INDIGO REVOLT
|CAUSES|RESULT|
The ryots of Bengal particularly in the district of 24 parganas ,
Jessore, Khulan, Nadia,Faridpur,started non violent , passive resistance
movement against the indigo planter in 1859. This movement is known as Indigo
Revolt. Near 60 lakhs ryots joined the movement . According to Amrit Bazar
Patrika “During the british raj , Indigo Revolt was the first mass movement
against it”
CAUSES OF INDIGO REVOLT:
1. GROWTH OF PLANTER SYSTEM: Gradually ,
a class of professional indigo planters made a monopoly in indigo cultivation
in Bengal and bihar. Many servants of the company gave up their jobs and become
planters. The Character of 1815 permitted the English planters to purchase land
directly and start indigo factories. As a result planters from Europe , West
Indies and South America flocked to India and purchased zamindari and started
indigo cultivation
2.EXPANSION OF INDIGO CULTIVATION BY FORCE: The area
under the indigo cultivation were dived into two sections:
“elaka-chas”(belonging to planters )and “be- elaka-chas”(belonging to ryots) In
“elaka chas” the planters had to cultivate at his own expense . But in “be-elaka-chas”
the planter gave some amount as advance and Indigo was cultivated at he labour
and expense of famers or ryots. The planters therefore, tried for the expansion
of “be- elaka-chas”land.
3.MISERABLE CONDITION OF THE RYOTS: Ryots had
to suspend the cultivatio0n of paddy , pulses, etc. As a result their family
began to starve. The planters generally forced the ryots to cultivate indigo in
“be-elaka-chas” so that the planters could take 100% profit. The ryots were
humiliated, tortured, and exploited . The ryots were forced to sell indigo at
cheap rate . The cattle of the peasant who refused to sow indigo were arrested
and confined in the factory and the peasants had to release his cattle by
signing the bonds . According to Hindu Patriot “Defaulting ryots were given
3-52 lashes”
4.THE SYSYTEM OF DADAN: The ryots
were forced to take advance or dadan of RS 2 per bigha of land . Dadani was a
death trap to ryots. The interest of dadani amount was very high. According to
samachar Darpan “The ryots who take Dadani has no respite till his death”
5.REGULATION V OF 1820: The
government passed Regulation V in 1820 . By this regulation the planters got
his right to arrest any ryots who took advance or dadani and failed to sow
indigo in his own hand. The Act intensified the hardship of indigo planters
6.GOVT. TACTICS TO SUPPORT PLANTERS: In the
court no magistrate was entitled to try any offenders of European origin. The
poor peasants were required to lodge complaints in Calcutta High Court which
was next to impossible for them. Besides, the police and officials supported
the planters. The magistrate and officials were entertained in planters cootey
. It became impossible for ryots to take justice.
7.GOVT. ACT OF 1860: The
government passed an Act in 1860 by which it was said that a ryot was liable to
find and imprisonment if he signed a bond, took dadani and refused to sow
indigo later.
8.ROLE OF NEWSPAPER: The
contemporary newspapers like “AMIRT BAZAR PATRIKA” of Sisir Kumar Ghosh ,
“SANGBAD PRABHAKAR” of Ishwar Gupta and many others played important role in
the background of indigo revolt.
RESULT OF INDIGO REVOLT:
1. The “INDIGO COMMISION” was formed in 1860 on the
basis of recommendation of indigo commission , forcefully cultivation of indigo
was declared harmful and was banned.
2. “Teen kathiya ” system or the system of cultivation
of indigo in three kottas of land for every bigha was introduced.
3. The Indigo Revolt taught the importance of united
movement.
4. The educated middle class of Bengal came forward in
the interest of farmers like Harish Chandra Mukopadhya , Sisir Kumar Ghosh,etc
However Indigo Revolt has a very far behind result at last Indigo
cultivation was declared harmful and was
banned. Till now Indigo cultivation is illegal in our country. But now a days
artificial blue colours are introduced
which we used today.
NATURE OF THE REVOLT:
1. Indigo Revolt was a mass movement lakhs of peasants
joined it .
2. It was anti british , anti exploitation , anti
planters and pro peasant in nature.
3. The Indigo Revolt was a spontaneous movement .
There was no instigation from outside.
4. The movement had no central organization, no brain
to guide it.
5. The revolt was initially non – violent in nature.
But Brutal police repression turned the movement into violent character.
Peasants attacked planters cootey and destroyed offices in many places.
6. The Indigo Revolt was a wide spread movement. It
first broke out at krishnanagar in Nadia district of West Bengal from there it
spread to Barasat, Malda, faridpur, Jessore,etc.
7. The Indigo Revolt was a secular movement Hindu and
Muslims peasants stood shoulder to shoulder in their resistance against the
planters.
8. Indigo Revolt did not get middle class support in
general aspect few exceptions. For example Sisir Kumar Ghosh and Harish Chandra
Mukherjee supported the ryots on the ground of humanism.
HOPE YOU LIKE MY BLOG ABOUT INDIGO REVOLT
COMMENT DOWN WHAT IS YOUR VIEW ON INDIGO REVOLT
THANKS FOR READING TILL END
THANKING YOU
HARSH GUPTA
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