History notes

SYSTEMS OF INDIGO CULTIVATION:

Nij Cultivation:

In this system, the planter produced indigo on those lands which were under his direct control. The planter either bought the land or rented it from other zamindars. He directly employed labourers to produce indigo.

The problem with nij cultivation

• Indigo could only be cultivated on fertile lands.   This made it difficult to expand the area under nij cultivation.
• A large plantation required a large number of workers. Work at indigo plantation coincided with the time when peasants were busy with rice cultivation. Hence, mobilizing the labour for indigo cultivation was a difficult task.
• Large scale nij cultivation also required many ploughs and bullocks. It was a big problem to bur and maintain the ploughs.  
• Till the late nineteenth century, planters were not willing to expand the area under nij cultivation. Less than 25% of the indigo cultivation was done under nij system.

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Ryoti System

Under the ryoti system, indigo cultivation was done by the ryots. The planters made the ryots to sign a contract or an agreement. Sometimes, they pressurized the village headmen to sign the contract on behalf of the ryots. After signing the contract, the ryots got cash advances from the planters. But after taking the loan, the ryot was committed to grow indigo on at least 25% of his land holding. 

But the planters bought indigo at low prices and hence the ryots were always in debt trap.

“Blue Rebellion”

• Thousands of ryots in Bengal refused to grow indigo in March 1859. The ryots refused to pay rents to the planters. They attacked indigo factories. They used to be armed with swords and spears, bows and arrows. Women also fought with pots, panda and kitchen implements. Those who worked for the planters were socially boycotted.  
• In many villages, headmen mobilized the indigo peasants against the lathiyals.  
• After the Revolt of 1857, the British government was worried about the possibility of another popular rebellion. When the news of indigo revolt spread, the Lieutenant Governor toured the region in the winter of 1859. This was seen as a sign of sympathy by the ryots. They began to believe that the British government would support them in their struggle.
• When the rebellion spread, intellectuals from Calcutta rushed to the indigo districts. They began writing about the misery of the ryots and the horrors of the indigo system.
• The government called in the military to protect the planters. The Indigo Commission was set up to enquire into the system of indigo production.  
• Answer the following:-
  1. Describe Ryotwari system of land revenue collection.
  2. Describe the Mahalwari system of land revenue collection
  3. Why did the British expand areas under indigo cultivation? Who were the new plantation owners?
  4. Why did East India Company feel the need to improve agriculture between 1773-1793?
  5. Describe features of Permanent settlement.
  6. What were the problems created by permanent settlement?
  7. What was the reason for demand of Indian Indigo?
  8. How was Mahalwari system different from Permanent Settlement system?
  
  
  II Answer in a line:-
  1. When was Permanent settlement introduced in Bengal?
  2. Who devised system of Mahalwari system?
  3. Who fought for indigo planter’s rights in India?
  4. Why did the demand of indigo rise in Britain?
  5. Name the two main system of growing indigo.
  6. Name the four plantation crops introduced by British in India and places they were grown in.
  7. Who was Holt Mackenzie? Who created Kalamkari & how was it done?