The Planting & Manufacture of Indigo in India by French photographer Oscar Mallitte - Allahabad, 1877

Indigo planting in Bengal started around 1777. Indigo planting became more and more commercially profitable due to the demand for blue dye in Europe. It was introduced in large parts of eastern India. The indigo planters mercilessly pursued the peasants to plant indigo instead of food crops. They provided loans, called dadon at a very high interest. Once a farmer took such loans he remained in debt for whole of his life before passing it to his successors. The price paid by the planters was meagre,only 2.5% of the market price. The farmers could make no profit growing indigo. The farmers were totally unprotected from the brutal indigo planters, who resorted to mortgages or destruction of their property if they were unwilling to obey them. Government rules favoured the planters. By an act in 1833, the planters were granted a free hand in oppression. Even the zamindars, money lenders and other influential persons sided with the planters. Out of the severe oppression unleashed on them the farmers resorted to revolt.

Know more about Indigo Revolt in Wikipeida

 

Planter's Bungalow

"Luggie" (measuring lands for cultivation)

"Tumnie" (turning up lands)

Sowing with drills

Cutting Indigo plant in the field and Loading Carts

Indigo factory (Loading the Vats)

Loading a vat with plant

Indigo factory (beating the Vats)

Beating a vat by hand

Beating by Machinery

Apparatus for beating by machinery

Indigo boilers and fecula table

Press house

Pumping the fecula into boilers

Pressing the fecula

Drying house (Indigo cakes on Shelves)

Cutting Indigo into Cakes

Bailing water in time of drought

Persian Wheel

Group of Indigo beaters

Digital image courtesy of the Getty's Open Content Program.

The Marriage of Indira Gandhi and Feroze Gandhi - March 26, 1942 at Anand Bhawan, Allahabad

Source: Wikipedia.org

Mahatma Gandhi performing the opening ceremony of Kamla Nehru Hospital in Allahabad in 1941. Pandit Madan Mohan Malavaya is Seated next to him and Dr. Jivaraj Mehta is seen standing on the extreme right - 1941

http://photodivision.gov.in

Sook Narain Pundit, Hindoo, Misser Brahmin - Allahabad, c1860's

From the Book "The people of India: a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan" Volume 2

Kesarah Nutni, Low Caste Hindoo - Allahabad, c1860's

From the Book "The people of India: a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan" Volume 2

Deena and Nephew Hoseinee, Snake Charmers, Soonee Mahomedans - Allahabad, c1860's

From the Book "The people of India: a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan" Volume 2

Zahore Begum, Mahomedan - Allahabad c1860's

From the Book "The people of India: a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan" Volume 2

Tun Sookh Doss Bairagi, Hindoo Religious Mendicant - Allahabad c1860's

From the Book "The people of India: a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan" Volume 2

Dureeahon, Hindoo from Bundelcund - Allahabad c1860's

From the Book "The people of India: a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan" Volume 2

Ushruf Ali Khan, Shiah Mahomedan of Afghan Descent - Allahabad c1860's

From the Book "The people of India: a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan" Volume 2

Ram Persad, Hindoo Tradesman - Allahabad c1860's

From the Book "The people of India: a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan" Volume 2

Crowds of pilgrims on the waterfront at Allabahd, India during Kumbha Melha, a month long Hindu bathing festival - c1950's

Source: in.news.yahoo.com

1954 Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh - 70 Photographs

Photographer: James Burke
Source: Life Archive hosted by Google