Background
- 1788: EIC began indigo plantation via 10 EU planters (Bengal)
- Nij System: Planters bought lands. Challenge of buying large lands, arranging labour etc.
- Ryoti System: Leased lands from Zamindar & signed contracts whereby
- Ryot must grow indigo on 25% of plot
- Planters gave low interest loans and sold seeds and drills to Ryot
- Pre 1857: Titu Mir of 24 Parganas 1831 + Faraizi Mvmt 1830s in East Bengal had grievance against indigo planters
Grievances
Global context
There was a market crash in Britain at the same time which led to lack of money flow. Thus planters extracted even more out of ryots and oppressed them.
- soil fertility destroyed
- lower future yield
- low price for planter for indigo cultivitated
- indebtedness ryot forced to take further loans to cultivate indigo
- fall in intl prices of indigo
- sympathetic LG asked DC to side with Ryots
Action
Non Cooperation (NC)
NC idea existed much before Gandhi Ji, even though he was the one to popularize it with a name. NC is implemented here too.
- ryot refused loans to cultivate indigo
- social boycott of agents of planters
- NC by ryots
- planters went to court to enforce contracts
- Ryot began No Rent Campaign
- withholding rent till the time demands not met
- Ryot filed cases under Rent Act 1859
- Role of WEMC
- Deenbandhu Mitra’s play Neeldarpan highlighted issue & greatly inc awareness
- Michael Madhusudhan Datta translated it into english & Missionary James Long published it awareness in Britain
- aggressive editorials by Hindu Patriot and Som Prakash
- even educated zamindar supported
- 1860 Indigo Commission: fulfill present contracts but free to not sign future contracts
- 1863: Indigo cultivation shifted to Bihar as the Tinkathia System
- same as Ryoti, but 15%, not 25%
- Champaran Satyagrah by MG
- Champaran Agrarian Act 1918