Question

Why did cultivators refused to grow indigo under Ryotwari system in Bengal?

Answer 1

Answer:

The circumstances which led to the eventual collapse of indigo production in Bengal are mentioned below:

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

They started protesting as they thought that they had the support of village headmen in their rebellion.

The headmen who were forced to sign the contract fought battles with the agents of the indigo planters.

The zamindars also supported the farmers as they were unhappy with the increasing powers of the planters.

The indigo farmers also believed that the British government would support them in their rebellion against the planters because the government did not want another rebellion after the Revolt of 1857.

Following the protests, the Indigo Commission was constituted by the government which held the planters guilty of using coercive methods to deal with the indigo peasants and asked the planters to stop the cultivation.

This eventually led to the eventual collapse of indigo plantation in Bengal