ABSTRACT
G. Francois Grand, the first Collector of the district of Tirhoot was the first European to take up indigo plantation in north Bihar in 1785. According to Geographical and Statistical Report of the District of Tirhut published in 1854 there were sixty-four indigo factories. Some of these were combined with sugar factories as well and all of them were located in rural areas. The conflict between Pandoul Indigo Factory and the peasantry started in the winter of 1866–7. Pandoul is presently a small town in Madhubani district of north Bihar; it was then a part of the zamindari of Darbhanga Raj, the biggest in Bihar and one of the biggest in the whole of India. The 'Pundowl' indigo factory also had a sister concern, 'Pundowl Steam Engine Sugar Factory'. The Pandoul concern situated in the village of Pandoul fell under the Darbhanga estate, the biggest in Bihar.
