Why did the British want to grow the ‘indigo plant’ in India?

The British wanted to grow the ‘indigo plant’ in India because –

• When East India Company captured India, they realised that it will not only help them to meet the expenses of the company or to increase revenue but also help them to grow such crops which were in great demand in Europe. Opium and Indigo were two such crops.

• Indigo was produced in the tropical regions and by the 13th century, Indian Indigo was in demand in Italy, France and Britain to dye cloth.

• Due to the growing demand for Indigo by the cloth dyers in European countries, the demand for Indian Indigo increased at the end of the 18th century.

• Due to this, the British started producing Indigo in India. This led to the increase in the production of cotton causing to increase the demand for cloth dyes.