With reference to the Indigo revolt of 1859-60, consider the following...
- One of the most militant and widespread of the peasant movements was the Indigo Revolt of 1859-60. From the beginning, indigo was grown under an extremely oppressive system that involved great loss to the cultivators. The indigo planters, nearly all Europeans, compelled the tenants to grow indigowhich they processed in factories set up in rural (mofussil) areas. The planters forced the peasants totake a meager amount as advance and enter into fraudulent contracts. 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, carrying off cattle, looting, were some of the methods used by the planters. They hired or maintained bands of lathyals (armed retainers) for the purpose. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
- In practice, the planters were also above the law. With a few exceptions, the magistrates, mostly European, favoured the planters. The discontent of indigo growers in Bengal boiled over in the autumn of 1859 when their case seemed to get Government support. Misreading an official letter and exceeding his authority, Hem Chandra Kar, Deputy Magistrate of Kalaroa, published on 17th August a proclamation to policemen that ‘in case of disputes relating to Indigo Ryots, they (ryots) shall retain possession of their own lands and shall sow on them what crops they please, and the Police will be careful that no Indigo Planter nor anyone else is able to interfere in the matter. The news of Kar’s proclamation spread all over Bengal, and peasants felt that the time for overthrowing the hated system had come. The beginning was made by Digambar Biswas and Bishnu Biswas, ex-employees of a planter, they gave up indigo cultivation.
- The peasant disturbances and indigo strikes spread rapidly to other areas. The peasants refused to take advances and enter into contracts, pledged not to sow indigo, and defended themselves from the planters’ attacks with whatever weapons came to hand. 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. Peasants gradually learnt to use the legal machinery to enforce their rights. 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 major reason for the success of the Indigo Revolt was the tremendous initiative, cooperation, organization and discipline of the ryots. Another was the complete unity among Hindu and Muslim peasants. Leadership for the movement was provided by the more well-off ryots and in some cases by petty zamindars, moneylenders and ex-employees of the planters.
- The intelligentsia’s role in the Indigo Revolt was to have an abiding impact on the emerging nationalist intellectuals very political childhood they had given support to a popular peasant movement against the foreign planters. This was to establish a tradition with long-run implications for the national movement. Christian Missionaries were another group that extended active support to the indigo ryots in their struggle. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
- Worried by the rebellion, the government brought in the military to protect the planters from assault, and set up the Indigo Commission to enquire into the system of indigo production. The Commission held the planters guilty, and criticised them for the coercive methods they used with indigo cultivators. It declared that indigo production was not profitable for ryots. Hence statement 3 is correct.
- Hence option (b) is the correct answer.
With reference to the Indigo revolt of 1859-60, consider the following...
Background:
The Indigo revolt of 1859-60 was a significant peasant uprising against the exploitative indigo planters in Bengal. The indigo planters forced the ryots (peasants) to cultivate indigo on their lands instead of food crops, leading to severe economic hardships and exploitation.
Explanation:
Let's evaluate each statement to determine which one is incorrect:
1. Indigo ryots formed groups called lathyals to revolt against the planters:
This statement is correct. The indigo ryots formed groups called lathyals, which were essentially armed peasant groups, to revolt against the indigo planters. These groups were instrumental in organizing protests and demonstrations against the oppressive indigo system.
2. Christian Missionaries extended active support to Indigo ryots:
This statement is correct. Christian missionaries played a crucial role in supporting the indigo ryots during the revolt. They provided moral and material support to the peasants, helping them organize protests, spread awareness about their plight, and mobilize public opinion against the planters.
3. The Indigo Commission enquiring into the system of Indigo production held the planters guilty:
This statement is incorrect. The Indigo Commission, appointed by the British government to investigate the indigo system, did not hold the planters guilty. Instead, the commission largely exonerated the planters from any wrongdoing and placed the blame on the indigenous Indian middlemen, known as gomasthas, who acted as intermediaries between the planters and the ryots.
Conclusion:
From the above evaluation, it can be concluded that statement 3 only is incorrect. The Indigo Commission did not hold the planters guilty but instead shifted the blame onto the gomasthas. Therefore, the correct answer is option C) 3 only.
To make sure you are not studying endlessly, EduRev has designed UPSC study material, with Structured Courses, Videos, & Test Series. Plus get personalized analysis, doubt solving and improvement plans to achieve a great score in UPSC.