The Indigo Revolt in Bengal

Bengal's ryots refused to grow indigo for European planters.

Key points for UPSC

• European planters forced ryots to grow indigo on unfair contracts; in 1859–60 the ryots of Nadia and nearby districts refused.
• Digambar Biswas and Bishnu Biswas led the movement; the government set up the Indigo Commission in 1860.
• Dinabandhu Mitra's play Nil Darpan showed the ryots' suffering; Rev. James Long, who published its English version, was jailed.

Test yourself

1. 1. Which play depicted the misery of the indigo cultivators?

   • (a) Nil Darpan by Dinabandhu Mitra
   • (b) Anandamath by Bankim Chandra
   • (c) Gitanjali by Tagore
   • (d) Gulamgiri by Phule
   Show answer

   (a) Nil Darpan by Dinabandhu Mitra. Nil Darpan (1860) exposed the planters' oppression.

2. 2. Who was jailed for publishing the English version of Nil Darpan?

   • (a) Rev. James Long
   • (b) A. O. Hume
   • (c) William Wedderburn
   • (d) C. F. Andrews
   Show answer

   (a) Rev. James Long. Rev. James Long was fined and imprisoned.

3. 3. The Indigo Revolt was led by:

   • (a) Digambar Biswas and Bishnu Biswas
   • (b) Birsa Munda
   • (c) Rajkumar Shukla
   • (d) Surya Sen
   Show answer

   (a) Digambar Biswas and Bishnu Biswas. The Biswas brothers of Chaugachha in Nadia led it.