When we think of the Sundarbans, images of majestic Royal Bengal tigers and dense mangrove forests come to mind. But beneath this wild beauty lies a forgotten history of economic devastation. This is the story of how the economic landscape of the Sundarbans was reshaped by British colonial rule, turning a region of prosperity into a hotbed of exploitation and struggle.

This article explores the economic impact of British rule on the Sundarbans, focusing on the salt, paddy, and timber industries, and revealing a harrowing tale of lost livelihoods and the resilient spirit of its people.

The Salt Monopoly: How the East India Company Crushed a Thriving Industry

Long before the British arrived, the coastal belt from Medinipur to Baleswar was a thriving salt hub known as the ‘Nimokmahal’. It was a cornerstone of the regional economy. However, the arrival of the East India Company marked the beginning of its end. By 1772, the entire salt industry in colonial Bengal was under the Company’s monopolistic control.

From Prosperity to Peril: The Life of the Malangis

The Company dismantled the traditional system, auctioning salt production rights to the highest bidders. This pushed out hereditary landlords (zamindars) and merchants. Left with no choice, many set up clandestine salt factories, known as Nimok Khalari, deep within the treacherous Sundarbans. The life of the salt workers, or Malangis, became one of extreme hardship. They toiled in punishing conditions, facing disease, animal attacks, and raids by Company officials.

Under Governor-General Warren Hastings, a new class of leaseholders (Ijaradars) emerged. They trapped the Malangis in a vicious cycle of debt through an advance payment system called dadan. This dadan system of exploitation in India was a tool of economic slavery. Workers complained that a full maund of salt was often manipulated down to 25 seers, cheating them of their rightful earnings.

The Malangi Revolt of 1804: A Forgotten Uprising

This oppression led to one of the earliest worker revolts against the East India Company. In 1804, nearly two thousand Malangis revolted in Kanthi, laying siege to the English salt agent’s office. Their unified protest was so fierce that their demands were temporarily met.

However, the fate of the local salt industry was sealed in the 1860s when cheap, imported salt from Liverpool and Hamburg flooded the market. This, combined with devastating cyclones, hammered the final nail in the coffin, forever ending the era of salt in the traditional livelihoods of the Sundarbans.

Paddy Cultivation: A Story of Golden Harvests and Farmer Suffering

The fertile soil of the Sundarbans has always been a magnet for farmers. During British rule, landlords promoted large-scale paddy cultivation. But the life of farmers in colonial Bengal was anything but idyllic.

Peasants (chashis) would venture deep into the forest, clearing land while facing the constant threat of tigers and crocodiles. When the harvest was ready, seasonal laborers known as Dawals would arrive to cut the paddy. The Sundarbans once boasted an incredible diversity of rice, including fragrant varieties like Kanakchur, Gopalbhog, and Ramshal, most of which are now extinct.

But the farmers saw little of the profit. After the harvest, moneylenders (mahajans) and landlords would claim their shares, leaving the cultivators with barely enough to survive. This system perfectly illustrates how colonialism destroyed local agriculture in Bengal, turning a land of plenty into a landscape of poverty for its primary producers.

Life on the Edge: The Perils of the Timber and Honey Trades

The economic web of the Sundarbans extended to other forest resources, each with its own story of struggle.

• The Timber Trade: The timber trade in the colonial Sundarbans was built on the courage and blood of woodcutters known as Bawalis. Trapped by the dadan system, they were forced to sell valuable timber for a pittance. Each group was led by a spiritual guide (Fakir), who they believed could protect them from tigers through chants—a testament to the daily dangers they faced.
• The Honey Collectors: The most dangerous job belonged to the Moulis, or honey collectors. They risked their lives battling giant honeybees and elusive tigers to collect precious honey and wax, essential commodities at the time.

Conclusion: A Legacy of Exploitation and Resilience

The British colonial regime systematically exploited the natural wealth of the Sundarbans, dismantling traditional economies and pushing its people into a cycle of debt and danger. The stories of the Malangis, Bawalis, and chashis are a powerful reminder of the human cost behind colonial profit.

Yet, this is also a story of resilience. The people of the Sundarbans fought back, rebelled, and found ways to survive. The forgotten history of the Sundarbans is a crucial chapter in understanding the true impact of British rule on India’s economy and its people—a legacy of exploitation that should never be forgotten.