Indigo is a story written by Indian film director, Screenwriter, and Author, Satyajit Ray. The main theme of story is exploitation and impact of colonialism.
Indigo Class 12 Summary By Satyajit Ray
Summary of Indigo By Satyajit Ray
Indigo is plant which is used to produce blue color dye. When India was slave to Britishers, Europe had huge demand for Indigo. As Europe had a huge demand for Indigo, Britishers ask Indian farmer to do farming of Indigo.
The problem is when you do a plantation of Indigo, it kills fertility of land. It makes land infertile due to which you can’t do a farming of food in it. Second thing, when farmers do a farming of food, it fullfill his stomach and his family needs.
On the other hand, Indigo is no use to farmers as it just use in textile factory to produce blue color dye. When Britishers ask Indian farmer to do a farming of Indigo, Indian farmers denied it as it was no use to them. Then Britishers forced and beat farmers to do a farming of Indigo.
Satyajit Ray’s “Indigo” story begins with man, Aniruddha Bose, who is reading everything about Indigo plantation in Bihar and Bengal. It’s been long time since our country got freedom but still Aniruddha is reading about Indigo plantation and learning everything about it. Why Aniruddha is reading about Indigo ? Why ?
Aniruddha is characterized as 29 years old bachelor man who is working in advertising agency since 8 years in Calcutta. He lives in a rented flat in Sardar Shankar Road. I have two room flat and my both room are south facing. I bought an ambassador car for myself 2 years ago.
In my spare time I do writing and my three stories have been published in magazine. People do praise my writing style but I know writing is not enough to fulfil my daily needs. I haven’t write anything from last few months, as I’m reading about a Indigo plantation in Bihar and Bengal in 19th century.
Now, I have learned everything about Indigo. You can say, I’m an expert of Indigo subject. I read how Britishers exploit poor farmers and how farmers revolt against it. It stopped when Germany invented synthetic Indigo and people shifted to it. Something scary happened with me due to which I am reading about Indigo. I’m going to tell you what happened with me.
Let’s go to Aniruddha past and learn what bad happened to him and why he read about Indigo ? Aniruddha say, my father was a physician in Monghyr, Bihar. I was born in Monghyr and I did my schooling from Missionary School.
I have one 5 years old elder brother who was doing a Medicine Education in England. Now, my elder brother works at Golders Green Hospital in London. He is settled in England and has no intention to come in India. I was only sixteen years old when my father died. After my father death, my mother and me left Monghyr and we both came to Calcutta.
In Calcutta, we started living with my maternal Uncle where I studied B.A. Right after my education, I got a job in Advertising agency. I was always a good student and I’m very good in English. I’m good at presenting myself in Interview. It was difficult for me to quit those habits which I become habituated in Monghyr. And one of those habit is to roam around.
I often to go new places from Calcutta on time to time. Since I purchased car, I go to Diamond Harbour, Port canning, and Hassanabad on weekends. I go alone only as I have no one to roam around with. I have no close friend in Calcutta.
And that is why I get happy when I got a letter from my friend, Pramod from Monghyr. When I came to Calcutta, we were connected to each other for 3-4 years. But then maybe I stopped writing letters to him. One day, when I return to home from office, I saw a letter of my friend, Pramod. He wrote that letter from Dumka. He told me that he got a job in Dumka. He ask me to come in Dumka for a week.
I had few leave pending so I talk to my boss for few days leave. He allowed my and on 27 April I pack my bags to go Dumka. He doesn’t ask me to come by vehicle, it was my idea to go by vehicle. Dumka was 200 miles away from Calcutta so it would take me 5 to 6 hours to reach Dumka. I decided that I will leave early and reach Dumka by evening. My plan was this only but I faced one problem in this plan.
As I was leaving for Dumka, there comes my father’s old friend, Mohit. Mohit uncle is very old person to whom I am meeting after 10 years. As I’m meeting him after 10 years, I can’t tell him to leave early. We both talk for one hour.
Afterwards, my Mohit uncle leaves. I was going to my car with my bag pack, there comes our neighbor, Bhola Babu with his 4 years old son, Pintu. He ask me, where are you going alone ? When I told him that I am heading to Dumka, he told me its a long journey so you should have a driver with you.
I told him that I don’t need a driver I can drive by myself. So you don’t need to worry about anything. Bhola Babu wishes “Good Luck” to me and goes back to his home. I was about to start my car, then I saw time from my wrist watch and It was 11 am.
I planned to leave at 10 am but now I’m 1 hour and 10 minute late. Although I did not take Howrah root which is long and takes time, I took Bally Bridge Road highway. It took me 1 hour 30 minutes to reach Chandernagore.
The driving I did in first 30 miles was very challenging as Calcutta nearby roads are rough and damaged. There was nothing to see. But after 30 miles when I came into greenly area, it was amazing experience. You can’t see these types of greenish environment and blue sky in cities. I was about to reach Burdwan by 12 noon.
I was feeling hungry so I stop my car at nearby restaurant and does a light breakfast. Afterwards, I started my journey again, I still need to cover 135 miles. When I came 20 miles ahead from Burdwan, there was a small town named Panagarh where I took a turn to Ilambazar road. As of now I’m in Panagarh where I’m able to see military camp. Then suddenly I heard a loud sound from back of my car. When I came out to see, I saw that my car Tyre is flat.
I had one extra tyre which I can change easily but I thought when I would change my car passing people would laugh at my condition. But I have to change tyre otherwise I would be very late. I took at jack from my car and started changing tyre. When I changed my car tyre I was sweating. I come back into my car and I saw dark rainy cloud in sky. As I’m already late I need to drive fast now.
I was about to cross Ilambajar but get stuck in thunderstorm. I have enjoyed these types of thunderstorm before, but in home. I have enjoyed thunderstorm by reading Tagore’s poet in my room. I had no idea that I would be stuck in such thunderstorm in an open area.
And the lightning strike always make me uncomfortable. These thunderstorm show bad side of nature. We are helpless we can’t fight with this nature as this is a very bad side of nature. I’m feeling this lightning will strike my car.
I crossed Suri in such dangerous state and I’m on the way to Massanjore. Then again I heard a loud sound from back of my car. I don’t know where I am as its heavy rain outside and I’m not able to see outise clearly.
When I open my car door and saw outside there was no city. I knew one thing that there is no shop nearby to me. I have no second Tyre to change. I waited 15 minute in my car and I felt no car has passed this road in passed fifteen minutes. Then I ask myself, I am I on the right track or I came to wrong way.
Thereafter, I took out cigarette from my pocket and started smoking. At this time I remembered a warning of my neighbor, Bhola Babu, who warned to me have a driver as its a long way. Maybe, Bhola Babu would have passed through these type of experience that’s why he gave advice to me.
I was lost in my thoughts then I heard horn sound from my car’s back. When I look back it was truck, but why it is blowing a horn, I am I standing on middle of road. When I came out to see, I saw my car’s second Tyre is flat and my car is stuck in middle of road. So its not a mistake of Truck driver.
The story is not yet complete. Stay Tuned !