Indigo

Indigo

                                By Louis Fischer

Analysis:

·       The chapter ‘Indigo’ is an excerpt from the book 'The Life of Mahatma Gandhi' by Louis Fischer. It is a biographical story based on his interviews of Mahatma Gandhi related to the history of Pre Independence Era in India.

·       Louis Fischer, an American journalist is known for his works ‘God that Failed’ and ‘The Life of Mahatma Gandhi’ which was the strong basis for Academy Award winning film ‘Gandhi’.

·       The writer shares Gandhi’s leadership, struggles and movements during Pre Independence era, offering his tribute to Gandhiji and various other freedom fighters and countless martyrs especially Raj Kumar Shukla, a sharecropper from Champaran.

·       It also mentions about an important episode which happened to become a turning point in the life of Mahatma Gandhi and his struggle to get freedom and social and political justice for his countrymen.

·       This chapters highlights that Gandhi’s life story was a great inspiration to all the strugglers and freedom fighters and, motivated them not to give up ever. His long and exhausting journey to freedom and justice gave everyone an undying hope which pushed Raj Kumar Shukla to fight for his problems.

Summary /  Synopsis:

§  In the chapter 'Indigo' Mahatma Gandhi's journey to Champaran is detailed, marking a significant episode in his life and that of Indian independence movement. Gandhiji himself narrated the episode to the writer. He told that Rajkumar Shukla, an illiterate peasant from Champaran, Bihar approached him during the Indian National Congress party convention in December1916, urging him to address the injustices faced by sharecroppers in his home district. After this episode Gandhiji got a clarity about how the Britishers could be made to leave India forever.

§  Gandhiji had to go to other parts of India such as an appointment in Kanpur and Shukla accompanied him everywhere. He also followed him to the ashram in Ahemdabad. He begged Gandhiji to fix a date for him. Though initially unaware of Champaran's plight, Gandhiji agreed to visit the place on Shukla's insistence and asked him to take him from Calcutta, he waited there and then they both went to Patna where Shukla took Gandhiji to stay at the house of a sympathetic lawyer, Rajendra Prasad, who later became the President of the Congress party, and of India.

    Gandhiji went to Muzaffarpur to obtain information about Champaran, he met J B Kriplani at the station with a large body of students. He stayed there at Professor Malkani's place for two days. The news spread and the peasants from Champaran came to meet Gandhiji there. The peasants, primarily engaged in indigo cultivation under oppressive contracts with British landlords, sought relief. 

§  Facing resistance from British authorities and landlords, Gandhi persisted in his investigations through his meetings with the lawyers at Muzaffarpur. He also scolded the lawyers for collecting high fees from poor sharecroppers. Gandhiji felt that poor peasants' cases should not be taken to law courts as it is useless, rather they must be freed from fear. He got to know that most of arable land in Champaran was occupied by Englishmen and Indian peasants worked there as tenants. According to the earlier agreement sharecroppers had to plant 15% of their land with Indigo and surrender all the indigo crop as rent to the English landlords. Later, when Germany developed synthetic indigo, Indian peasants were forced to pay as compensation for being released from the 15%  arrangement as indigo plantation was no more profitable.  Now, the sharecroppers decided to be free from this forced arrangement.

     When Gandhiji wasn't supported by police and authorities of the British landlords' association rather bullied by them, he opted for civil disobedience, refusing to leave Champaran despite an official notice. He along with some lawyes proceeded to Motihari, the capital of Champaran where a huge crowd welcomed Gandhiji. He was reported that a peasant had been maltreated in a nearby village, he started out to see him on the back of an elephant. He received an order from police superintendent to leave Champaran which he refused to follow. This led to a summon to appear in the court, next day, where huge crowd gathered to show their full support. The officials couldn't control them, Gandhiji helped them to quieten the peasants. Gandhi pleaded guilty, emphasising his "conflict of duties" between obeying authority and serving the humanitarian cause and saying that he heard 'the voice of his conscience' to help the poor peasants.

§  The peasants' spontaneous support outside the courthouse in Motihari marked a turning point, challenging the British authority and instilling courage in the local population. The government, baffled by Gandhi's nonviolent resistance, and huge support by peasants, first delayed the case but eventually dropped the case, marking the success of civil disobedience for the first time in modern India.

§    A group of prominent lawyers which included Rajendra Prasad agreed to follow Gandhiji in jail, if he was sent to jail at which Gandhiji exclaimed, "The battle of champaran is won". Gandhiji had four interviews with the Lieutenant Governor who appointed an official commission of inquiry. Then, they conducted a widespread inquiry into the farmers' grievances. The evidences against landlords were overwhelming. They were exhorting money from the sharecroppers which led to an agreement for refunds to the peasants. Gandhiji asked for a 50% refund, the planters told to give only 25% but Gandhiji agreed and the deadlock was broken. Gandhiji thought that the landlords' agreement to pay was more important than the amount paid. Moreover, all understood and accepted that peasants also have their rights and defenders.

§  The settlement, adopted unanimously, showcased the success of Gandhi's strategy. Within a few years, the British planters abandoned their estates, and indigo sharecropping ceased. Gandhi, not content with political victories, addressed the cultural and social backwardness in Champaran by appealing the teachers for their help in initiating health and sanitation measures. Two young men, Narhari Pareikh and Mahadev Desai joined him as disciples and his son, Devdas also joined in the reformatory works. The primary schools opened there, Kasturba Gandhi taught sanitation there. Doctors also volunteered for the cause. He noticed state of utter poverty resulting in filthy clothes and insanitation. He asked to cover old latrine trenches and dig new ones.

§  This Champaran episode marked a turning point in Gandhi's life, demonstrating his commitment to alleviating the daily struggles of the masses and promoting self-reliance when he opposed C F Andrews as his counterpart in Champaran. He believed the people should learn to be self reliant and fight their own struggle. Gandhi's actions in Champaran exemplify his philosophy of satyagraha and the practical application of nonviolent resistance in achieving social justice and political change. Indian independence struggle, and social reforms were intertwined with his political activism. 

Theme

The chapter conveys that effective and efficient leadership can help solve the most intricate problems and come out triumphantly of the most difficult struggles. This leadership quality made Mahatma Gandhi loved by the masses and he could attain India’s political freedom with support of multitude of Indians who were equally motivated with the thought of freedom.

Difficult words and expressions

Convention: agreement

Delegates: Representatives

Peasant: small farmer

Emaciated: thin

Sharecroppers: a tenant farmer who gives a part of each crop as rent.

Resolute: determined

Tenacity: determination

Haunches: thighs

Yeoman: a man who cultivates a small piece of land

Pestered: harassed

En route: on the way

Advocate: one who favours/supports

Advent: arrival

Chided: criticize, scold

Arable: land suitable for farming

Contract: agreement

Compensation: payment to complete the loss

Irksome: irritating

Resisted: opposed, to be against something

Multitude: a large number of people

Maltreated: ill treated

Superintendent: Manager, supervisor

Wired: Telegraphed

Authorities: officials, people in power

Demonstrations: protest

Important Question answers

Q1. Why did Gandhi consider the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life?

Ans. The Champaran episode relieved poor indigo peasant from torturous burden they had to face and solved their problems due to the forced agreement. Gandhiji received immense support from the peasants and other people. They only required a strong leadership under which they all stood against cruel landlords. Gandhiji considered this episode as a turning point in his life as he could see that non violent and civil disobedience could achieve the larger objective of independence with the support of millions of agitated and motivated Indians. The victory in the battle of Champaran was a sign of freedom from fear and this freedom led him on the longer trail of India's Independence Movement.

Q2. How did Rajkumar Shukla succeed in persuading Gandhiji to visit Chaparan? What made Gandhiji surrender to the wish of Shukla.

Ans. Rajkumar Shukla, an illiterate but deterrent peasant from Champaran, Bihar approached Gandhiji during the Indian National Congress party convention in December1916, urging him to address the injustices faced by sharecroppers in his home district. Gandhiji had an appointment in Kanpur and had to go to other parts of India as well. Shukla accompanied him everywhere like a shadow. He also followed him to the ashram in Ahemdabad. Shukla was illiterate but resolute. He begged Gandhiji to fix a date for him. Being influenced with his deterrence and determination to fight for his cause Gandhiji surrendered to his wish. He agreed to visit Champaran on Shukla's insistence and asked him to take him from Calcutta. Shukla waited there till Gandhiji was free and then they both took train to Patna where Shukla took Gandhiji to stay at the house of a sympathetic lawyer, Dr. Rajendra Prasad. From there Gandhiji was brought to the main battleground, Motihari, capital of Champaran by a resolute, determined and deterrent sharecropper, Rajkumar Shukla. He took every care that Gandhiji shouldn't forget him and followed him everywhere like his shadow. He taught us the lesson of unshakable determination and lived the thought, "When you want something with all your might, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it".

 

Fog

Fog

                                                                  By Carl Sandburg

Analysis:

·       ‘Fog’ is a six lines poem composed by Carl Sandburg, an American poet, biographer, journalist and editor.

·       The poem ‘Fog’ captures the mysterious and fleeting nature of fog, using the metaphor of a cat to convey its silent, creeping movement and transient quality. This way the poet suggests that just like fog human life is also transient and has to perish one day. 

·       It is a simple and short poem which metaphorically presents fog as a cat who appears secretly and disappears softly. The poet wants to give fog a form employing Imagery and personification so wonderfully and successfully. It is composed as free verse.

·       The poet conveys that the fog has transient existence, still envelops entire city in its grip for some moments, and that every entity in the universe has its own value. It discusses how the least significant thing in nature can be viewed as an individual entity and has its own significance. Even the most trivial and insignificant things can impact our life largely.

·    Tone of the poem is philosophical as the poet conveys that every entity of nature has its own significance and our life is transient and short lived just like fog.

Line by Line Explanation

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The fog comes

on little cat feet.

It sits looking

over harbour and city

on silent haunches

and then moves on.

The opening line sets the stage, announcing the arrival of fog. The use of the word "comes" suggests a gradual, slow and quiet entrance giving fog a form and identity of a cat using personification. The poem compares the slow movement of the fog to the small and stealthy steps of a cat. This creates an image of the fog creeping in silently and softly, and with certain grace of a cat. The fog seems to take on a deliberately slow action, as if it makes a conscious action. 

The word "sits" implies a settled or stationary state of a cat describing the fog settling on every thing in the city. The fog extends its presence over both the city and the harbour at the outskirts of city. This expansion of the fog's reach adds to its all pervasive and encompassing nature speaking of its significance as every other entity of nature. This line continues the imagery of the fog as a cat, now describing it as sitting on "silent haunches." This reinforces the idea that fog very quietly envelops entire world and impacts everyone in the world again speaking of its significance. 

It then, moves on, suggesting that its presence is temporary, and it will eventually dissipate or shift to another location. The poem conveys that fog is transient; it doesn't linger indefinitely just like human life which has a beginning and an end, too.

Video on the Poem Fog

Rhyme Scheme of the poem

 The poem is composed in free verse having no rhyming scheme.

 

Poetic Devices:

The fog comes – Personification

on little cat feet.  – Consonance, Metaphor, Imagery  

It sits looking – Assonance, Personification, Imagery

over harbour and city – Imagery, Consonance, enjambment

on silent haunches - Enjambment

and then moves on. – Consonance, Personification 

 

Theme of the poem

This poem is a metaphorical interpretation of fog. It conveys that even the least significant thing in nature can be viewed as an individual entity and has its own significance. Even the most trivial and insignificant things can impact our life largely. 

There is also an underlying message that every entity of nature has its own significance however short lived it is. Human life is also transient and temporary just like fog which comes, envelops the city and then goes away quietly.

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RTC

The fog comes

On little cat feet

It sits looking

Over harbour and city

On silent haunches

And then moves on.

Q1. What is the fog compared to?

Q2. What does the phrase ‘little cat feet’ mean?

Q3. What does ‘it’ in the third line refer to?

Q4. Pick out the poetic device used in third line.

Q5. What philosophy is conveyed through the poem?

Q6. How is Imagery used to describe the fog?

Answers:

1. The fog is compared to a cat.

2. The phrase 'little cat feet' means that fog comes silently and slowly just as a cat comes on its small feet that are soft and light and don't make sound as it walks slowly and softly.

3. ‘It’ refers to fog which is compared to a cat.

4. In third line the poet uses the poetic device 'personification'  to give fog the attributes of a creature and he uses metaphor by comparing it with a cat.

5. The poem conveys the philosophy that life is transient and short lived. Just as fog comes quietly, stays for some time and then disappears same way we take birth and come in this world, live our life fully and then, die and leave this world quietly.

6. Through imagery the poet describes the fog to come quietly and sit on haunches like a cat, envelop the city and harbour in its grip and move away quietly.

A Roadside Stand

A Roadside Stand

                         By  Robert Frost

 

Analysis of the poem:

§  The poem titled 'A Roadside Stand' by Robert Frost, explores the plight of rural life and the economic struggles faced by those living in the countryside.

§  Robert Frost, an American poet, is widely known for his nature poems with realistic themes and revolutionary ideas.

§  The poem voices out loud the plight of poor vendors and subsequent efforts to change the predicament of rural sections of the city.

§  The poem is rich in terms of language, bitter in tone and expression, profound in emotional content and strong in appeal.

§  The rhyming scheme of the poem is inconsistent and irregular as sometimes consecutive lines rhyme and sometimes one after the other, and sometimes after a gap of two lines, and four lines.

§  The tone of the poem is critical and reflective as the poet feels sad thinking about the unexpressed desires and struggles of a roadside vendor, making a strong appeal for the desired change.

§  The poet clearly brings out the theme that unequal distribution of cash and city money hinders the real development of the city, voicing loud the capitalist theory of Carl Marx.

§  The impactful description of the stand, roadside scene, running traffic, urban and rural parts of city brings out the theme through powerful use of imagery. The poet skilfully employs various poetic devices such as alliteration, assonance, enjambment, metaphor, irony, and personification to convey its themes and an emotional message.

 

Summary / Synopsis

To sum up, the poem captures the struggles of rural life, the impact of economic disparity, and the longing of poor vendors and poor people for a better life and their due right to enjoy their share of city's cash flow. It criticises the disconnect between urban and rural life and unequal flow of money among social groups highlighting the hardships faced by those living in the countryside. The poem also explores the complexities of the systems to find quick solutions to alleviate suffering and poverty.

The poet sensitises the readers, the government and the business sector against the plight, difficulties, and helplessness of poor vendors who live hand to mouth through description of the roadside stand, poor people and their hopeful eyes. He criticises the insensitive attitude of this selfish world and the government who fail to do their bit to improve the condition of the poor vendors through describing insensitive and fast moving traffic. The poet dreams and demands a fresh perspective towards development which ensures growth of all the sections of the city and change the sad reality of poor vendors and rural sections of the city.

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Line by Line Explanation

The little old house was out with a little new shed

In front at the edge of the road where the traffic sped,

A roadside stand that too pathetically pled,

It would not be fair to say for a dole of bread,

But for some of the money, the cash, whose flow supports

The flower of cities from sinking and withering faint.

The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead,

Or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts

The poem begins with a description of a small, old house accompanied by a new shed at the front of the house. The stand is standing at the edge of the busy road. The setting of the poem is a busy road where traffic moves in great speed. The roadside stand appears to be in a pathetic condition or state of need. It seeks people’s attention for livelihood of the people who depend on it. The poem suggests that the stand is not asking for charity but is selling things and making livelihood which is their right. The stand is seeking little financial support, a small amount of the money on which entire city depends, and which is their due share. The poet suggests that the money earned supports the vitality of cities, and economy and development of the country at large. The cash flow, circulated by the roadside stand is a vital part of the city’s economy. The traffic is described to be high earning gentry who are running with individual purposes in their mind hence, not paying much attention to the stand as they don’t have time, nor sensitivity. If ever they do notice it for a moment, they are displeased or annoyed by its appalling condition thinking that it is spoiling the beauty of the city. 

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At having the landscape marred with the artless paint

Of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong

Offered for sale wild berries in wooden quarts,

Or crook-necked golden squash with silver warts,

Or beauty rest in a beautiful mountain scene,

You have the money, but if you want to be mean,

Why keep your money (this crossly) and go along.

The presence of the roadside stand is seen by higher strata, as an unwelcome intrusion spoiling the beauty of the landscape. The signs on the stand are described as having incorrect directions for 'N' and 'S'. The stand is selling natural products like  fruits and fruit juices in the bottles. Perhaps the stand offers the only thing of beauty that people may enjoy is the mountain scenery which is painted on the stand. The poet suggests that those who have money should be willing to spend it. There's a sense of frustration that people are unwilling to spend money at the stand. Frost intellectually supports Marx theory that money should exchange hands by earning and spending, and that everyone has the right to earn and spend. If high earning people don’t spend on vendors, how these low poverty line people would survive. They are deprived of their share of city money which is ironically accumulated in few hands.

 

The hurt to the scenery wouldn’t be my complaint

So much as the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid:

Here far from the city we make our roadside stand

And ask for some city money to feel in hand

To try if it will not make our being expand,

And give us the life of the moving-pictures’ promise

That the party in power is said to be keeping from us.

The speaker doesn't mind the visual impact of the city spoiled by the stand, as much as the unspoken suffering of poor vendors and their family. The real issue is the silent suffering and unexpressed needs of those who depend on the stand. They don’t plead or demand, but they also have the right to hold their share of money which is being earned and spent in the city. The setting is described as rural, far from center of urban part of the city. The poor inhabitants seek financial support from the city by selling things at the stand. They hope that the money earned will improve their lives and well-being. They, too have a desire for a better life, which is many times seen in the movies as such themes are projected through many films based on socialism and equality. The government and the political parties in power who have made high promises prior to the elections are withholding these promises, and not fulfilling them.

 

It is in the news that all these pitiful kin

Are to be bought out and mercifully gathered in

To live in villages, next to the theatre and the store,

Where they won’t have to think for themselves anymore,

While greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey,

Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits

That are calculated to soothe them out of their wits,

And by teaching them how to sleep they sleep all day,

Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way.

There are reports in the news that the rural people are to be relocated. The government plans to bring out the rural inhabitants and relocate them in the city where they may receive the benefits of development and urban growth. The relocation involves moving them to more urbanized settings, near theatres and market where they may have more opportunities and, earn better and improve their life. The people in power are described as opportunistic and predatory. The government or authorities will reap their benefits and satisfy their selfish motives instead of supplying the poor vendors their share of benefits. The benefits behind such plans are - to pacify and distract the rural inhabitants. The authorities attempt to control their lives, even regulate their sleep. The traditional way of living is disrupted, including the natural sleep cycle hindering the peace of their life.

Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear

The thought of so much childish longing in vain,

The sadness that lurks near the open window there,

That waits all day in almost open prayer

For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car,

Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass,

Just one to inquire what a farmer’s prices are.

And one did stop, but only to plow up grass

In using the yard to back and turn around;

And another to ask the way to where it was bound;

And another to ask could they sell it a gallon of gas

The poet empathises with the struggles of the rural population. The longing for a better life is compared to childlike innocence. There is a sense of melancholy and longingness in their hopeful eyes. The poet suggests a hopeful waiting for some positive and beautiful change. The anticipation is for someone to stop and buy something. Despite the numerous passing cars, only a few may stop. The hope is for someone to ask about the products for sale or their price. Ironically, the car that stops does so for a different purpose. Another car stops for directions but is not interested in buying anything. Yet another inquiry, this time about purchasing gas, is also unsuccessful as they all don’t purchase anything, nor even ask about the prices, instead they remove grass from the yard by making a turn by the car, which damages the yard while turning.

 

They couldn’t (this crossly); they had none, didn’t it see?

No, in country money, the country scale of gain,

The requisite lift of spirit has never been found,

Or so the voice of the country seems to complain,

I can’t help owning the great relief it would be

To put these people at one stroke out of their pain.

And then next day as I come back into the sane,

I wonder how I should like you to come to me

And offer to put me gently out of my pain.

The response of the people is dismissive, indicating a lack of understanding, concern and empathy. The poet explains the cruel reality of the rural economy. The needed improvement in the poor people’s situation has not been achieved. The poet portrays the collective voice of the rural community. He admits to considering the relief that would come from a significant change. There's a suggestion that a drastic solution, such as relocation, might end their suffering or bring great improvement in their miserable life. At the same time the poet reflects on the idea with a more rational and logical perspective. The speaker imagines someone offering them a help, and wonders how they would feel if someone offered a solution to their personal struggles. He seems to conclude that offering a help is not a good idea. At the same time he wants a change in social fabric and policies of the government so that the predicament of these poor venders can change for better, everyone should understand they have the right to live a life with dignity and happiness.

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Poetic Devices

The little old house was out with a little new shed – Repetition, Imagery, antithesis  

In front at the edge of the road where the traffic sped – Consonance, Repetition, Imagery

A roadside stand that too pathetically pled – Alliteration, Consonance, Personification

It would not be fair to say for a dole of bread – Alliteration, Consonance, Assonance

But for some of the money, the cash, whose flow supports – Repetition, Assonance  

The flower of cities from sinking and withering faint – Anaphora, Assonance, Consonance, Metaphor, Imagery

The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead – Anaphora, Alliteration, Consonance, Transferred epithet  

Of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong – Repetition, Imagery

Offered for sale wild berries in wooden quarts – Alliteration, Consonance, Imagery

Or crook-necked golden squash with silver warts – Anaphora, Alliteration, Assonance, Imagery

Or beauty rest in a beautiful mountain scene – Anaphora, Alliteration, Imagery

You have the money, but if you want to be mean – Alliteration, Repetition, Consonance

The hurt to the scenery wouldn’t be my complaint – Personification, Consonance, Repetition

So much as the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid – Alliteration, Personification, Enjambment

To try if it will not make our being expand – Assonance, Consonance

And give us the life of the moving-pictures’ promise – Assonance, Alliteration, Repetition  

That the party in power is said to be keeping from us – Alliteration, Assonance

It is in the news that all these pitiful kin – Assonance, Alliteration, Consonance

Are to be bought out and mercifully gathered in – Alliteration, Consonance

To live in villages, next to the theatre and the store – Repetition, Assonance, Imagery

While greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey – Alliteration, Oxymoron, Metaphor

Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits – Enjambment, Metaphor, Consonance

And by teaching them how to sleep they sleep all day – Alliteration, Repetition, Irony

Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way – Alliteration, Consonance, enjambment

The thought of so much childish longing in vain – Anaphora, Assonance, Consonance

The sadness that lurks near the open window there – Anaphora, Personification, Alliteration, Consonance, Repetition, Imagery  

For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car – Alliteration, Repetition, Imagery

Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass – Alliteration, Consonance, Hyperbole, Imagery, Transferred epithet  

Just one to inquire what a farmer’s prices are – Consonance, Assonance

And one did stop, but only to plow up grass – Consonance, Assonance, Imagery

In using the yard to back and turn around – Consonance, Imagery  

And another to ask the way to where it was bound – Anaphora, Alliteration

And another to ask could they sell it a gallon of gas – Anaphora, Alliteration, Consonance, Assonance

They couldn’t (this crossly); they had none, didn’t it see – Alliteration, Repetition, Consonance  

No, in country money, the country scale of gain – Repetition, Assonance

Or so the voice of the country seems to complain – Repetition, Alliteration, Personification

To put these people at one stroke out of their pain – Alliteration, Assonance, Consonance  

I wonder how I should like you to come to me – Repetition

And offer to put me gently out of my pain – Assonance, Alliteration, Consonance 

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Theme

The poet clearly brings out the theme that unequal distribution of cash and city money hinders the real development of the city, voicing loud the capitalist theory of Carl Marx who says that every social group has equal right to earn and spend using the cash flow in the city and the country. The poet talks about the desired change in economic policies and laws of the government as everyone has the right to use equal share of city money and live a life with dignity and happiness.