The Role of Neel Kuthi in Lakshmisagar Village: A Historical Study of Indigo Cultivation and Peasant Resistance in Bankura District, West Bengal

The introduction of indigo cultivation in Bengal during the colonial period, particularly in areas like Bankura, had far-reaching socio-economic consequences for the local peasantry. The Neel Kuthi in Lakshmisagar, Bankura, stands as a significant historical marker of colonial exploitation, symbolising the oppressive system enforced by European planters. This paper explores the historical context of indigo cultivation in Bengal, the role of Neel Kuthi as a centre for indigo trade, and the exploitation of peasants under the British colonial regime. It further examines the Indigo Revolt (Neel Bidroho) as a response to this oppression, highlighting Lakshmisagar's participation in the larger peasant uprising. The paper concludes by assessing the legacy of Neel Kuthi in preserving the memory of colonial exploitation and the peasant resistance movement.