Previous Year Question

Synthetic indigo was developed towards the end of the nineteenth century. In 1897, the German companies BASF and Hoechst introduced comparatively cheaper and purer synthetic indigo into the international market.

Competition from synthetic indigo reduced the demand, price and profitability of natural indigo produced in India. Therefore, indigo cultivation in India began to decline by the beginning of the twentieth century.

Options (a) and (c) are not correct—peasants and national leaders opposed the exploitative system of indigo planters during the Indigo Revolt of 1859–60 and the Champaran Satyagraha of 1917, but the principal reason for the widespread decline asked in the question was competition from synthetic indigo in the world market.

Option (d) is not correct—government control over the planters was not the decisive cause of the decline; the decisive cause was the natural indigo becoming economically unprofitable.