Nil Darpan; or, The Indigo Planting Mirror, A Drama.: Translated from the Bengali by a Native.Mitra, Dinabandhu
History
Nil Darpan; or, The Indigo Planting Mirror, A Drama.: Translated from the Bengali by a Native.
Mitra, Dinabandhu
Indigo industry -- India -- Bengal -- Drama
taking the advice of each other. Of themselves they are become as
mad as the dog who received a blow on the head. The witnesses gave
evidence that the ryots were willing to prepare Indigo; but that
the person who has engaged me had, by advice and intimidation,
stopped their engaging in the preparation of Indigo. This is a
very striking and an evident forgery. Honored Sir, once more bring
them before the Bench, and your servant will by two questions
disclose the falsity of their evidence. I do acknowledge, that
Nobin Madhab Bose, the son of Goluk Chunder Bose, who engaged me,
tried his utmost to extricate the helpless ryots from the hands of
the giant-like Indigo Planters. I do acknowledge this. He also
proved himself successful in stopping the tyranny of Mr. Wood;
which is known fully by the case which was brought here for the
burning of the village of Polaspore. But Goluk Chunder Bose is of
a very peaceful character; he fears the Indigo Planters more than
the tigers, never engages in any quarrels; at no time injures
another, and even is not courageous enough to save another from
danger. My Saheb, that Goluk Chunder Bose is a man of a good
character, is known to all persons in the zillah, and can be known
even by enquiring of the Amlas of the Court.
_Goluk._ Honored Sir, the whole sum due for my Indigo of the last
year was not paid; still only through fear of coming into Court, I
consented to take the advance for sixty bigahs of land. My eldest
son said, “Father, we have other ways of living; the loss in
Indigo for one year or two might stop feasts and religious
ceremonies, but will not produce want of food. But those who
entirely depend on their ploughs; what means have they? Losing
this case if we be obliged again to engage in the Indigo
cultivation, all will be obliged to do the same afterwards.” He
said this is a wise man; and consequently I told him to make the
Saheb, by entreaties and supplications, to agree to fifty bigahs.
The Saheb said nothing, neither Yes nor No; and secretly made
preparations to bring me in my old age, to gaol. I know that the
only way to get happiness is to keep the Sahebs contented; the
country is the Saheb’s, the Judges are their brothers and friends;
and is it proper to do anything against them? Extricate me, and I
make this promise, that if I cannot prepare the Indigo from want
of ploughs and kine, I will annually give the Saheb Co.’s Rs. 100
in the place of that. Am I a person to tutor the ryots? Do I meet
them?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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