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

  1. West Bengal
  2.  Tamil Nadu 
  3. Assam 
  4. Kerala 

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 3 : Assam 

Detailed Solution

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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.

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