The Indigo Uprising (1859) and the Deccan Riots (1875) (ISC Class 11 History)
Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked
In 1859 Bengal ryots refused to grow indigo for European planters; the Indigo Commission (1860) blamed the planters and Bengal indigo collapsed. In 1875 Deccan ryots attacked sahukars and burnt their bonds after a cotton collapse and higher revenue; the Deccan Agriculturists' Relief Act (1879) followed.
Both revolts followed the same path: a burden on peasants, a protest, then an official response (Indigo Commission 1860; Relief Act 1879).
Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.
Understand The Indigo Uprising (1859) and the Deccan Riots (1875)
Indigo Uprising (1859). Planters made indigo through nij cultivation (their own controlled land) and ryoti cultivation, forcing ryots to sign contracts (satta) and take advances (dadon) and grow indigo on at least a quarter of their land. Grievances: very low prices so advances were never cleared; the best land was taken; exhausted soil would not grow rice; coercion by lathiyals. In March 1859 thousands of ryots refused to sow indigo, stopped rent to planters and fought the lathiyals, beginning in Nadia and Barasat. Headmen and some zamindars helped; Harish Chandra Mukherjee wrote in the Hindoo Patriot and Dinabandhu Mitra's play Nil Darpan (1860) exposed the cruelty. Magistrate Ashley Eden issued a notice that ryots could not be compelled.
- Impact: the Indigo Commission (1860) found the planters guilty of coercion and said indigo was not profitable for ryots; existing contracts to be fulfilled but ryots could refuse in future; production collapsed in Bengal and planters moved to Bihar (Champaran, 1917); the revolt showed united largely non-violent refusal and drew in the educated class and the press.
Deccan riots (1875). Causes: high Ryotwari revenue from the 1820s and debt after the 1830s price fall; the cotton boom of 1861-65 during the American Civil War with liberal credit; collapse after 1865 when American cotton returned and credit stopped; revenue raised sharply (50 to 100 per cent in some areas); the Limitation Law of 1859 made bonds valid for three years so moneylenders forced new bonds for whole debt plus interest, gave no receipts and took land and cattle; a sense of betrayal. On 12 May 1875 ryots of Supa in Poona district attacked sahukars' shops and burnt account books and bonds; the riots spread to over 30 villages in Poona and Ahmednagar, targeting documents rather than persons.
- Impact: the Deccan Riots Commission reported in 1878, blaming indebtedness and moneylenders' practices but not the revenue demand; the Deccan Agriculturists' Relief Act (1879) protected peasants from arrest for debt, let courts examine loan histories and restricted land transfers to moneylenders; the records give historians a view of rural debt.
The Indigo Uprising (1859) and the Deccan Riots (1875): key facts
- Indigo dates
March 1859 refusal begins, Nadia and Barasat 1860 Nil Darpan and Indigo Commission 1917 Champaran - Deccan dates
1861-65 cotton boom 12 May 1875: Supa 1878 Commission report 1879 Relief Act - Indigo terms
Nij planter's own cultivation Ryoti through ryots Satta contract Dadon advance - Common pattern
- Policy creates exploiters
- People protest
- State represses and passes a law
How to answer The Indigo Uprising (1859) and the Deccan Riots (1875) questions
Questions are 4-mark causes or impact items and an 8-mark combined question.
- 1Give the date, place and group involved.
- 2List causes in order from background to trigger.
- 3Describe the form of protest.
- 4State the official response and its effect.
The Indigo Uprising (1859) and the Deccan Riots (1875) in real life
The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.
Boycott of a crop
Suppose farmers in a district agree together that they will no longer plant a crop for a buyer who pays too little and takes their best land.
Which 1859 revolt does this resemble and what was the government response?
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- The Indigo Uprising, where ryots refused to sow indigo.
- The Indigo Commission (1860) blamed the planters.
Answer: Indigo Uprising; Indigo Commission.
Memory hook: Refuse together.
Burnt papers
Suppose villagers burn a moneylender's account book instead of attacking him.
Which riot does this recall and why target papers?
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- The Deccan riots of 1875.
- The bonds and books were the proof of their debts and the source of unfair claims.
Answer: Deccan riots; papers held the debts.
Memory hook: Burn the bond, free the debt.
Tricks to remember The Indigo Uprising (1859) and the Deccan Riots (1875)
Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.
Satta, dadon
Satta contract plus dadon advance trapped ryots.
Use it when: Indigo terms.
Supa 1875
Supa starts the Deccan riots on 12 May 1875.
Use it when: Deccan trigger.
The Indigo Uprising (1859) and the Deccan Riots (1875): solved examples
Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.
Example 1: Riot village · 1 mark · MCQBoard level
The Deccan riots of 1875 were mainly directed against:
(a) indigo planters
(b) sahukars (moneylenders)
(c) forest guards
(d) missionaries
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- Debt bonds were burnt.
Answer: (b) Sahukars (moneylenders).
Example 2: Indigo grievances · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level
State three grievances of ryots against indigo planters.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- Very low price so advances could not be cleared.
- Best land was demanded and soil was exhausted.
- Coercion by lathiyals.
Answer: Low price, best land taken, and coercion.
Example 3: Deccan causes · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level
Explain four causes of the Deccan riots of 1875.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- High revenue and debt under the Ryotwari system.
- The cotton boom and the collapse after 1865 and refusal of credit.
- Higher revenue demands, 50 to 100 per cent in some areas.
- The Limitation Law made moneylenders force fresh bonds and the ryots felt betrayed.
Answer: Revenue and debt, cotton collapse, higher demand and unfair bonds.
Example 4: Effect on policy · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level
Explain the impact of the Indigo Uprising on colonial policy and on Bengal agriculture.
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- The Indigo Commission (1860) found the planters guilty of coercion.
- Ryots could refuse indigo in future.
- Indigo production collapsed in Bengal and planters moved to Bihar.
- The press and educated class became allies of peasants.
Answer: The Commission blamed planters; indigo collapsed in Bengal; planters shifted to Bihar.
Example 5: Source work · 5 marks · Source-basedHOTS / competency
Read the extract and answer.
The Deccan Riots Commission accepted that indebtedness and the moneylenders' practices had caused the riots, but argued that the government's revenue demand was not the main cause. The Deccan Agriculturists' Relief Act (1879) followed.
(i) In which year did the Commission report? [1]
(ii) What did the Commission not blame, and why might this be questioned? [2]
(iii) State two provisions of the 1879 Act. [2]
Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
- (i) 1878.
- (ii) It did not blame the revenue demand; revenue had been raised sharply in some areas and ryots had fallen into debt to pay it.
- (iii) Protection from arrest for debt; courts could examine the history of a loan and reduce unfair interest; restriction on land transfer to moneylenders.
Answer: (i) 1878 (ii) revenue demand, though it had risen (iii) protection from arrest and court review of loans.
Where students lose marks in The Indigo Uprising (1859) and the Deccan Riots (1875)
The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.
Mistake: Mixing the two revolts
Places and years are swapped.
Do this: Indigo: Bengal 1859; Deccan: Poona and Ahmednagar 1875.
Usually costs: 1 to 2 marks.
Mistake: Saying Deccan riots targeted persons
Violence stressed.
Do this: They targeted account books and bonds more than people.
Usually costs: 1 mark.
Mistake: No policy outcome
Answer stops at the revolt.
Do this: Add Commission and Act with years.
Usually costs: 2 marks.
Exam tips
- Give dates and districts.
- End each revolt with an official response.
- Use terms satta, dadon, sahukar.
- Compare the two in a short table.
Practice questions on The Indigo Uprising (1859) and the Deccan Riots (1875)
Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.
Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level
Who wrote the play Nil Darpan?
(a) Harish Chandra Mukherjee
(b) Dinabandhu Mitra
(c) Ashley Eden
(d) TagoreHint
1860.
Answer
(b) Dinabandhu Mitra.
Q2 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Distinguish between nij and ryoti cultivation of indigo.
Hint
Own land versus contracts.
Answer
Nij cultivation was on land the planter controlled directly using hired labour; ryoti cultivation forced ryots to sign contracts and take advances and grow indigo on a quarter of their land.
Q3 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
A Deccan ryot pays revenue of 200 rupees and the demand is raised by 50 per cent in one area and by 100 per cent in another. Find both new demands.
Hint
Percentage increases.
Answer
50 per cent: 200 + 100 = 300 rupees; 100 per cent: 200 + 200 = 400 rupees.
Q4 · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level
Explain why the Limitation Law of 1859 hurt ryots.
Hint
Bonds valid for three years.
Answer
It made loan bonds valid for only three years, so moneylenders made ryots sign fresh bonds for the whole debt plus interest, kept no receipts and entered false figures, taking land and cattle.
Q5 · 3 marks · Assertion-reasonHOTS / competency
Assertion (A): Indigo Commission put the blame on the planters.
Reason (R): It found coercive methods and declared indigo unprofitable for ryots.
(a) Both true and R explains A
(b) Both true but R does not explain A
(c) A true, R false
(d) A false, R trueHint
1860.
Answer
(a) Both A and R are true and R explains A.
Test your recall
Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.
1.Indigo Commission year?Show answer
1860.
2.Deccan Act year?Show answer
1879.
3.Riots began at?Show answer
Supa, 12 May 1875.
4.Where did indigo planters move?Show answer
Bihar.
5.Cotton boom years?Show answer
1861-65.
The Indigo Uprising (1859) and the Deccan Riots (1875): frequently asked questions
Was the Indigo revolt violent?
It was largely non-violent refusal with some clashes.
What did the Relief Act do?
It protected peasants from arrest for debt and reviewed loans.
Why cotton boom?
The American Civil War cut Britain's American supply.