From which regions of India did most indentured workers come, and what economic pressures in those regions fo…

Question

From which regions of India did most indentured workers come, and what economic pressures in those regions forced them to migrate?

Accepted Answer

## Model Answer Most indentured workers came from **eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, central India, and the dry districts of Tamil Nadu**. In the mid-nineteenth century, these regions faced severe economic hardships: cottage industries declined, land rents rose, and lands were cleared for mines and plantations. As a result, the poor could not pay their rents, fell deeply into debt, and were forced to migrate in search of work. *Source: Chapter 3, Section 2.4 — Indentured Labour Migration from India* --- ## Explanation - The examiner expects **two parts**: (1) the specific regions, and (2) the economic reasons — both are needed for full marks. - List the four regions clearly; vague answers like "north India" will lose marks. - The three economic pressures (decline of cottage industries, rising rents, land clearance) are directly from the textbook — mention all three for full credit. - Avoid writing about destinations or working conditions; the question is only about origins and push facto…

Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question