# The Stain of Indigo explained — The Story of My Experiments with Truth

> Chapter companion for The Story of My Experiments with Truth by Mahatma Gandhi.

## What happens

Gandhi recounts his first encounter with the plight of Champaran's indigo farmers, led by the persistent Rajkumar Shukla, and his initial visit to Patna, where he faces the realities of untouchability and the lack of local support.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Justice and Anti-Colonialism

Gandhi's involvement in the Champaran struggle highlights the exploitation of farmers under the tinkathia system and his commitment to addressing agrarian injustice.

### Service and Community Leadership

Gandhi's willingness to personally investigate the conditions of the ryots reflects his hands-on approach to service and leadership.

## Character check-ins

### Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Narrator and protagonist, agrees to visit Champaran after persistent urging by Rajkumar Shukla.

### Rajkumar Shukla

Determined agriculturist from Champaran who persistently persuades Gandhi to witness the indigo farmers' suffering.

### Brajkishore Prasad

Vakil who moves a resolution of sympathy for Champaran at the Congress, later becomes Gandhi's coworker.

### Bhupenbabu

Host in Calcutta where Gandhi stays before departing for Champaran.

## Key lines

> The Champaran tenant was bound by law to plant three out of every twenty parts of his land with indigo for his landlord.

Tenants in Champaran were legally required to cultivate indigo on 15% of their land for the landlord.

_Describes the oppressive tinkathia system._

> 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, himself a victim of the indigo system, was determined to end the suffering of countless other farmers.

_Highlights Shukla's motivation and the widespread impact of the system._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters/part-v-xii-the-stain-of-indigo
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters