Indigo had a significant impact on the world through its effect on the indian revolts on factory worker rights, which largely effected the trade of indigo throughout Europe. What was the effect?
India was once the main provider of indigo dyes to Europe, because it was valued much more than the native woad (a type of blue dye). While India was occupied by the British, indigo was in large demand and production was big. The conditions in which peasants had to go through just to live in an area were similar to those of workers on cotton plantations in America.
Finally, a Champaran farmer named Rajkumar Shukla came to Gandhi to ask for help in the situation. Gandhi agreed to travel to Champara to help. Shortly after Gandhi arrived in Champara, he was told by European Commissioner Mr. Morshead of the Tirhut division (a government official from Europe) to leave, or be put under arrest. Gandhi refused to leave, and was put under arrest. At his trial, there were so many spectators that the court could not fit everyone. Gandhi read his statement explaining why he openly was disobedient towards the government. The court then ruled that Gandhi would be held until bailed out at a charge of 100 rupees. Gandhi then told the court that there was no one that would bail him out. The court then allowed the release of Gandhi, and he was legally allowed to continue his work in surveying and collecting information from peasants. What was the real effect of indigo? The rise of Gandhi? The video below is great, but it needs a caption.
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When synthetic dyes were created, workers and planters suffered due to a lack of need for indigo dyes. Indian peasants, who were tenants on the land of the indigo planters, were forced to pay higher rents each month, putting many in poverty. "The tenants were taxed for drawing water from canals which did not exist; they had to contribute towards the purchase by the planter of an elephant, a house or a car; they had to pay a death duty for the recognition of a successful valid under the law"(Nanda 157). you need the because statement somewhere in here...because planters were no longer making as much money from indigo, because the dye was being replaced by synthetics...you're missing this.
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