me to know him better. I saw now, that Rajkumar Shukla could not guide me, and that I must take the reins in my own hands.

These entertaining experiences helped me know Rajkumar Shukla better and increased my respect for him. I now saw that he could not guide me and that I would have to take charge myself.