Characters
The Journey & Settings
The Supernatural Incident
Historical Backstory
Symbolism, Themes, Literary Elements
100

This 29-year-old bachelor works at an advertising agency in Calcutta and narrates the story.

Who is Aniruddha Bose?

100

The modern vehicle model owned and driven by Aniruddha on his trip.

What is an Ambassador car?

100

Exactly how many years pass between the planter's death and Aniruddha's stay at the bungalow.


What is 100 years?

100

The agricultural crop forced upon Indian farmers that left land infertile and caused debt traps.

What is indigo?

100

The narrative perspective from which the story "Indigo" is written.


What is first-person narrative?

200

The name of the English indigo planter's faithful dog shot during the supernatural possession.


What is Rex?

200

The localized summer thunderstorm common to Bengal and Bihar that strikes during the trip.


What is a norwester?


200

The illness that the English planter writes he is dying from in his diary entry.

What is malaria?

200

The classic literary term for government rest houses built during British rule where traveler officials stayed.

What is a dak bungalow?

200

Besides writing supernatural fiction, Satyajit Ray is internationally famous for this profession.


What is a filmmaker / film director?


300

The aged caretaker of the old dak bungalow who serves Aniruddha coarse chapatis and dal.


Who is Sukhanram?

300

The only physical structure still remaining from the old indigo factory near the bungalow.

What is a chimney?

300

The exact date written in the leather-bound diary during the possession sequence.

What is April 27, 1868?

300

The European technological invention that ultimately ruined the natural indigo industry in India.

What is synthetic indigo (invented in Germany)?

300

Aniruddha’s delay in departure, the sudden storm that traps him are examples of this.

What is foreshadowing?

400

Aniruddha's forest department friend who sends the invitation to visit Dumka.


Who is Promode?

400

The birth town of Aniruddha, where his late father practiced as a prominent doctor.

What is Monghyr?


400

A specific physical trait describing the planter's face when Aniruddha looks into the mirror.

What is a sharp nose / thin lips / blond hair / pale skin?

400

The 1859 historical uprising of Bengali farmers against colonial plantation owners.

What is the Indigo Revolt (Neel Bidroha)?

400

The indigo plantation symbolizes this.

What is the brutality and greed of colonial rule?

500

The neighbor who warns Aniruddha about the long road trip and suggests hiring a driver.

Who is Bhola Babu?

500

The town near which Aniruddha suffers his first flat tire on the journey.

What is Panagarh?


500

The three personal items belonging to Aniruddha that temporarily disappear during the possession.


What are his wristwatch, torch, and suitcase?

500

The original Bengali title of Satyajit Ray's story "Indigo".


What is "Neel Atanko"?

500

 Aniruddha Bose’s attempt to escape Calcutta’s hectic city life for a peaceful vacation results in a terrifying supernatural possession. This is an example of what literary device.

What is situational irony?