Indigo Revolt

The farmers of Bengal used to earn their livelihood by producing indigo from the indigo plant. But when the British started indigo cultivation in Bengal, the condition of the farmers deteriorated. The landlords cultivated the land for the British. However, the landlords paid meager wages to their dependents. The farmers who demanded fair wages were subjected to torture. The farmers, who were suffering from hunger, attacked the British and destroyed the factories. The press and the locals supported the farmers. The agitation intensified when Grant, the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal, initiated disciplinary measures. In this situation, the government appointed a commission headed by an officer named W.S. Setankar. The commission then ruled that the British should withdraw from forcing the farmers to work. Gradually, the strike began.