In the revolt of 1859, in which the farmers of Bengal refused to produce Indigo, it is known as __________.

The correct answer is

Key Points

• Indigo Revolt 1859:
  • The revolt began in Govindpur village in the Nadia district of Bengal in 1859, where two peasants Digamber Biswas and Bishnu Biswas gave up indigo cultivation.
  • The revolt was against British planters who had forced farmers to grow indigo under terms that were greatly unfavourable to the farmers.
  • Followed by the struggle with the Lathials and the revolt spread in many parts of Bengal.
  • They attacked the policemen who intervened.
  • The planters, in response to this, increased the rents and evicted the farmers which led to more agitations.
  • In April 1860, all the farmers in the Barasat division of the districts Nadia and Pabna went on strike and refused to grow indigo.
  • The farmers were led by the Biswas brothers of Nadia, Rafiq Mondal of Malda and Kader Molla of Pabna.
  • The revolt also received support from many zamindars notably Ramrattan Mullick of Narail.
  • The revolt was suppressed and many farmers were slaughtered by the government and some of the zamindars.
  • The press also supported the revolt and played its part in portraying the plight of the farmers and fighting for their cause.
  • The play Nil Darpan (The Mirror of Indigo) by Dinabandhu Mitra written in 1858 – 59 portrayed the farmers' situation accurately.
  • It showed how farmers were coerced into planting indigo without adequate payment.
  • The play became a talking point and it urged the Bengali intelligentsia to lend support to the indigo revolt.
  • Reverend James Long translated the play into English on the authority of the Secretary to the Governor of Bengal, W S Seton-Karr.
  • The planters who were treated as villains in the play sued Rev. Long for libel. Rev. Long was pronounced guilty and had to pay Rs.1000 as compensation and serve a month in prison.