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Collapse of Indigo Production in Bengal

The document compares the mahalwari system and the Permanent Settlement, highlighting differences in their introduction, revenue collection, and responsibilities. It also discusses the reluctance of ryots to grow indigo due to oppressive conditions and the eventual collapse of indigo production in Bengal, driven by widespread rebellion and government intervention. The Indigo Commission found the planters guilty of coercive practices and deemed indigo production unprofitable for ryots.

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11 views3 pages

Collapse of Indigo Production in Bengal

The document compares the mahalwari system and the Permanent Settlement, highlighting differences in their introduction, revenue collection, and responsibilities. It also discusses the reluctance of ryots to grow indigo due to oppressive conditions and the eventual collapse of indigo production in Bengal, driven by widespread rebellion and government intervention. The Indigo Commission found the planters guilty of coercive practices and deemed indigo production unprofitable for ryots.

Uploaded by

aamirbabu899
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Timeline

QUESTION AND ANSWERS


Q1. How was the mahalwari system different from the Permanent
Settlement?

S. No. Permanent Settlement Mahalwari Settlement

Introduced in the western part of the


1. Introduced in Bihar and Bengal. Gangetic Valley, North-West Province,
parts of Central India, and Punjab.

2. Introduced in 1793. Came into effect in 1822.

The amount to be paid as land


The amount of land revenue was
revenue was fixed. The
3. revised periodically. The government
government could not enhance
could revise the revenue.
it.

The village headman was responsible


The zamindar was responsible
4. for collecting the revenue and paying
for collecting the revenue.
it to the Company.

Q2 Why were ryots reluctant to grow indigo?


Ans. Ryots were reluctant to grow indigo because:
1. The indigo system was intensely oppressive.
2. Indigo could be cultivated only on fertile lands and these were all
already densely populated.
3. Peasants who were initially tempted by the loans soon realized how
harsh the system was. The price they got for the indigo they produced
was very low and cycle of loans never ended.
4. The planters usually insisted that indigo be cultivated on the best
soils in which peasants preferred to cultivate rice.
5. Indigo had deep roots and it exhausted the soil rapidly. After an indigo
harvest the land could not be sown with rice.

Q3 What were the circumstances which led to the eventual collapse of


indigo production in Bengal?

1. In March 1859, thousands of ryots in Bengal refused to grow indigo.


As the rebellion spread, ryots refused to pay rents to the planter and
attacked indigo factories armed with swords and spears, bows and
arrows.
2. Ryots swore they would no longer take advances to sow indigo nor be
bullied by planter’s lathi.
3. The government set-up the Indigo Commission to enquire into the
system of indigo production. The Commission held the planters guilty
and criticized them for the coercive methods they used with indigo
cultivators.
4. The Indigo Commission declared that indigo production was not
profitable for ryots. The Commission asked the ryots to fulfill their
existing contracts but also told them that they could refuse to produce
indigo in future.

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