Question

Analyse the circumstances that led to the Indigo revolt.

Answer 1

Instructions: The answer to this question can be broken into 3 main parts:

1. Explain how the demand for indigo increased.
2. Explain the decline in demand for indigo.
3. Describe the problems faced by the farmers and how this led to the indigo revolt.

Solution:

• During the 18th century, the process of industrialisation picked pace and the number of textile industries increased in England.
• This led to an increase in the demand of indigo. As a result, the British started promoting indigo cultivation by giving a good amount of money in advance to Indian farmers.
• The farmers had to pay huge land taxes, and therefore, they started cultivating indigo on a wide scale. They were forced to use the most fertile portion of their land.
• But after the invention of artificial dye, the demand for indigo decreased drastically and came to an end. Due to this, many farmers suffered through economic loss.
• In 1859, the indigo farmers stopped the cultivation of Indigo and launched an attack on the indigo factories with bows and arrows, swords, and spears.