Question

Answer any one of the following in about 80 words :
a) What gift did the peddler give to Edla and why did he sign himself as Captain von Stahle ?
b) How did Gandhi change the plight of the peasants of Champaran ?

Hint:

For 80-word answers, aim for a structure with an introductory sentence, 2-3 sentences with key details and analysis, and a concluding sentence summarizing the impact or significance.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
This question has two parts: what the peddler's gift to Edla was, and the significance of signing the letter as Captain von Stahle.
Step 2: Key Points for the Answer:

The Gift: A small rattrap, and inside it, the thirty kronor notes he had stolen from the crofter. It also contained a letter.
The Signature: He signed as Captain von Stahle because Edla had treated him with the dignity and respect befitting a captain, not a common tramp.
The Reason: This treatment awakened his conscience and inspired him to act honorably. By signing this way, he acknowledged her kindness and showed that he wanted to live up to the faith she had shown in him. It was his way of rising to a higher moral level.
Step 3: Model Answer:
The peddler left a gift for Edla containing a small rattrap and the thirty kronor he had stolen, which he requested she return to the crofter. He also left a letter of thanks. He signed the letter as 'Captain von Stahle' because Edla's kindness and hospitality had made him feel like a real captain, not a tramp. Her treating him with dignity awakened the best within him. By signing with that name, he wanted to show that her belief in his honor had inspired him to behave honorably and repay her trust.
Solution (for b):
Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks about the methods and impact of Gandhi's intervention in Champaran for the peasants.
Step 2: Key Points for the Answer:

Investigation: Gandhi first gathered facts by visiting the British Landlords' Association and the commissioner, and by meeting thousands of peasants.
Legal Battle: He challenged the British authorities through civil disobedience when ordered to leave, assembling a team of lawyers to fight the peasants' case.
Negotiation: He negotiated a settlement where the landlords agreed to a 25% refund of the extorted money, breaking their prestige.
Empowerment: Most importantly, he taught the peasants courage and made them self-reliant. He showed them that they had rights and could stand up to the British, freeing them from fear.
Social Reform: He also worked on social and cultural upliftment by opening schools and improving health conditions.
Step 3: Model Answer:
Gandhi changed the plight of the Champaran peasants by first empowering them. He taught them courage and freed them from the fear of the British landlords through his campaign of civil disobedience. He meticulously collected evidence of their exploitation under the indigo sharecropping system. Along with his team of lawyers, he fought a legal battle that forced the landlords to refund 25 percent of the extorted money, thus breaking their prestige and power. This victory not only provided economic relief but, more importantly, instilled a sense of self-reliance and awareness of their rights among the poor peasants.