Question

Why did the indigo riots take place?

Answer 1

The indigo revolt was a movement by peasants in 1859 in Bengal. The movement was against the British indigo planters who were forcing the peasants to grow indigo. The revolt took place because

1. Peasants were mercilessly forced to grow indigo rather than foodcrops.
2. To plant indigo, the planters provided loans to peasants at high interest rates. Often peasants remained indebted to the planters for their entire lives.
3. The price paid by the planters to the peasants was very low. Peasants could not make a decent living out of growing indigo.
4. Even the law sided with the planters giving them a free hand to oppress the peasants.

As a result of these factors, peasants had no other option but to launch the revolt.