CBSE Class 4 Hindi Worksheets for Chapter 9

The story is written by the author Subhadra Sengupta. Swatantrata Ki Aur is based on a time pre-independence, where Indians were fighting hard to get back their independence from the British. At this time, Dhani lived with her parents in the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad. Dhani was nine years old back then. In the Sabarmati Ashram, different plans used to go on by freedom fighters, of which Dhani had no idea. People from all over India came over to live in Sabarmati Ashram. All of them used to think and fight for independence, like Gandhiji. 

In the Ashram, everyone used to do some work or the other, like, cooking food, washing utensils, etc. Dhani had to look after the cow, Binni. Dhani and Binni grew close to each other and became friends. Dhani liked talking to Binni. 

One day, when Dhani was feeding Binni, she heard Gandhiji and some other people making ‘yojana’(plans) in the rooms of the Ashram. Everyone in the Ashram thought Dhani to be too young and naive to understand all this. So, Dhani took Binni to the kitchen, where she saw her mother lighting the chulha (stove).

She asked her mother, whether Gandhiji is going somewhere, to which she replied, they are travelling somewhere.

When she pestered her mother to know where they were travelling, her mother rebuked her and instructed her to go away. She left and went straight to Binda chacha, who was looking after the potatoes in the field. When Dhani asked him, he said, Gandhiji and others are going to walk all the way to Dandi, a place in Gujarat, where they are going to make salt.

Dhani was surprised. She questioned the need to make salt, as they were already sold in shops. She also asked, why Gandhiji is making such a fuss about salt when it is well available for all households. To this, Binda chacha made her understand the actual reason. 

All Indians, rich or poor, have to pay taxes on the most basic thing like salt. On top of that, the British Government had passed a law, restricting the Indians on the production of salt. When Mahatma Gandhi requested the British Government to lift the taxes on salt, they refused. So, Gandhiji had decided to walk to Dandi and make salt from seawater. 

Dhani thought, if Gandhiji walks this long distance, he would be tired at the end of the journey and won’t be able to do any work. To this, Binda chacha replied that if he walks, the news would spread like wildfire. All the media and radio houses would cover this news and publish or broadcast it. This would be a really embarrassing situation for the British. 

Hearing this, Dhani was determined to walk to Dandi with Gandhiji. Nobody could stop her, not even her mother. Her father made her aware of the fact that only those were allowed to walk with Gandhiji, the ones to whom he himself gave permission. Dhani was determined to go to Gandhiji and ask for his permission.
Gandhiji was a very busy person. It was not easy to meet him due to his busy schedule. But Dhani knew when she could talk to him. Every morning, Gandhiji went for a walk in the Ashram. 

The next day, as the sun rose, Dhani went out to find Gandhiji. It was not easy, at first, but eventually, Gandhiji called Dhani. When he came to know of her wishes, he politely said that Dandi is too far from Sabarmati and it would be very difficult for Dhani to walk all the way to Dandi, since she’s so young. Only young men like Dhani’s father are allowed to go with Gandhiji.

Dhani then replied, how come Gandhiji himself is going, since he is an old person. Gandhiji replied that he might be old, but he’s very strong. Dhani was headstrong on going with Gandhiji.

At last, Gandhiji persuaded Dhani by saying, when he comes back, he will be tired, so he’d need lots of milk to get energised again. Then, Dhani agreed to stay back, only to wait for Gandhi’s return.