The correct answer is D. Assam.
Opium was a major cash crop in Assam during the British Raj. The British East India Company began to cultivate opium in Assam in the early 1800s, and by the mid-1800s, Assam was the largest producer of opium in the world. The British government used the profits from opium sales to finance its colonial empire.
Opium cultivation had a devastating impact on the people of Assam. The land that was used to grow opium was often taken away from farmers, who were then forced to work on the opium plantations. The opium trade also led to the spread of addiction and disease.
The British government finally banned the cultivation of opium in Assam in 1900, but the damage had already been done. The opium trade had left a legacy of poverty, addiction, and disease in Assam.
Here is a brief explanation of each option:
- South India: Opium was not a major cash crop in South India during the British Raj.
- Gujarat: Opium was not a major cash crop in Gujarat during the British Raj.
- Bihar: Opium was a major cash crop in Bihar during the British Raj, but it was not as important as opium production in Assam.
- Assam: Opium was the most important cash crop in Assam during the British Raj.