Ruling the Countryside
Ruling the Countryside > Ask Alfie
Hi
Write a short note on the 'Blue Rebellion'.
In March 1859 thousands of ryots in Bengal refused to grow indigo.
1. As the rebellion spread, ryots refused to pay rents to the planters, and attacked indigo factories armed with swords and spears, bows and arrows. Women turned up to fight with pots, pans and kitchen implements. Those who worked for the planters were socially boycotted, and the gomasthas (agents of planters) who came to collect rent were beaten up. 2. In 1859, the indigo ryots felt that they had the support of the local zamindars and village headmen in their rebellion against the planters. In many villages, headmen who had been forced to sign indigo contracts, mobilised the indigo peasants and fought pitched battles with the lathiyals ( the lathi-wielding strongmen maintained by the planters). The indigo system was intensely oppressive. 3. In other places even the zamindars went around villages urging the ryots to resist the planters. These zamindars were unhappy with the increasing power of the planters and angry at being forced by the planters to give them land on long leases.
1. As the rebellion spread, ryots refused to pay rents to the planters, and attacked indigo factories armed with swords and spears, bows and arrows. Women turned up to fight with pots, pans and kitchen implements. Those who worked for the planters were socially boycotted, and the gomasthas (agents of planters) who came to collect rent were beaten up. 2. In 1859, the indigo ryots felt that they had the support of the local zamindars and village headmen in their rebellion against the planters. In many villages, headmen who had been forced to sign indigo contracts, mobilised the indigo peasants and fought pitched battles with the lathiyals ( the lathi-wielding strongmen maintained by the planters). The indigo system was intensely oppressive. 3. In other places even the zamindars went around villages urging the ryots to resist the planters. These zamindars were unhappy with the increasing power of the planters and angry at being forced by the planters to give them land on long leases.
Some of the learners also asked:
What is “Blue Rebellion” ?
What is “Blue Rebellion” ?
