question_answer 12)

How do we know that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement?  

Answer:

The author mentions several ordinary people who contributed to the home-rule movement in their capacity.   On his way to Champaran, in Muzzqfarpur, Gandhi stayed in Muzzqfarpur for two days in the home of Professor Malkani, a teacher in a government school. For a government servant, Malkani, showed a great deal of courage by giving shelter to a person who was fighting for home-rule.   In Champaran, at the railway station, there was a crowd to greet him. Motihari was also teeming with peasants, though they did not know about Gandhi's achievements. But, their gathering in huge numbers was the beginning of their freedom from fear of the British This was the proof that the power of the Britishers could be challenged by Indians. The lawyer after meeting Gandhi, assured him that they would court arrest. Civil disobedience, a movement of the people, won for the first time in modern India)   Gandhi and the lawyers then conducted a detailed inquiry into the grievances of the farmers. They prepared cases for about ten thousand peasants and collected relevant documents.   The masses helped Gandhi, who was not satisfied with only political or economic solutions. What concerned him was the cultural and social backwardness in Champaran. He requested teachers to educate the masses. (Two young men Mahadev Desai and Narhari Parikh and their wives, volunteered to do this work. Several more including Devadas, Gandhi's youngest son, Joined in. Kasturbai Gandhi, too, taught personal cleanliness and community sanitation. Volunteers from amongst the masses rendered unflinching support.