Indigo cultivation in India declined by the beginning of the 20th century because of
(a) Peasant resistance to the oppressive conduct of planters
(b) Its unprofitability in the world market because of new inventions
(c) National leaders’ opposition to the cultivation of indigo
(d) Government control over the planters
Explanation
With the rise of industrialisation, the market was flooded with synthetic dyes which replaced the Indian grown indigo. Earlier, in March 1859 thousands of ryots in Bengal refused to grow indigo. As the rebellion spread, ryots refused to pay rents to the planters, and attacked indigo factories armed with swords and spears, bows and arrows. After the revolt, indigo production collapsed in Bengal. But the planters now shifted their operation to Bihar. With the discovery of synthetic dyes in the late nineteenth century their business was severely affected, but yet they managed to expand production. In other words, the invention of artificial dye did not affect them yet.
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