Question

What were the circumstances which led to the eventual collapse of indigo production in Bengal?

Answer 1

• The cycle of loans taken by indigo cultivators never came to an end and the price given to the cultivators of indigo was very low.
• The cultivators were forced to grow Indigo on the best soil, but peasants wanted to grow rice in those soils. Indigo had deep roots as a result the soil exhausted quickly and rice could not be sown.
• In 1859, there was refusal to grow indigo by thousands of ryots in Bengal.
• There was a massive revolt against the indigo production in Bengal.
• Agents of planters who were known as Gomasthas were beaten up when they came to collect rents.
• Women fought with kitchen implements, pans, and pots.
• Ryots attacked indigo factories armed with arrows, spears and swords; and they refused to pay rent as the rebellion started spreading.
• There was a social boycott of people who worked for planters.
• To conduct an enquiry into the system of indigo production, an Indigo commission was appointed which concluded that planters were guilty of using oppressive measures on indigo cultivators.
• As the revolt led to collapse of indigo production in Bengal, the indigo cultivation was later shifted to Bihar by planters.