In19th century Bengal the Indigo struggle became a historical legend, folk tales, songs and plays were created based on the Indigo planters struggle.
The Indigo revolution 1859-61) was one of the greatest struggle aganst the British colonial power in 18th century. With the emergence of Industrial revolution in Europe, cotton industries were flourished in Britain tremandously. Indigo - a herbal product was the essential ingridient to allow required brightness of cotton products. As we know, The colonial British made India the supplier of Raw materials for their Mills & factories by destroying our cottage Industries. They forced the planters to plant indigo instead of paddy, tobacco and other crops. The planters faced inhuman oppression even worst than that was against the bonded negroes in the then America. During the later part of 18th century indigo plantation aws startet in Bengal. By the third decade of 19th century, forceful indigo plantation expansed enormously and colonial oppression touched the peak. The Indigo planters at last organised themselves in various parts of Bengal Nadia and Maimansingha District in particular and the their struggle culminated into a violent revolution in 1659-60. In the face of the violent revolution, the British set up Indigo commission (1860) and the commission compelled to observed in their report how cruel was their oppression for the forcefull indigo plantation. Then the then Governor general Grant ( Charls Grant ? ) passed a law directing not to force the planters for indigo plantation against their will.
The legendary play "NIL DARPAN" was written by Dina bandhu Mitra in 1860, India's first public theatre was started in1972 by staging this play.