Mrunal Land reform in India: Role of Indian National Congress 4UPSC http://mrunal.org/2013/10/land-reforms-role-of-indian-congress-in-lan...

- Mrunal - http://mrunal.org -

Posted BySupport StaffOn 22/10/2013 @ 1:01 am In polity | 23 Comments

Prologue
#1: Land reforms Congress in Provincial Governments 1937
@Bihar
@Uttar Pradesh
@Bombay
@Other Provinces
Overall Limitations
#2: Congress Resolutions 4farmers
@Karachi session, 1931
@Firozpur Session, 1936
@election manifesto,1937
Other resolutions/Manifestos
Rise of All India Kisan Sabha
Kisan Manifesto, 1936
Limitation of All India Kisan Sabha
Gandhi’s Views on Land Reforms
Justice Ranade’s Views on Land reforms
Mock Question

so far we’ve seen

Three land tenure system of the British: Their features, implications.

Peasant struggles for land reforms in British Raj: causes and consequences.
Now in this article we’ll see Role of Indian Congress in Land reforms during the British Raj.
This can be studied under two heads:

When Congress formed ministries in the different provinces (1937), what did they do?
What resolutions did they pass in various sessions?
+ additional topics: Gandhi’s views on Land reforms, Ranade’s view on Land reforms and the
rise of All India Kisan Sabha.

After the provincial elections in 1937, Congress formed government in

1 of 8 2/15/2017 12:25 AM
Mrunal Land reform in India: Role of Indian National Congress 4UPSC http://mrunal.org/2013/10/land-reforms-role-of-indian-congress-in-lan...

Madras
Bombay
Central Provinces
first
Orissa
Bihar
UP
laterAssam, North West Frontier Province
And they implemented certain land reforms in these provinces:

Good

Enacted “Restoration of Bakasht Land Act”- to give back land to farmers who were evicted
between 1929-1937.
enacted Bihar Tenancy Act
Reduced the salami rates.
Abolished all increases in rent since 1911. As a result, rents were reduced by ~25%
gave under-ryots occupancy rights after twelve years of cultivating the land.
rents had to be reduced if soil degraded, owner didn’t provide irrigation etc.
Existing arrears of rent reduced.
interest on rent-arrears reduced from 12.5 to 6.25%
Debt Relief act: Reduced interest rate on debts to 9%
Prohibited all illegal exactions. if landlord charged illegal dues, he could be jailed for 6
months.
In sharecropping, landlord’s maximum share was kept at 9/20 part of the produce.
if tenant doesn’t pay rent- he cannot be arrested, his property cannot be attached
Not-Good

Kisan leaders wanted Congress government to abolish zamindari and redistribute the land
among poors.
But the Congress Government in Bihar was backed by the zamindars
Therefore, zamindari abolition law couldnot be made.
Bihar Kisan Sabha resorted to militancy- use of Lathis and violence to prevent rent payments,
forcibly occupying Zamindari land etc. Congress government resorted to use of police and
section 144=> relations between Kisan Sabha and Congress deteriorated.

Good:

The Congress leaders was more ‘leftist’ than in Bihar. Hence laws/regulations were more
pro-farmer
Reduced rents
Tenants of Awadhs and Agra were given hereditary occupancy. (Meaning Zamindar can’t evict
family’s farm if the father died.)
Rent of hereditary tenant can be changed only after 10 years.

2 of 8 2/15/2017 12:25 AM
Mrunal Land reform in India: Role of Indian National Congress 4UPSC http://mrunal.org/2013/10/land-reforms-role-of-indian-congress-in-lan...

Tenant cannot be arrested, if he doesn’t pay rent.

Nazrana (forced gifts) and Begari (Forced labour) were abolished.
Not-Good:

Governor did not give his assent to the Tenancy Bill even after two years of its passage. Hence
most reforms couldn’t be implemented.

During Civil Disobedience movement (CDM) the British had attached lands of farmers who did
not pay Revenue
The congress Government restored the land back to those farmers
Forest Grazing fees were abolished.
40,000 bonded labour (Dubla/serfs) were liberated
Debt Relief act: Reduced interest rate on debts to 9%. Although it was opposed by Lawyers
who supported Congress. (Because lawyers earned a lot from debt related court cases).

Passed: Tenancy act to reduced interest rate on arrears from 12.5 to 6% and
provide for free transfer of occupancy holdings.
Orissa
Failed: bill to reduce rents in Zamindari areas. because governor didn’t give assent.

Congress Socialist Party and Communists had setup peasant associations (Krishak
Kerala Sangathan)
organized a campaign towards amendment of the Malabar Tenancy Act.
Andhra Congress ministry passed law to give debt relief to farmers
agitations against Canal Tax
Bengal Hat Tola Movement: in north Bengal against a levy collected by the landlords
from peasants at Hat (weekly market).
Agitation against the Union Ministry dominated by landlords of western Punjab for
Punjab
resettlement of land revenue and against increase in canal tax and water rate.
Grazing fees reduced.
Debt Relief act: Reduced interest rate on debts to 6.25%
Committee under Revenue minister T.Prakasam, made recommendations to reduce
Madras
Zamindar’s rent by 75% (and thus virtually abolishing Zamindari).
CM Rajagopalachari planned to implement this reform, withou paying Zamindars
any compensation. But before a bill could be drafted, the ministry resigned.
most
laws regulating the activity of the moneylenders and providing debt relief.
states

Time limit: They were in power for barely 28 months. They had resigned in 1939. So, long
term reforms could not be carried out. Example: In Madras State CM Rajagopalachari planned
to reduce rents by 75%, abolish Zamindari without paying Zamindars any compensation. But
before a bill could be drafted on the, the ministry resigned.
Vote power: In Orissa the British governor refused assent to a bill that aimed to reduce

3 of 8 2/15/2017 12:25 AM
Mrunal Land reform in India: Role of Indian National Congress 4UPSC http://mrunal.org/2013/10/land-reforms-role-of-indian-congress-in-lan...

Zamindar’s income by 50-60%.

Appeasement: Had to maintain unity for anti-British struggle. so, could not afford to annoy
upper caste/rich farmers beyond a level. Congress ministries did not pursue abolition of
zamindari in UP and Bihar (despite resolutions from Congress PCCs in UP and Bihar).
Power Limit: Under the Act of 1935, Provincial governments lacked the power to abolish
Zamindari, even if they wanted.
Creamy Layer: By and large only superior tenants benefited from these Acts/laws. The
subtenants/inferior tenants/agri.labourers were overlooked. May be because they did not form
‘vote-bank’ as Act of 1935 provided for a restricted franchise.

list of ‘Fundamental Rights and Economic Programme’ for future India,

drafted by Dr.Rajendra Prasad. It included following provisions for land reforms:

Reduction in agricultural rent or revenue paid by the peasantry

Farmers with uneconomic holdings, will be exempted from rent payment
Debt Relief for farmers. control of Usury
Serfdom/Bonded labour will be abolished.
Farmers and workers will have right to form unions to protect their interests.
Progressive income tax on agricultural income.
Limitation: Didn’t include the demand to abolish Zamindari / Estates of landlords.

4 of 8 2/15/2017 12:25 AM
Mrunal Land reform in India: Role of Indian National Congress 4UPSC http://mrunal.org/2013/10/land-reforms-role-of-indian-congress-in-lan...

President: Sardar Patel. passed resolution for:

@Kisan Conference, 1935

zamindari abolition
peasant proprietorship without intermediaries

thirteen point program for All India agrarian reforms

Reduction in rent and revenue,
exemption from rent on uneconomic holdings,
Reduce canal and irrigation rates
living wage for agriculture labors
recognize of peasant associations
introduce cooperative farming
In a way, this Firozpur session’s Agrarian reform program= repeating Karachi Session’s points
+ some new demands from All India Kisan Sabha’s manifesto.

The appalling poverty, unemployment and indebtedness of the peasantry is resulted from
antiquated and repressive land tenure and revenue systems.
We will give immediate relief to farmers for revenue, rent and debt burden.
Structural reform of the land tenure, rent and revenue systems

1938National Planning Committee. Chairman: Nehru

1944Bombay Plan
1945Election manifesto by Congress Working Committee
All of above talked about:

abolish intermediaries between farmer and state (Zamindar, Jagirdar, Talukdar etc)
Cheap loans to solve the problem of rural indebtedness
Collective farming should be encouraged. Although collective farming did not gain much
attention because there was hardly any peasant mobilization for this.

An interim government headed by Nehru was formed at the Centre and the Congress
governments in the provinces
They set up committees to draw up bills for abolition of the zamindari system.

1920Awadh Kisan Sabha formed with support of Nehru and Ram Chandra.
1923NG Ranga formed first Ryot’s association in Guntur, Andhra.
Bihar Kisan Sabha formed by Swami Sahajanand Saraswati.
1928
Akali leaders formed Punjab Riyasati Praja Mandal.
1929Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha
1931Krushak Sangha throughout Orissa
1935South Indian federation of Peasants and agri.laborers with NG Ranga as Secretary.
Up to 1920, the peasant leaders were associated with the Congress. But later the rift widened

5 of 8 2/15/2017 12:25 AM
Mrunal Land reform in India: Role of Indian National Congress 4UPSC http://mrunal.org/2013/10/land-reforms-role-of-indian-congress-in-lan...

because:

In Eastern UP, the Kisan groups wanted government to convert Sharecroppers (Bargadars)
into tenants. So they can get all legal protections available under Tenancy laws.
But the Swarajist group did not want such reform. (due to pressure from Zamindar/rural elite
groups)
differences of opinion between the supporters of Non-Cooperation and those who preferred
constitutional agitation
In the princely states, Congress followed the policy of non-interferance and did not help
farmers against high Revenues.
In Ryotwari areas- Government itself collected taxes. So Gandhi would ask farmers to stop
paying rent. But in case of Zamindari areas, Gandhi would ask farmers to continue paying rent
to the Zamindars and Talukdars.
Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, prominent Kisan leader from Bihar- was turning towards leftist-
militant type of agitation. He advocated use of Lathis (sticks) against Zamindars and their
goons. Hence Congress stopped supporting him.
As a result, by mid 30s, the peasant leaders and unions became disillusioned with Congress.
They felt a need to setup a Kisan Sabha at the national level, to coordinate the efforts of
regional Kisan Sabhas/associations.

1st Sept 1936: First All India Kisan Congress @Lucknow. All India Kisan Day was celebrated on
1st September every year.
Swami Sahajanand Saraswati (of Bihar) as its President and N.G. Ranga (of Andhra) as
General Secretary.
1938: Became All India Kisan Sabha
Launched campaigns in Andra, Bihar and UP
started Kisan Bulletin, editor Indulal Yagnik.
Gave Kisan Manifesto:

Protect farmers for from economic exploitation,

50% reduction in land Revenue
security of tenure for tenants,
reduction in interest rates charged by moneylenders
abolition of begar (forced labour)
reasonable wages for labourers,
promote cooperative farming
transfer uncultivated government land, and Zamindari lands to poor and landless farmers.

leadership was concentrated in the hands of Bhumihar and other rural elites
landless, SC, ST found no representation in its leadership
Kisan Sabha wanted abolition of Zamindari but not abolition of Sharecropping (Bargadari)
As Swami Sahjanant turned towards militant methods of protest, the Congress ordered its
workers not to participate in any activities of Kisan Sabha.

6 of 8 2/15/2017 12:25 AM
Mrunal Land reform in India: Role of Indian National Congress 4UPSC http://mrunal.org/2013/10/land-reforms-role-of-indian-congress-in-lan...

Congress ministries in Provinces used section 144, police force to curtail the activities of Kisan
Sabha. (especially in UP, Bihar, Orissa and Madras)

‘Land and all property is his who will work it’, = similar to concept of land to the tiller.
During Non-cooperation movement
he asked tenants and landlors to join and fight against the most powerful zamindar- the
British.
In the Ryotwari regions (where British directly collected taxes), Gandhi asked farmers to stop
paying revenue.
but in Zamindari areas, Gandhi did not ask farmers to stop paying rent. (Because he did not
want to antagonize those Zamindars/intermediaries). He explicitly industructed UP
farmers….”We want to turn Zamindars into friends. Therefore we many not withhold taxes
from Government or rent from landlord.”
During Civil Disobedience movement,
he issued a manifesto to the Uttar Pradesh farmers asking them to pay only 50 per cent of the
legal rent.
During Gandhi-Irwin Pact:
Gandhi’s demand Irwin’s response
wanted Irwin to return the land confiscated from farmers. And if such land
didn’t agree
was sold to third parties then original farmer be paid some compensation.
agreed for only
reduce land revenue in all areas
some areas.
In Early 30s to UP farmers, “non-occupancy tenants should pay 8 anna rent to the Zamindar
and occupancy tenant should pay 12 anna rent to Zamindar. Let me warn you against
listening to any advice that you have no need to pay the zamindars any rent at all.”
Quote: Peasants could seize the zamindar’s lands and, while there could be some violence,
but the zamindars could also ‘cooperate by fleeing’.
Quote: After Independence, the zamindars’ land would be taken by the state either through
their voluntary surrender or through legislation and then distributed to the cultivators. BUT It
would be fiscally impossible to compensate the landlords.

Once UPSC asked about Sir Tejbahadur Sapru’s views on Indian Nationalist. (2006) So similar
to that…What were Justice Ranade’s views on Land reforms?

Replace the existing semi-feudal agriculture with capitalist agriculture.

Transform rich peasants into capitalist farmers.
Transform tenants to independent proprietors – subjected to low tax and cheap loans.
Quote: ‘A complete divorce from land of those who cultivate it is a national evil, and no less
an evil is it to find one dead level of small farmers all over the land. A mixed constitution of
rural society is necessary to secure the stability and progress of the country.’
Post-independence, by and large same model was adopted by Government: replace
landlordism and give protection to small farmers.
Through Poona Sarvajanik Sabha: Supported Deccan riots and campaign against

7 of 8 2/15/2017 12:25 AM
Mrunal Land reform in India: Role of Indian National Congress 4UPSC http://mrunal.org/2013/10/land-reforms-role-of-indian-congress-in-lan...

moneylenders in Maharashtra

2 marks

NG Ranga
Indulal Yagnik.
Swami Sahajanand Saraswati
12 Marks

Write a note on Gandhi’s views on Land reforms.

Write a note on Justice Ranade’s views on Land reforms.
Write a note on Dr. Rajendra Prasad’s view on Land reforms.
Enumerate the initiatives taken by Congress ministries in the Provinces for land reforms
during British India. To what extend did they succeed in bringing land reforms?
Describe the role of Congress in land reforms in pre-independent India.
“We want to turn Zamindars into friends. Therefore we many not withhold taxes from
Government or rent from landlord.” Comment
“A complete divorce from land of those who cultivate it is a national evil, and no less an evil is
it to find one dead level of small farmers all over the land.” Comment.
Write a note on the Congress resolutions for Land reforms in British India.
15 marks

In a sense this brief interlude of Congress rule served as a mirror of the future for both the
dominant classes in rural India and the oppressed and both learnt their lessons though
perhaps somewhat unevenly. Comment
Write a note on the bitter sweat relations between All India Kisan Sabha and Congress.
In the Next article, we’ll start with the land reforms in India after independence.

Article printed from Mrunal: http://mrunal.org

URL to article: http://mrunal.org/2013/10/land-reforms-role-of-indian-congress-

in-land-reforms-during-the-british-raj-gandhis-views-on-land-reforms-all-india-
kisan-sabha.html

Copyright © 2014 Mrunal. All rights reserved.

8 of 8 2/15/2017 12:25 AM