History of Convicted Labour in Cinchona Plantations from 1859 to 1884 with Special Reference to the Nilgiri District – A Study

Abstract

This paper examines the history of the cinchona plantation in India, with a particular focus on the Nilgiri district. Cinchona is a tree native to South America, known to the Inca tribes long before it was brought to Spain in 1532 by the Spanish Vicereine of Peru. It gained various names, including Kina-Kina in Spain and Quin-Quine in France, eventually becoming known as Cinchona everywhere. In 1638, the Countess of Chinchón, the Viceroy's wife, discovered that the tree's bark helped her recover from intermittent fever, leading to its introduction to Europe in 1640. It is mainly cultivated for its bark, which is a source of quinine and other medicinal compounds. Cinchona was cultivated in Indonesia, New Zealand, and India. Cinchona plantations started in the 19th century in India particularly in 1859 on Nilgiris. These plantations primarily focused on cultivating Cinchona trees, which were vital for the production of quinine, a crucial treatment for malaria. It also examines the development of the cinchona plantation and the expenditure involved. The British colonial administration recognised the potential of the Nilgiri hills for Cinchona cultivation due to the favourable climate and terrain. However, they faced challenges in sourcing labour, as the indigenous population was not inclined to work in the plantations. To address this, the colonial government implemented a system of convict labour. It highlights the history of convicted labourers in India and the essential roles that convicts played in various sectors. With the efforts of Chinese convicted labours the quinine medicine produced in Nilgiris was exported to malaria affected countries. It is noteworthy that the quinine medicine exported from the Nilgiris played an important role in the treatment of malaria fever worldwide. It primarily focuses on the arrival of cinchona plantation in Nilgiri District and the role of convicted labours for the development of cinchona plantation from 1859 to 1884, for a period of twenty five years.