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MrunalLandReformsinIndia:PeasantrevoltsinBritishRaj4UPSC

Mrunalhttp://mrunal.org

[LandReforms]PeasantRevoltsforLandreformsduring
BritishRaj
PostedByOn22/10/2013@12:48amInpolity|16Comments

1. Prologue
2. PeasantstrugglesinBritishIndia
3. PeasantRevoltsbefore1857
1. SanyasiRevolt,1772
2. PagalPanthi,1830s40s
3. Santhal,1855
4. Revoltsafter1857sMutiny
1. IndigoMovement(185960)
2. DeccanRiots(187475)
3. Ramosi,187787
4. NoRevenueMovements(18931900)
5. BirsaMundasUlgulan(1899)
6. Rajasthan:191317
7. ChamparanIndigoSatyagraha(1917)
8. KhedaSatyagraha(1918)
5. Peasantrevoltsinthe20s
1. KisanMovement,UP(1920s)
2. EkaMovement(1920s)
3. SecondMoplahUprising(1921)
4. BardoliSatyagraha(1928)
6. PeasantRevoltsinthe40s
1. Tebhaga,Bengal,1946
2. Telangana,HyderabadState(4651)
3. Varli,BombayProvince
7. MockQuestions

Prologue
This[LandReforms]Articleserieswill(tryto)coverfollowingissuesforUPSC
MainsGS/Optionals:
1. ThreelandtenuresystemoftheBritish:Theirfeatures,implications.Wesawin
previousarticle.
2. PeasantstrugglesinBritishRaj:causesandconsequences.Discussed
inthisarticle.
3. Landreforms,Beforeindependence:byCongressgovernmentsin
Provinces,theirbenefitsandlimitations.GandhiandRanadesviewson
Landreforms,AllIndiaKisanSabhaetc.
4. Landreforms,Afterindependence:abolitionofZamindari,LandCeiling
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andTenancyreforms.Theirbenefitsandlimitations
5. Landreformsbynongovernmentalaction:Bhoodan,Gramdan,NGOs
etc.theirbenefitsandlimitations
6. Landreformsinrecenttimes:Computerizationoflandrecords,Forest
rightsAct,landreformpolicyetc.theirbenefitsandlimitations.

PeasantstrugglesinBritishIndia
Canbeclassifiedintofollowinggroups:

Before
1857s
Mutiny

EastIndia:SanyasiRevolt,ChuarandHoRising,Kol
Rising,SanthalRising,PagalPanthisandFaraizisRevolt
WestIndia:Bhil,Ramosis
SouthIndia:Poligars

After
1857s
Mutiny

IndigoMovement(185960)
PabnaAgrarianUnrest(187376),
Deccanriots(187475),
NoRevenueMovementAssam,Maharashtra,and
Punjab:(towardstheendof19thcentury)
ChamparanIndigoSatyagraha(1917)

Inthe20s
and30s

2ndMoplah,AwadhKisanSabha,Ekamovement,Bardolietc.

Duringand
AfterWW2

CongressMinistriesinprovincessuchasBihar,UPand
Bombay(willbediscussedseparatelyinthirdarticle)
FaizpurCongresssession(1936)
AllIndiaKisanCongress
TebhagaMovementinBengal
TelanganaOutbreakinHyderabad
VarlisRevoltinWesternIndia

PeasantRevoltsbefore1857

clicktoenlarge
Note:Imalsoincludingsometribalrevoltsthathadconnectionswithland
settlement/tenancysystems.

SanyasiRevolt,1772
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Britishgovernmentrestrictedpeoplefromvisitingholyplaces.Sansyasi
gotangry
Joinedbyfarmers,evictedlandlords,disbandedsoldiers
Focalpoint:RangpurtoDhaka
Leader:ManjuShahFakir
Sanyasisdefeatedacompanyofsepoysandkilledthecommander.They
overransomedistricts,virtuallyrunningaparallelgovernment.
Thisrebellioncontinuedtilltheendofthe18thcentury.
GovernorGeneralWarrenHastingslaunchedamilitarycampaignagainst
Sansyasis.
From1800,sanyasisprobablyjoinedtheMarathastofightBritish.

PagalPanthi,1830s40s
Reason:ZamindariOppression
Area:NorthBengal,HajongandGarotribes.
Leader:KaramShahandhissonTipu
Result:InitiallyBritishagreedtoPagalPanthidemand,made
arrangementtoprotectthecultivatorsfromZamindar
Butlater,launchedmassivemilitaryoperationtosuppressPagalPanthis

Santhal,1855
Reason:oppressionofpolice,atrocitiesoflandlordsandmoneylenders,
illtreatmentofsmallfarmersbylandrevenueofficials.Government
bannedshiftingcultivationinforestareas.
Area:RajMahalhills
Leaders:Sindhu+Kanhu
Result:ThegovernmentcouldpacifiedtheseSanthalsbycreatinga
separatedistrictofSanthalParganas.
someotherrevoltsbefore1857sMutiny:
Bhil
1817to1819

ChuarandHo
1820to1837.

Faraizis
1838to1857

Reason:agrarianhardship
Area:W.Ghats,Khandesh
Reason:famine,landRevenue
Area:Midnapur,Chhotanagpur,Singhbhum
Tribesinvolved
Chuar=Midnapur
HoandMunda=ChhotaNagpurandSinghbhum
Reason:ZamindariOppression
Area:EastBengal
Leader:FaraiziswerefollowersofaMuslimsect
foundedbyHajiShariatullahofFaridpur

Kherwar/Sapha
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Har

Againstrevenuesettlementsintribalareas.

Kol

Reason:BritishtransferredoflandfromKolheadmen
(Mundas)tooutsiderslikeSikhandMuslimfarmers.
Area:ChhotaNagpur,Ranchi,Singhbhum,
Hazaribag,PalamauandwesternpartsofManbhum.

Mophah,First
uprising
18361854

Poligars
TiruMir
17821831

Malabar.
byMuslimtenantsagainstHinduZamindars
(Jemnis).
Reason:landRevenue
Area:Dindigul,Malabar,Arcot,Madraspresidency
Bengal.AgainstHindulandlords,whoimposedbeard
taxonFarazis.

Revoltsafter1857sMutiny

Generalfeatures:
1. After1857srevolt,TheBritishhadcrusheddownnativeprincesand
zamindars.Hencefarmersthemselvesbecamemainforceofagitations.
2. Target=sometimesgovernment,sometimesmoneylender,sometimes
landlord/zamindar
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3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Territorialreach.notorganizedonmassscale
Oftenspontaneous.nocoordination
lackedcontinuityorlongtermstruggle.
neverthreatenedBritishsupremacy
farmersdidntmindpayingrent,revenue,interestondebtbutonly
agitatedwhentheywereraisedtoanabnormallevel.
8. lackedunderstandingofcolonialeconomicsystemordivideandrule
policyoftheBritish.Farmersagitationswerebasedwithinframeworkof
oldsocialorder,henceoftenfailedbecausegovernmentcouldwooa
factionbygrantingthemconcessionandhencemovementwould
collapse.

IndigoMovement(185960)
EuropeanplantersforceddesifarmerstogrowtheindigoinEastern
India,withoutpayingrightprice.
Ifanyfarmerrefusedandstartedgrowingrice,hewaskidnapped,
womenandchildrenwereattacked,andcropwaslooted,burntand
destroyed.
Iffarmerapproachedcourt,theEuropeanjudgewouldruleinfavourof
theEuropeanplanter.
TheprivilegesandimmunitiesenjoyedbytheBritishplantersplaced
themabovethelawandbeyondalljudicialcontrol.
FinallyIndigopeasantslaunchedrevoltinNadiadistrictofBengal
presidency.RefusedtogrowIndigo.Ifpolicetriedtointervene,theywere
attacked.
EuropeanPlantersrespondedbyincreasingtherentandevicting
farmers.Ledtomoreagitationsandconfrontations.
Latergotsupportfromtheintelligentsia,press,missionariesandMuslims.
Result:GovernmentissuedanotificationthattheIndianfarmerscannot
becompelledtogrowindigoandthatitwouldensurethatalldisputes
weresettledbylegalmeans.Bytheendof1860,Indigoplantersshould
downtheirfactoriesandcultivationofindigowasvirtuallywipedoutfrom
Bengal.
HarishChandra
Mukherji
DinBandhu
Mitra

editorofHindupatriot.publishedreportsonindigo
campaign,organizedmassmeetingsetc.
wroteaplayNeelDarpantoportraytheoppressionof
indigofarmers.

PabnaAgrarianUnrest(187376)
Area:EastBengal.Pabna=ajutegrowingdistrict
Reason:Zamindarsenhancedrentsbeyondlegallimitsthroughavariety
ofcesses(Abwab),Farmershadtofacecostlylegalaffairsandforced
eviction.Nuisanceofmoneylenders.
Leaders:IshwarChandraRoy,ShambhuPal,KhoodiMollah.
Notablefeatures
Agrarianleagueformedtofightlegalbattleagainstthezamindarsand
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organizednonpaymentofrentcampaign.
Thisleagueprovidedasoundplatformtothepeasantsatatimewhen
therewasnokisansabhaoranypoliticalpartytoorganizethepeasants.
byandlargenonviolent.Nozamindaroragentwaskilled/seriously
injured.Veryfewhouseslooted,veryfewpolicestationsattacked.
HinduMuslimunity,despitethefactthatmostZamindarswereHinduand
farmersweremuslims.
farmersdemandedtobecomeryotsofBritishqueenandnotof
Zamindars.
GotsupportfromIntellectuals:BankimChandraChettarji,RCDutt,
SurendranathBenerjeeetc.
Result:
ThisunrestresultedintoBengalTenancyActof1885.
Butthisactdidnotfullyprotectfarmersfromthezamindarioppression
Evennoncultivatorsweregivenoccupancyright.Itgaverisetoa
powerfuljotedargroups.
LatersomeoftheJotedarsbecameasexploitativeasthezamindars.

DeccanRiots(187475)
Area:IntheryotwariareasofPuneandAhmadnagarofMaharashtra
Reasons
thelandrevenuewasveryhigh
hadtopaylandRevenueevenduringbadseasons
1860:Americancivilwar=boomindemandofcottonexport.
ButIn1864,warends=>cottonexportdeclines,yetgovernmentraised
landrevenue.
Farmershadtakenloansfrommoneylenders,butnowtheycannot
repay=>Moneylenderstookawaytheirland,cattle,jewelryandproperty.
Notablefeatures:
1. Theobjectofthisriotwastodestroythedeadbonds,decrees,etc.in
possessionoftheircreditors.
2. Violencewasusedonlywhenthemoneylendersrefusedtohandoverthe
documents.
3. villagersledbytraditionalheadmen(Patels)
4. Involvedsocialboycottofmoneylender.andsocialboycottofanyvillager
whodidntsociallyboycottthemoneylender.
5. LatergotsupportfromPoonaSarvajanikSabhaledbyJusticeRanade.
Result:
1. Initiallygovernmentresortedtouseofpoliceforceandarrest.butlater
appointedacommission,passedAgriculturistsReliefActin1879andon
theoperationofCivilProcedureCode.
2. Nowthepeasantscouldnotbearrestedandsenttojailiftheyfailedto
paytheirdebts.
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Ramosi,187787
Reason:RamosisofMaharashtraweretheinferiorranksofpolicein
Marathaadministration.
AfterthefalloftheMarathakingdom,theybecamefarmers=>heavyland
RevenuedemandsbyBritish.
Area:Satara,Maharashtra,Deccan
Leader:ChitturSingh(1822),VasudevBalwantPhadke(187787)
Result:Governmentgavethemlandgrantsandrecruitedthemashill
police.

NoRevenueMovements(18931900)
IntheRyotwariareas.Mainreason:hikeinlandrevenue.

Assam

BritishincreaselandRevenueby50to70percentin
KamrupandDarrangdistricts.
VillagerdecidednottopayRevenue.Andsociallyboycotted
anyfarmerwhopaidlandRevenue.
Ruralelites,Brahminledtherevolt.Socialboycottofanyone
whopaidtaxestoBritish.

Bombay

farmerswantedrevenueremissionunderfaminecodeduring
18961900.
Tilak,PoonaSarvajanikSabhasentvolunteerstospread
awarenessamongfarmersabouttheirlegalrightsunder
Faminecode.
ThesecampaignsspreadtoSurat,Nasik,Kheraand
Ahmedabad.

Punjab

Nuisanceofmoneylenders.
ledtoassaultandmurderofmoneylendersbythepeasants.
Result:PunjabLandAlienationActof1902whichprohibited
for20yearstransferoflandfrompeasantstomoneylenders
andmortgage.

BirsaMundasUlgulan(1899)
SouthofRanchi
Reasons
TribalspracticedKhuntkattisystem(jointholdingbytriballineages)
Butrichfarmers,merchants,moneylenders,dikus,thekedarsfrom
NorthernIndiacameandtriedtoreplaceitwithtypicalZamindaritenancy
system.
Thesenewlandlordscausedindebtednessandbethbegari(forced
labour)amongthetribal.
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BirsaMundaorganizedtheMundatribals,attackedchurchesandpolice
stations.
Result:
Birsadiedinjail,whileothersshotdead,hangedordeported.
GovernmentenactedChotanagpurTenancyAct1908.
recognizedKhuntkattirights
bannedethBegari(forcedlabour)

Rajasthan:191317
BijoliaMovementandNotaxcampaignagainstUdipurMaharana
reason:Thejagirdarlevied86differentcessesonfarmers.
leaders:SitaramDas,VijaySinghPathik(BhoopSingh),ManiklalVerma
Farmersrefusedtopaytaxes,migratedtoneighboringstates
1922:Bhilmovementagainstbegari(forcedlabour)

ChamparanIndigoSatyagraha(1917)
Area:ChamparandistrictofBihar.Ramnagar,Bettiah,Madhuban.
EuropeanplantersforcedIndianfarmerstocultivateindigoon3/20thof
theirlandholding.Popularlyknownastinkathiasystem.
Underthissystem,Europeanplantersholdingthikadarileasesfromthe
biglocalzamindarsforcedthepeasantstocultivateindigoonpartoftheir
landatunremunerativepricesandbychargingsharahbeshi(rent
enhancement)ortawan(lumpsumcompensation)
ifthefarmerdidnotwanttogrowindigo,hehadtopayheavyfines
AfarmerRajKumarShuklacontactedGandhiduringCongress
Session@Lucknow.
MahatmaGandhilaunchedanagitation.Demandedadetailedenquiry
1917
andredressaloffarmersgrievances.
1916

Result:
1. Governmentappointsacommittee,evenincludedGandhiasoneofthe
member.
2. Governmentabolishestinkhatiasystemandpayscompensationtothe
farmers.
3. Gandhigetsnewallies:RajendraPrasad,JBKriplani,MahadevDesai
andBrajKishorePrasad

KhedaSatyagraha(1918)
SeveredroughtinKheraDistrict,Gujarat
KanbiPatidarfarmers.Makingdecentlivingthroughcotton,tobaccoand
dairy.ButPlagueandfamineduring18981906reducedtheirincome.
YetgovernmentincreasedRevenuedemand.
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Pricesofessentialcommodities:kerosene,saltetcincreasedbecauseof
WW1.
FarmersrequestedgovernmenttowaivethelandRevenue.Government
ignored.
Gandhi+SardarPatellaunchednorevenuecampaign
Result:
1. Governmentreducedrevenueto6.03%
2. GovernmentorderedofficialstorecoverRevenueonlyfromthose
farmerswhowerewillingtopay.
3. Gandhigetsnewally:SardarVallabhbhaiPatel

Peasantrevoltsinthe20s

Generalfeatures
1. Oftenturnedviolent/militant.Createdadividebetweenlocalleadersand
NationalistLeaders/Congress/Gandhi
2. Signoffearamongmiddleclassleadershipthatmovementwouldturn
militant.
3. Governmentusedfullpoliceforceandsuppression.
4. Farmersdidntdemandabolitionofrent,zamindari.Theyonlywanteda
fairsystemoflandtenancy.

KisanMovement,UP(1920s)
Awadhfarmersweresufferingbecause:
1. Lackofoccupancyrightsonlandinmanyregions.
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2. Exactionbylandlordsoftributes,cesses,gifts,forcedlabourand
excessiverent.
3. Periodicrevisionoflandrevenueinryotwariareas.
4. Heavyindebtednesstothevillagelandlordsormoneylenders.
5. WorldwarI=steepriseinthepriceoffoodgrainsbenefitingmiddlemen
andmerchantsatthecostofthepoor.
6. FarmershadtopayLaraiChanda(Warcontribution)duringWW1.
7. TocounterGandhi/Congresssinfluence,theGovernmentwantedtowin
overTalukdarsinAvadh.Hence,theygavefreehandtoTaulkdars
regardingrentcollection,evictionetc.
8. Asaresult,Begari(forcedlabour)andBedakhli(evictingtenantforland)
becameacommonsight.
9. +castedomination:Jajmanisystemunderwhich,lowercastewere
oblightedtosupplyghee,clothsetcfree/@discountedpricestoupper
caste.
UPKisanSabhasetup.
1918 byHomeRuleleadersGauriShankerMishraandIndraNarain
DwivediwiththesupportofMadanMohanMalviya.
1920

BabaRamchandraorganizedpeasantsofAwadhagainstthe
landlords,usingRamayanaandcastesloghans.

MethodsofAwadhKisanSabha
1. askedfarmerstostopworkingonbedakhliland(i.e.fromwhereearlier
farmerwasevicted)
2. askedfarmerstostopgivingBegariandJajmani.
3. Socialboycottoffarmerswhodidnotobey1+2.
4. By1921,thismovementturnedmilitantandspreadtodistrictsofEastern
UP.involvedlooting,ransacking,attackingzamindarproperties.
5. agitatorsraidedthehousesoflandlordsandmoneylenders,looted
bazaarsandgranaries
Result:GovernmentamendedAwadhRentActin1921andAKSceased
violence.
LaterAllIndiaKisanSabhaemerged.Discussedseparatelyinthirdarticle
alongwithCongressProvincialgovernment.

EkaMovement(1920s)
Eka=unitymovement
InitiallybyCongress+KhilafatLeaders.LaterMadariPasiandotherlow
casteleaders.
Reason:oppressionbyThekedar.Highrents
Involvedreligiousritual,inwhichfarmerwouldtakeatipinGangesand
vownottodobegari,resistevictionetc.
EvenincludedsomesmallzamindarswhowereunhappedwithBritish
demandsforhighrevenue.
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By1922severerepressionbygovernment=EkaMovementvanished.

SecondMoplahUprising(1921)
Reasons:
1. HinduZamindars(Jemnis)exploitingMuslimMoplah/Mappilafarmersin
Malabar(Kerala)
2. rumorsthatBritishmilitarystrengthhaddeclinedpostWW1.
3. KhilafatmovementandgeneralhatredtowardsBritish.
Tippingpoint:PoliceraidedamosquetoarrestaKhilafatleaderAli
Musaliar.
Farmersattackedpolicestations,publicofficesandhouses,landrecords
ofzamindarsandmoneylendersundertheleadershipofKunhammed
Haji.
Formonths,BritishgovernmentlostcontroloverErnadandWalluvanad
taluksforseveralmonths.
ThismovementwastermedasAntiBritish,AntiZamindarsand,tosome
extent,asantiHindu.
PodanurBlackhole:Britishput66Moplahprisonersintoarailwaywagon
andcompletelyshutitdown.Theyalldiedofasphyxiation.
Result:HundredsofMoplahlostlivesasaresulttheywerecompletely
demoralizedanddidntjoininanyfuturefreedomstrugglesoreven
communistmovementspostindependence.

BardoliSatyagraha(1928)
Area:Bardoli,Gujarat
Reason:landRevenueincreasedby22%.
SardarPatelpersuadedthefarmers:
nottopayRevenue,requiredthemtotakeoathinthenameoftheir
respectiveHindu/Muslimgods.
socialboycottofanyonewhopaidrevenue.
ResistevictionandJabti(Confiscation).Lockhousesandmigrateto
BarodaState
socialupliftmentofKaliparajcastewhoworkedaslandless
laborers.
KMMunshiresignedfromBombayLegislativecouncil.
Bombaycommunistsandrailwayworkersalsothreatenedstrikesand
boycotts.
Result:
GovernmentsetupMaxwellBroomfieldcommission.
ReducedlandRevenueto6.03%
Returnedconfiscatedlandbacktofarmers.
VallabhbhaigotthetitleofSardar.

CivilDisobedienceMovement(CDM)193031
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InUP,CongressaskedZamindarsnottopayrevenuetoGovernment.
(norevenue)
AndaskedFarmersnottopayrenttoZamindars.(norent)
ButZamindarsremainedloyaltoBritish=>asaresultonlyfarmers
participatedinnorentmovement.

Misc.PeasantMovementsinthe1920and30s
GreatDepressionstartedinUSA,spreadinEurope=>agriculturalprices
crashed.
ButRevenue,rentsandtaxesremainedhigh,impoverishingthe
peasants.
farmersemboldenedbySuccessofBardoliSatyagrahaof1928
ManyZamindarleadersstoodupin1937sprovincialelectionson
Congressticketsbuttheyweredefeated=farmersevenmore
emboldened.
Bakasht
Movement
BarhaiyaTal
Bengal,Bihar

Bihar

Bihar
Bihar.TorestoreBakashtland.Leader:Karyananda
Sharma
RefusedtopayChaukidaritax
KisanrancampaigntoabolishZamindari,restoreBakshat
lands.MatterSolvedwhenprovincialcongress
governmentpassedact.
BiharProvincialKisanSabha,1929

Bombay,Central
Againstforestgrazingregulations
Provinces
inGarohills.toreducerentfrom50%to25%.Leader
HajongTribals
MoniSingh.
Maharashtra,
Karnataka,
NoRevenuemovement
Bundelkhand
againstfeudallevies,advancerentsandeviction.Result:
Malabar,Kerala
MalabarTenancyactwasamended.

Punjab

Surat,Kheda

PunjabRiyasatiPrajaMandal(1928)
AgainstMaharajofPatialahehadincreasedland
Revenueby19%
farmerswantedhimtoabolishhislandreservedfor
shikar(hunting)
forreductionofcanaltaxes.
FarmersrefusedtopayRevenue.MigratedtoBaroda
State.

PeasantRevoltsinthe40s
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Generalfeatures:
DuringWW2,thepeasantmovementshaddeclined.
ButaftertheendofWW2(1945)peasantleadersanticipatefreedomand
newsocialorder.Hencenewmovementswithrenewedvigour.
EarlierkisanmovementsusuallydidntdemandabolitionofZamindari.
Theymerelywantedafairsystemoflandrevenueandlandtenancy.But
thesenewmovementsstronglydemandedforabolitionofZamindari.
Evenwhentheywereunsuccessful,theycreatedaclimatewhich
necessitatedthepostindependencelandreformsandabolitionof
Zamindari.
Earliermovementswerebyandlargenonviolent.Butnowtheyturned
militante.g.TelanganamovementinHyderabadstateandtheTebhaga
movementinBengal.SimilarlyAllIndiaKisanSabhaopenlypreached
militancy,violanceagainstZamindars.

Tebhaga,Bengal,1946
1. inthisregion:Richfarmers(Jotedars)leasedthefarmstosharecroppers
(Bargadar)
2. FloutCommissionhadrecommendedthatBargadarshouldget2/3of
cropproduceandjotedar(thelandlord)shouldget1/3rdofcropproduce.
3. Tebhagamovementaimedtoimplementthisrecommendationthrough
massstruggle.
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BengalProvincialKisanSabha
communistgroups
lowerstratumoftenantssuchasbargardars(sharecroppers),
adhiarsandpoorpeasants,teaplantationworkersetc.

who

against zamindars,richfarmers(Jotedars),moneylenders,traders,local
whom bureaucrats
SuharwardysGovernmentintroducedBargardariBill.Butoverall,Limited
success:
1. Brutalpolicesuppression.
2. differenceofopinion
tribalelementswantedmoremilitantprotest
poorandmiddlelevelfarmersupportdeclined
urbanprofessionaldidnotsupport(Becausemanyofthemhad
giventheirvillagelandtoBargadars)
3. RiotsstartedinCalcutta,demandforpartition.

Telangana,HyderabadState(4651)
Who?FarmersofTelenganaandMadras,PrajaMandalorg.,Communist
party.
Againstwhom?Nizamsofficials,landlords,moneylenders,traders
BiggestPeasantguerrillawarinModernIndianhistory.
Reasons?
1. UnderAsafjahiNizambureaucraticdominationbyMuslimandHindu
elites
2. Vethi:forcedlabourandpaymentsinkindbyJagirdar.Tribalswere
turnedintodebtslaves.
3. highrents,forcedevictionandotherformsofbadassthuggaryassociated
inafeudalarea.
Whyguerrillawar?
1. Armsactwasimplementedinslackmanner.Easytobuycountrymade
guns.
2. Congress,AryaSamajetc.didnotwantNizam/Razakarstosetupan
independentHyderabadcountryafterindependence.Sotheygavemoral
support,funding.
Result
1.
2.
3.
4.

revenueandrentrecordsdestroyed
bondedlabour/vethidisappeared,declineinuntouchability
Agriculturalwageswereincreased.
Destroyedaristocracy/feudalismfromHyderabad.Pavedwayfor
formationofAndhraStateandVinobasBhudanmovement.

Whydecline?
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OperationPolo:In1948,Indiangovernmentsentarmytooverthrow
Nizam.
evenafterliberationofHyderabad,theCommunisthadinternalpolitical
difference.Theclasswarturnedintopettymurderingofforestofficials
andmoneylenders.Asaresultmovementlostsupport.

Varli,BombayProvince
Varli=tribalsinW.India.
KisanSabhasupportedthem.Laterundertheinfluenceofcommunists.
Againstwhom?forestcontractors,themoneylenders,therichfarmers,
landlords,Britishbureaucracy.

MockQuestions
5marks
1. Pabnamovement.
2. IndigoMovement(1859
60)
3. DeccanRiots(187475)
4. SanyasiRevolt
5. BardoliPeasant
Movement(1921)
6. IndigoMovement(1959
60)
7. PagalPanthisandFaraizis
Revolt
8. PeasantMovementin
Avadh

9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

BabaRamdevChandra.
EkaMovement
KhedaSatyagraha
RamosiRevolts
BirsaMundascontributionin
Freedomstruggle
14. TebhagaMovement
15. Telenganamovement(194651)

12marks
1. Themostimportantcontributionofthepeasantmovementsthatcovered
largeareasofthesubcontinentinthe30sand40swasthattheycreated
theclimatewhichnecessitatedthepostindependenceagrarianreforms.
Comment
2. WriteanoteonPeasantmovementsunderGandhisleadership
3. WriteanoteonPeasantsmovementsunderSardarPatelsleadership.
4. WriteanoteonthecharacteristicsofpeasantmovementsinIndiafrom
1857toSecondWorldWar.
5. WriteanoteonthegrowthofPeasantmovementsafter1920s.
6. Underlinethecriticallinkbetweenthelonghistoryofthenationaland
peasantmovementsinIndiaandthenatureandintensityoftheland
reforminitiativestakenafterindependence.
7. Whatweretheimportantpeasantstrugglesthattookplaceontheeveof
Indianindependence?
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Inthenextarticle,wellseethelandreformsinitiatedbyProvincialCongress
governmentsbeforeindependence,roleofAllIndiaKisanSabha,viewsof
GandhiandRanadeonLandreformsetc.

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landreformsduringbritishraj.html

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