What were the circumstances which led to the eventual collapse of Indigo production in Bengal?

The indigo ryots of Bengal felt that they had the support of local Zamidars and village headmen in their struggle against the forceful and oppressive methods of the indigo planters. They also believed the british government would support them in their struggle. The Lieutenant Governor’s tour of the region in 1859 was seen as a sign of government sympathy.

(i) In March 1859, thousands of ryots in Bengal refused to grow indigo. As the rebellion spread, ryots refused to pay rents to the planter and attacked indigo factories armed with swords and spears, bows and arrows.

(ii) Ryots swore they would no longer take advances to sow indigo nor be bullied by planter’s lathiyals.

(iii) The government set-up the Indigo Commission to enquire into the system of indigo production. The Commission held the planters guilty and criticized them for the coercive methods they used with indigo cultivators.

(iv) The Indigo Commission declared that indigo production was not profitable for ryots. The Commission asked the ryots to fulfill their existing contracts but also told them that they could refuse to produce indigo in future.