A significant feature of the Indigo Revolt of 1859-60 was the role pla...
The Role of Harish Chandra Mukherjee in the Indigo Revolt of 1859-60
Introduction:
The Indigo Revolt of 1859-60 was a significant peasant uprising in colonial India against the oppressive practices of indigo planters. The revolt was characterized by a strong role played by the intelligentsia in mobilizing public opinion against the planters and supporting the resistance of the peasants. One of the key figures in this movement was Harish Chandra Mukherjee, who played a crucial role through his newspaper Hindoo Patriot.
Harish Chandra Mukherjee and Hindoo Patriot:
1. Harish Chandra Mukherjee was a prominent journalist and social reformer during the 19th century in India.
2. He established the newspaper Hindoo Patriot in 1853, which became an important platform for disseminating information and promoting nationalist ideas.
3. Through Hindoo Patriot, Mukherjee played a key role in exposing the atrocities committed by indigo planters on the peasants and highlighting their resistance.
4. He published regular reports from his correspondents in the rural areas, which provided firsthand accounts of the oppression faced by the peasants and their efforts to resist and fight against it.
Reporting Planters' Oppression and Peasant Resistance:
1. The reports published in Hindoo Patriot shed light on the exploitative practices of the indigo planters, such as forced cultivation, exorbitant rents, and harsh working conditions.
2. These reports were crucial in creating awareness among the general public and mobilizing public opinion against the planters.
3. Mukherjee's correspondents provided detailed accounts of the struggles and resistance of the peasants, giving a voice to their grievances and concerns.
4. The reports also highlighted the unity and solidarity among the peasants, as they came together to fight against the planters and demand their rights.
Impact and Significance:
1. The publication of these reports played a significant role in generating widespread sympathy and support for the peasants' cause.
2. It helped in mobilizing public opinion against the planters and pressurizing the colonial government to take action.
3. The reports also had a ripple effect, inspiring other newspapers and journalists to cover the Indigo Revolt, thereby increasing its visibility and impact.
4. The role played by Harish Chandra Mukherjee and Hindoo Patriot in the Indigo Revolt contributed to the growth of nationalist sentiments and the emergence of a unified resistance against colonial oppression in India.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Harish Chandra Mukherjee played a key role in the Indigo Revolt of 1859-60 through his newspaper Hindoo Patriot. By publishing regular reports from his correspondents in the rural areas on planters' oppression and peasant resistance, he helped mobilize public opinion, expose the atrocities committed by the planters, and provide a platform for the grievances and struggles of the peasants. His contribution was instrumental in generating support for the revolt and highlighting the need for social and economic justice in colonial India.
A significant feature of the Indigo Revolt of 1859-60 was the role pla...
One of the most militant and widespread of the peasant movements during British rule was the Indigo Revolt of 1859-60. The indigo planters, nearly all Europeans, compelled the tenants to grow indigo which they processed in factories set up in rural (mofussil) areas. The planters forced the peasants to take a meager amount as advance and enter into fraudulent contracts. The price paid for the indigo plants was far below the market price. Since the enforcement of forced and fraudulent contracts through the courts was a difficult and prolonged process, the planters resorted to a reign of terror to coerce the peasants. Kidnapping, illegal confinement in factory godowns, flogging, attacks on women and children, etc. Initially, the peasants made an attempt to get redressal through peaceful means. They sent numerous petitions to the authorities and organized peaceful demonstrations. Their anger exploded in September 1859 when they asserted their right not to grow indigo under duress and resisted the physical pressure of the planters and their lathiyals backed by the police and the courts. The planters then attacked with another weapon, their zamindari powers. They threatened the rebellious ryots with eviction or enhancement of rent. The ryots replied by going on a rent strike. They refused to pay the enhanced rents and they physically resisted attempts to evict them. They also gradually learnt to use the legal machinery to enforce their rights. They joined together and raised funds to fight court cases filed against them, and they initiated legal action on their own against the planters. They also used the weapon of social boycott to force a planter‟s servants to leave him. Ultimately, the planters could not withstand the united resistance of the ryots, and they gradually began to close their factories. The cultivation of indigo was virtually wiped out from the districts of Bengal by the end of 1860. A significant feature of the Indigo Revolt was the role of the intelligentsia of Bengal which organized a powerful campaign in support of the rebellious peasantry. It carried on newspaper campaigns, organized mass meetings, prepared memoranda on peasants‘ grievances and supported them in their legal battles. Outstanding in this respect was the role of Harish Chandra Mukherji, editor of the Hindoo Patriot. He published regular reports from his correspondents in the rural areas on planters‟ oppression, officials‟ partisanship and peasant resistance. He himself wrote with passion, anger and deep knowledge of the problem which, he raised to a high political plane. Din Bandhu Mitra‘s play, Neel Darpan, was to gain great fame for vividly portraying the oppression by the planters. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.
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