Major Peasant Movement
Peasant Movement of United Provinces -1920-20 The area of this movement was Agra, Hardoi, Bahraich, Sitapur, Barabanki etc. of Awadh province. Its character was also anti-imperialist and anti-feudal. Forced by famine, epidemic, poor farmers had to follow the path of movement, which later became associated with the non-cooperation movement. Leaders like Baba Ramchandra and Madari Pasi gave it their leadership. The sympathies of Congress leaders were also with him.
, Peasant Movement of Punnapa and Vamalar This area fell in two places of Travancore in Kerala. The farmers here organized and fought against feudal exploitation and oppression. Peasants and workers took out processions, strikes in protest against the feudal atrocities, but it was crushed with the help of police, feudal-lathes and army.
Tebhaga Movement In 1946, this movement was started by the farmers of Bengal under the leadership of Kisan Sabha. In this movement the sharecroppers announced that they would themselves take 2/3 of the crop and give 1/3rd to the landlords. Hindu and Muslim farmers were involved in this movement. Police fierce
Although this movement was suppressed by repression, but this movement brought awareness among the farmers of Bengal.
Peasant Movement of Champaran 1917 In the Champar district of Bihar state, indigo cultivators were being subjected to a lot of atrocities by their European masters. Gandhiji studied the farmers and situation in this area and organized the farmers and inspired them for the movement. Here the Tinkathia system was prevalent, under which the fertile land of the farmers was snatched from them. After the movement, the government had to bow down and the rent increase had to be reduced.
Kheda Movement – 1918 Due to natural calamity (drought), the crops of the farmers were ruined, people were in a state of starvation. No other attempt was made by the government to waive the rent, the government officials were not in favor of waiving the rent by resorting to the rules. When the government’s stand did not change even with the proposals, talks and press information, Gandhiji took care of the movement and formally announced to start Satyagraha. This Satyagraha was related to the peasantry. Fearing that Gandhiji asked the farmers not to pay taxes, there was an agreement between the government and Gandhiji, which gave relief to the farmers.
Punjab Peasant Movement – 1920-22 This movement took place against the encroachment of the land of Gurdwaras by the Mahants of Punjab and they behaved like Zamindars, the atrocities on the farmers had increased. This led to a conflict between the peasants and the Mahants. When the British took the side of the Mahants, it was organized against the Mahants and the British. As a result of this, the foundation of Akali Krishak Sangathan was laid in Punjab.
Naxalite Peasant Movement – 1967 In the present time this movement has become anti-government, anti-people and hateful. It is posing a threat to the whole of India. The nature of this peasant movement which started from West Bengal has changed. That’s why they are being opposed everywhere. In fact it started against the unequal distribution of land and other exploitations. Every day the news of Naxalite violence comes to be seen and heard. That’s why the government has issued efforts to suppress it because it is showing its hideous form.
Peasant Movement of Bardoli -1928 The main reason for the peasant movement in Bardoli, Gujarat was to increase the rent by 20-22% by the government. This movement was done against this increase. The leadership of leaders like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel took this movement to such an extent that the government had to investigate it by forming a committee and limit the increase in rent to 6%. This movement had its resonance all over India.
Peasants’ movement during 1930-33 During this period, due to economic recession, the price of farmers’ crops had fallen. The economic condition of the farmers had deteriorated. Nevertheless, the work of forcible collection of rent by the government continued. Many farmers were evicted from the land due to non-payment of rent. So the farmers agitated. Along with this, the peasants also actively participated in the civil disobedience movements.
Moplah Peasant Rebellion of Malabar – 1921 The area of Malabar came under Madras Presidency. Most of the population here were farmers and Muslims. These were called Moplahs. The landlords here were mostly Hindus. The main reason for this movement was the rising price of food grains, partial famine conditions, exploitation of the landlords and the British government. Taking inspiration from the non-cooperation movement, these farmers organized a movement and caused damage to the landlords and the government. As a result, the government suppressed it by use of force. But this sporadic struggle continued.
Peasant Movement Between 1945-47, Quit India Movement was going on during this period, and the Peasant Movement was also going along with it. At this time, the details of three movements running separately are received, in which Telangana movement, Punnapa-Vamalar and Tebhaga movement were prominent.
Telangana Movement – 1946 Telangana was a region under the Nizam of Hyderabad located in Andhra Pradesh. There were about 80 lakh farmers here. Galla was being forcibly collected from the farmers here at low prices. In protest against this, the farmers of many villages of Nalgonda revolted together. Later the Communists of Hyderabad and Andhra Mahasabha took over its leadership. The Nizam tried to suppress it by soldiers, but the peasants organized and demanded to make Hyderabad an integral part of India