Question

Comparative analysis of structure of Indigo cultivation during pre colonial and postcolonial times. Discuss the importance of Indigo cultivation for British economy during 19th century and Indian economy during 21st century.

Answer should be of 5 to 6 pages

Answer 1

During the British rule from 1757 to 1947 Indian agriculture was remained completely traditional and primitive. Farm technology which was followed during those days was simple and no transformation was adopted into it. There was increasing pressure on the agricultural sector as there was a decline of urban handicrafts in India.

This has resulted in sudden swelling in the number of agriculturists leading to continuous sub-divisions and fragmentation of agricultural land.

There was a little change in the agricultural practices adopted in India till the 19th century, Indian farmers were growing the same crops.  

There are several indications that the growth process of the Indian economy entered into a phase of the crisis in the second decade of the current century. Investment and trade stagnation and it was increasing dependence on consumption demand, coupled with poor industrial (including construction) and agricultural growth, mark out this decade and differentiate it sharply from the period of high growth that preceded the global crisis of 2008.

Answer 2

Indigo Cultivation

Explanation:

• The Indian indigo was used in Italy , France and England by the thirteenth century. However, the price of indigo was very high and a limited amount of indigo could enter the European market. However, Woad was  another plant used in the production of purple and blue colorants (similar to indigo). In Europe woad producers were troubled by indigo competition and therefore pressured their governments to ban indigo imports.
• But the cloth dyers favored indigo. Whilst indigo was rich in blue, woad made pale and dull blue. By the 17th century , European cloth manufacturers pressured their govts to lighten the ban on indigo imports.
• By the end of the 18th century industrialisation in Britain began and there was expansion in cotton production. This created enormous cloth dyes demand. There were various explanations why indigo supplies from the America and West Indies failed. Indigo production worldwide decreased by half from 1783 to 1789. This meant there was increasing demand for Indian indigo.
• The Company has been looking for ways to develop the region in India under indigo farming. In Bengal, indigo culture expanded steadily from the last decades of the 18th century. Commercial agents & the Company officials started spending to maximize their income in indigo production. Many people from Scotland and British came to India and became planters. At that time , the company & banks gave loans for indigo growing.

(i) Nij System: The planter produced indigo in these systems on those lands that were directly controlled by him. Either the planter purchased or rented the property with from zamindars. He employed workers directly for indigo production. Only in fertile lands can indigo be grown. The area under Nij cultivation was thus very difficult to expand. Many workers were required to a large plantation. Indigo farm work coincided with the time when farmers were busy cultivating rice. Therefore, it was a difficult task to mobilize labor for indigo farming. Many ploughs and bullocks were also required for large-scale Nij cultivation. The bur and maintenance of the ploughs was a huge problem. Because the rice cultivation has occupied ploughs and bullocks of farmers, they could not be bought. hence, Less than 25 per cent  of the indigo cultivation was done under Nij system.

(ii) Ryoti System: The indigo production was carried out by ryots under the Ryoti method. The planters had a lease or a satta signed by the ryots. Often the village leaders were pressurized to sign an document on behalf of the Ryots. After the contract was signed, the planters received cash advances. But the ryot was obliged to develop indigo on at least 25 per cent of its land owning after receiving the loan. The planter provided seeds and drills. The farmers prepared the ground, sowed the seed and cared for the crop. However, planters bought indigo at low prices and hence the ryots were always in debt trap.

The Blue Rebellion

• In March 1859 in Bengal thousands of protests refused to grow indigo. . The Indigo factories were attacked. They attacked indigo factories. Those working for the planters were "socially boycotted". When they came to rent, the gomasthas were beaten. The gomasthas were indigo planters' agents
• The indigo farmers were mobilized by village headmen against lathiyals in many villages. These headmen were furious because they were forced to sign a "indigo contract". Some zamindars were angry about their growing power of planters and and for having pressurised the zamindars to provide planter with land for long rental periods. Some of them supported the villager in their insurrection against the indigo planters.
• The British Govt was concerned about another popular rebellion following the 1857 revolt. The Lieutenant Governor went to the area in the winter of 1859 when "news" of the indigo revolt propagated. It was regarded as a sign of the ryots' sympathy. The ryots continued to expect that they should be helped by the British Govt in their efforts. Intellectuals from Calcutta came into Indigo districts when the rebellion expanded. They began to write about riots' misery & indigo system horrors.
• The govt called for the protection of planters from  the military. The Commission for Indigo was established to investigate the indigo production system. The planters were convicted of the Commission. It requested the ryots to "fulfill their current commitments" and were then free to cultivate what they wanted.

After the Revolt

• In Bengal, after the revolt, the indigo production had collapsed. Now the plants have moved to Bihar. The finding of synthetic dyes seriously affected the company at the end of the 19th century. However the planters succeeded in expanding production.
• The sufferings of the indigo farmers in "Champaran" was brought to his attention as Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa. In 1917 Mahatma Gandhi visited Champaran and started the indigo planter movement.