Nil Darpan; or The Indigo Planting Mirror A Drama

The play is a powerful social commentary on the exploitation of Indian peasants under British colonial rule specifically focusing on the indigo farming industry in Bengal. The title refers to the blue mirror symbolizing the injustice and suffering caused by the indigo planters who forced poor farmers to cultivate indigo for their own profit. The plot centers around the hardships faced by rural farmers who are coerced into growing indigo on their lands often through oppressive and exploitative practices. The play highlights the brutal treatment they receive from the British planters and the lack of recourse or justice for their grievances. It portrays the moral and social implications of this exploitation depicting the peasants' struggles and their eventual resistance to the oppressive system.