Where were most of the tea gardens in colonial India located?

The correct answer is - Assam

Key Points

• Tea Gardens in Assam
  • The tea industry in India began in 1851, with Assam being the primary tea-producing region.
  • Assam’s favorable climate, including high rainfall and fertile soil, made it ideal for large-scale tea plantations.
  • By 1903, Assam’s tea industry employed approximately 4,79,000 permanent and 93,000 temporary workers.
• Reasons for Assam’s Dominance
  • The region had vast uninhabited hillsides, which were converted into tea plantations.
  • The British East India Company focused on Assam due to its economic potential for tea exports.
  • Due to Assam’s sparse population, laborers were recruited from other Indian provinces.
• Other Tea-Producing Regions
  • West Bengal: The Darjeeling hills became famous for high-quality tea.
  • Tamil Nadu & Kerala: The Nilgiri Hills contributed to tea production but were secondary to Assam.

Additional Information

• Labour Recruitment Challenges
  • Due to Assam’s inhospitable climate and remote location, labor shortages were a major issue.
  • The British introduced the Transport of Native Labourers Act (1863), allowing contractors to recruit workers.
  • Many laborers worked in harsh conditions with low wages and minimal rights.
• Impact of the Tea Industry
  • Assam became a global leader in tea production, significantly contributing to the British colonial economy.
  • Tea became a major export commodity for the British, strengthening their control over Indian resources.
  • The industry played a key role in integrating rural Assam into national and international trade networks.