5/18/2017 MrunalLandReformsinIndia:PeasantrevoltsinBritishRaj4UPSC

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[LandReforms]PeasantRevoltsforLandreformsduring
BritishRaj
PostedBySupportStaffOn22/10/2013@12:48amInpolity|20Comments

Prologue
PeasantstrugglesinBritishIndia
PeasantRevoltsbefore1857
SanyasiRevolt,1772
PagalPanthi,1830s40s
Santhal,1855
Revoltsafter1857sMutiny
IndigoMovement(185960)
DeccanRiots(187475)
Ramosi,187787
NoRevenueMovements(18931900)
BirsaMundasUlgulan(1899)
Rajasthan:191317
ChamparanIndigoSatyagraha(1917)
KhedaSatyagraha(1918)
Peasantrevoltsinthe20s
KisanMovement,UP(1920s)
EkaMovement(1920s)
SecondMoplahUprising(1921)
BardoliSatyagraha(1928)
PeasantRevoltsinthe40s
Tebhaga,Bengal,1946
Telangana,HyderabadState(4651)
Varli,BombayProvince
MockQuestions
Prologue
This[LandReforms]Articleserieswill(tryto)coverfollowingissuesforUPSCMains
GS/Optionals:

ThreelandtenuresystemoftheBritish:Theirfeatures,implications.Wesawinprevious
article.
PeasantstrugglesinBritishRaj:causesandconsequences.Discussedinthisarticle.
Landreforms,Beforeindependence:byCongressgovernmentsinProvinces,theirbenefitsand
limitations.GandhiandRanadesviewsonLandreforms,AllIndiaKisanSabhaetc.
Landreforms,Afterindependence:abolitionofZamindari,LandCeilingandTenancyreforms.
Theirbenefitsandlimitations
Landreformsbynongovernmentalaction:Bhoodan,Gramdan,NGOsetc.theirbenefitsand
limitations
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Landreformsinrecenttimes:Computerizationoflandrecords,ForestrightsAct,landreform
policyetc.theirbenefitsandlimitations.
PeasantstrugglesinBritishIndia
Canbeclassifiedintofollowinggroups:

EastIndia:SanyasiRevolt,ChuarandHoRising,KolRising,SanthalRising,
Before1857s PagalPanthisandFaraizisRevolt
Mutiny WestIndia:Bhil,Ramosis
SouthIndia:Poligars
IndigoMovement(185960)
PabnaAgrarianUnrest(187376),
After1857s Deccanriots(187475),
Mutiny NoRevenueMovementAssam,Maharashtra,andPunjab:(towardstheendof
19thcentury)
ChamparanIndigoSatyagraha(1917)
Inthe20sand
2ndMoplah,AwadhKisanSabha,Ekamovement,Bardolietc.
30s
CongressMinistriesinprovincessuchasBihar,UPandBombay(willbe
discussedseparatelyinthirdarticle)
FaizpurCongresssession(1936)
Duringand
AllIndiaKisanCongress
AfterWW2
TebhagaMovementinBengal
TelanganaOutbreakinHyderabad
VarlisRevoltinWesternIndia

PeasantRevoltsbefore1857

clicktoenlarge

Note:Imalsoincludingsometribalrevoltsthathadconnectionswithlandsettlement/tenancy
systems.

SanyasiRevolt,1772
Britishgovernmentrestrictedpeoplefromvisitingholyplaces.Sansyasigotangry
Joinedbyfarmers,evictedlandlords,disbandedsoldiers
Focalpoint:RangpurtoDhaka
Leader:ManjuShahFakir
Sanyasisdefeatedacompanyofsepoysandkilledthecommander.Theyoverransomedistricts,
virtuallyrunningaparallelgovernment.
Thisrebellioncontinuedtilltheendofthe18thcentury.
GovernorGeneralWarrenHastingslaunchedamilitarycampaignagainstSansyasis.
From1800,sanyasisprobablyjoinedtheMarathastofightBritish.

PagalPanthi,1830s40s
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PagalPanthi,1830s40s
Reason:ZamindariOppression
Area:NorthBengal,HajongandGarotribes.
Leader:KaramShahandhissonTipu
Result:InitiallyBritishagreedtoPagalPanthidemand,madearrangementtoprotectthe
cultivatorsfromZamindar
Butlater,launchedmassivemilitaryoperationtosuppressPagalPanthis
Santhal,1855
Reason:oppressionofpolice,atrocitiesoflandlordsandmoneylenders,illtreatmentofsmall
farmersbylandrevenueofficials.Governmentbannedshiftingcultivationinforestareas.
Area:RajMahalhills
Leaders:Sindhu+Kanhu
Result:ThegovernmentcouldpacifiedtheseSanthalsbycreatingaseparatedistrictofSanthal
Parganas.
someotherrevoltsbefore1857sMutiny:

Bhil
Reason:agrarianhardship
1817to1819 Area:W.Ghats,Khandesh

Reason:famine,landRevenue
ChuarandHo Area:Midnapur,Chhotanagpur,Singhbhum
Tribesinvolved
1820to1837.
Chuar=Midnapur
HoandMunda=ChhotaNagpurandSinghbhum
Reason:ZamindariOppression
Faraizis
Area:EastBengal
1838to1857 Leader:FaraiziswerefollowersofaMuslimsectfoundedbyHajiShariatullah
ofFaridpur
Kherwar/Sapha
Againstrevenuesettlementsintribalareas.
Har
Reason:BritishtransferredoflandfromKolheadmen(Mundas)tooutsiders
likeSikhandMuslimfarmers.
Kol
Area:ChhotaNagpur,Ranchi,Singhbhum,Hazaribag,Palamauandwestern
partsofManbhum.
Mophah,First
uprising Malabar.
byMuslimtenantsagainstHinduZamindars(Jemnis).
18361854

Reason:landRevenue
Poligars
Area:Dindigul,Malabar,Arcot,Madraspresidency
TiruMir
Bengal.AgainstHindulandlords,whoimposedbeardtaxonFarazis.
17821831

Revoltsafter1857sMutiny
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Generalfeatures:
After1857srevolt,TheBritishhadcrusheddownnativeprincesandzamindars.Hencefarmers
themselvesbecamemainforceofagitations.
Target=sometimesgovernment,sometimesmoneylender,sometimeslandlord/zamindar
Territorialreach.notorganizedonmassscale
Oftenspontaneous.nocoordination
lackedcontinuityorlongtermstruggle.
neverthreatenedBritishsupremacy
farmersdidntmindpayingrent,revenue,interestondebtbutonlyagitatedwhentheywere
raisedtoanabnormallevel.
lackedunderstandingofcolonialeconomicsystemordivideandrulepolicyoftheBritish.
Farmersagitationswerebasedwithinframeworkofoldsocialorder,henceoftenfailedbecause
governmentcouldwooafactionbygrantingthemconcessionandhencemovementwould
collapse.
IndigoMovement(185960)
EuropeanplantersforceddesifarmerstogrowtheindigoinEasternIndia,withoutpayingright
price.
Ifanyfarmerrefusedandstartedgrowingrice,hewaskidnapped,womenandchildrenwere
attacked,andcropwaslooted,burntanddestroyed.
Iffarmerapproachedcourt,theEuropeanjudgewouldruleinfavouroftheEuropeanplanter.
TheprivilegesandimmunitiesenjoyedbytheBritishplantersplacedthemabovethelawand
beyondalljudicialcontrol.
FinallyIndigopeasantslaunchedrevoltinNadiadistrictofBengalpresidency.Refusedtogrow
Indigo.Ifpolicetriedtointervene,theywereattacked.
EuropeanPlantersrespondedbyincreasingtherentandevictingfarmers.Ledtomoreagitations
andconfrontations.
Latergotsupportfromtheintelligentsia,press,missionariesandMuslims.
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Result:GovernmentissuedanotificationthattheIndianfarmerscannotbecompelledtogrow
indigoandthatitwouldensurethatalldisputesweresettledbylegalmeans.Bytheendof
1860,Indigoplantersshoulddowntheirfactoriesandcultivationofindigowasvirtuallywiped
outfromBengal.
HarishChandra editorofHindupatriot.publishedreportsonindigocampaign,organized
Mukherji massmeetingsetc.
DinBandhuMitra wroteaplayNeelDarpantoportraytheoppressionofindigofarmers.
PabnaAgrarianUnrest(187376)

Area:EastBengal.Pabna=ajutegrowingdistrict
Reason:Zamindarsenhancedrentsbeyondlegallimitsthroughavarietyofcesses(Abwab),
Farmershadtofacecostlylegalaffairsandforcedeviction.Nuisanceofmoneylenders.
Leaders:IshwarChandraRoy,ShambhuPal,KhoodiMollah.
Notablefeatures

Agrarianleagueformedtofightlegalbattleagainstthezamindarsandorganizednonpaymentof
rentcampaign.
Thisleagueprovidedasoundplatformtothepeasantsatatimewhentherewasnokisansabha
oranypoliticalpartytoorganizethepeasants.
byandlargenonviolent.Nozamindaroragentwaskilled/seriouslyinjured.Veryfewhouses
looted,veryfewpolicestationsattacked.
HinduMuslimunity,despitethefactthatmostZamindarswereHinduandfarmerswere
muslims.
farmersdemandedtobecomeryotsofBritishqueenandnotofZamindars.
GotsupportfromIntellectuals:BankimChandraChettarji,RCDutt,SurendranathBenerjeeetc.
Result:

ThisunrestresultedintoBengalTenancyActof1885.
Butthisactdidnotfullyprotectfarmersfromthezamindarioppression
Evennoncultivatorsweregivenoccupancyright.Itgaverisetoapowerfuljotedargroups.
LatersomeoftheJotedarsbecameasexploitativeasthezamindars.
DeccanRiots(187475)
Area:IntheryotwariareasofPuneandAhmadnagarofMaharashtra

Reasons

thelandrevenuewasveryhigh
hadtopaylandRevenueevenduringbadseasons
1860:Americancivilwar=boomindemandofcottonexport.
ButIn1864,warends=>cottonexportdeclines,yetgovernmentraisedlandrevenue.
Farmershadtakenloansfrommoneylenders,butnowtheycannotrepay=>Moneylenderstook
awaytheirland,cattle,jewelryandproperty.
Notablefeatures:

Theobjectofthisriotwastodestroythedeadbonds,decrees,etc.inpossessionoftheir
creditors.
Violencewasusedonlywhenthemoneylendersrefusedtohandoverthedocuments.
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villagersledbytraditionalheadmen(Patels)
Involvedsocialboycottofmoneylender.andsocialboycottofanyvillagerwhodidntsocially
boycottthemoneylender.
LatergotsupportfromPoonaSarvajanikSabhaledbyJusticeRanade.
Result:

Initiallygovernmentresortedtouseofpoliceforceandarrest.butlaterappointedacommission,
passedAgriculturistsReliefActin1879andontheoperationofCivilProcedureCode.
Nowthepeasantscouldnotbearrestedandsenttojailiftheyfailedtopaytheirdebts.
Ramosi,187787
Reason:RamosisofMaharashtraweretheinferiorranksofpoliceinMarathaadministration.
AfterthefalloftheMarathakingdom,theybecamefarmers=>heavylandRevenuedemandsby
British.
Area:Satara,Maharashtra,Deccan
Leader:ChitturSingh(1822),VasudevBalwantPhadke(187787)
Result:Governmentgavethemlandgrantsandrecruitedthemashillpolice.
NoRevenueMovements(18931900)
IntheRyotwariareas.Mainreason:hikeinlandrevenue.

BritishincreaselandRevenueby50to70percentinKamrupandDarrangdistricts.
VillagerdecidednottopayRevenue.Andsociallyboycottedanyfarmerwhopaidland
Assam
Revenue.
Ruralelites,Brahminledtherevolt.SocialboycottofanyonewhopaidtaxestoBritish.
farmerswantedrevenueremissionunderfaminecodeduring18961900.
Tilak,PoonaSarvajanikSabhasentvolunteerstospreadawarenessamongfarmers
Bombay
abouttheirlegalrightsunderFaminecode.
ThesecampaignsspreadtoSurat,Nasik,KheraandAhmedabad.
Nuisanceofmoneylenders.
ledtoassaultandmurderofmoneylendersbythepeasants.
Punjab
Result:PunjabLandAlienationActof1902whichprohibitedfor20yearstransferof
landfrompeasantstomoneylendersandmortgage.
BirsaMundasUlgulan(1899)
SouthofRanchi

Reasons

TribalspracticedKhuntkattisystem(jointholdingbytriballineages)
Butrichfarmers,merchants,moneylenders,dikus,thekedarsfromNorthernIndiacameand
triedtoreplaceitwithtypicalZamindaritenancysystem.
Thesenewlandlordscausedindebtednessandbethbegari(forcedlabour)amongthetribal.
BirsaMundaorganizedtheMundatribals,attackedchurchesandpolicestations.
Result:

Birsadiedinjail,whileothersshotdead,hangedordeported.
GovernmentenactedChotanagpurTenancyAct1908.
recognizedKhuntkattirights

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bannedethBegari(forcedlabour)
Rajasthan:191317
BijoliaMovementandNotaxcampaignagainstUdipurMaharana
reason:Thejagirdarlevied86differentcessesonfarmers.
leaders:SitaramDas,VijaySinghPathik(BhoopSingh),ManiklalVerma
Farmersrefusedtopaytaxes,migratedtoneighboringstates
1922:Bhilmovementagainstbegari(forcedlabour)
ChamparanIndigoSatyagraha(1917)
Area:ChamparandistrictofBihar.Ramnagar,Bettiah,Madhuban.

EuropeanplantersforcedIndianfarmerstocultivateindigoon3/20thoftheirlandholding.
Popularlyknownastinkathiasystem.
Underthissystem,Europeanplantersholdingthikadarileasesfromthebiglocalzamindars
forcedthepeasantstocultivateindigoonpartoftheirlandatunremunerativepricesandby
chargingsharahbeshi(rentenhancement)ortawan(lumpsumcompensation)
ifthefarmerdidnotwanttogrowindigo,hehadtopayheavyfines
1916 AfarmerRajKumarShuklacontactedGandhiduringCongressSession@Lucknow.
MahatmaGandhilaunchedanagitation.Demandedadetailedenquiryandredressalof
1917
farmersgrievances.
Result:

Governmentappointsacommittee,evenincludedGandhiasoneofthemember.
Governmentabolishestinkhatiasystemandpayscompensationtothefarmers.
Gandhigetsnewallies:RajendraPrasad,JBKriplani,MahadevDesaiandBrajKishorePrasad
KhedaSatyagraha(1918)
SeveredroughtinKheraDistrict,Gujarat
KanbiPatidarfarmers.Makingdecentlivingthroughcotton,tobaccoanddairy.ButPlagueand
famineduring18981906reducedtheirincome.YetgovernmentincreasedRevenuedemand.
Pricesofessentialcommodities:kerosene,saltetcincreasedbecauseofWW1.
FarmersrequestedgovernmenttowaivethelandRevenue.Governmentignored.
Gandhi+SardarPatellaunchednorevenuecampaign
Result:

Governmentreducedrevenueto6.03%
GovernmentorderedofficialstorecoverRevenueonlyfromthosefarmerswhowerewillingto
pay.
Gandhigetsnewally:SardarVallabhbhaiPatel

Peasantrevoltsinthe20s

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Generalfeatures
Oftenturnedviolent/militant.CreatedadividebetweenlocalleadersandNationalist
Leaders/Congress/Gandhi
Signoffearamongmiddleclassleadershipthatmovementwouldturnmilitant.
Governmentusedfullpoliceforceandsuppression.
Farmersdidntdemandabolitionofrent,zamindari.Theyonlywantedafairsystemofland
tenancy.
KisanMovement,UP(1920s)
Awadhfarmersweresufferingbecause:

Lackofoccupancyrightsonlandinmanyregions.
Exactionbylandlordsoftributes,cesses,gifts,forcedlabourandexcessiverent.
Periodicrevisionoflandrevenueinryotwariareas.
Heavyindebtednesstothevillagelandlordsormoneylenders.
WorldwarI=steepriseinthepriceoffoodgrainsbenefitingmiddlemenandmerchantsatthe
costofthepoor.
FarmershadtopayLaraiChanda(Warcontribution)duringWW1.
TocounterGandhi/Congresssinfluence,theGovernmentwantedtowinoverTalukdarsinAvadh.
Hence,theygavefreehandtoTaulkdarsregardingrentcollection,evictionetc.
Asaresult,Begari(forcedlabour)andBedakhli(evictingtenantforland)becameacommon
sight.
+castedomination:Jajmanisystemunderwhich,lowercastewereoblightedtosupplyghee,
clothsetcfree/@discountedpricestouppercaste.
1918 UPKisanSabhasetup.

byHomeRuleleadersGauriShankerMishraandIndraNarainDwivediwiththesupportof
MadanMohanMalviya.

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BabaRamchandraorganizedpeasantsofAwadhagainstthelandlords,usingRamayana
1920
andcastesloghans.
MethodsofAwadhKisanSabha
askedfarmerstostopworkingonbedakhliland(i.e.fromwhereearlierfarmerwasevicted)
askedfarmerstostopgivingBegariandJajmani.
Socialboycottoffarmerswhodidnotobey1+2.
By1921,thismovementturnedmilitantandspreadtodistrictsofEasternUP.involvedlooting,
ransacking,attackingzamindarproperties.
agitatorsraidedthehousesoflandlordsandmoneylenders,lootedbazaarsandgranaries
Result:GovernmentamendedAwadhRentActin1921andAKSceasedviolence.

LaterAllIndiaKisanSabhaemerged.DiscussedseparatelyinthirdarticlealongwithCongress
Provincialgovernment.

EkaMovement(1920s)
Eka=unitymovement
InitiallybyCongress+KhilafatLeaders.LaterMadariPasiandotherlowcasteleaders.
Reason:oppressionbyThekedar.Highrents
Involvedreligiousritual,inwhichfarmerwouldtakeatipinGangesandvownottodobegari,
resistevictionetc.
EvenincludedsomesmallzamindarswhowereunhappedwithBritishdemandsforhighrevenue.
By1922severerepressionbygovernment=EkaMovementvanished.
SecondMoplahUprising(1921)
Reasons:

HinduZamindars(Jemnis)exploitingMuslimMoplah/MappilafarmersinMalabar(Kerala)
rumorsthatBritishmilitarystrengthhaddeclinedpostWW1.
KhilafatmovementandgeneralhatredtowardsBritish.
Tippingpoint:PoliceraidedamosquetoarrestaKhilafatleaderAliMusaliar.
Farmersattackedpolicestations,publicofficesandhouses,landrecordsofzamindarsand
moneylendersundertheleadershipofKunhammedHaji.
Formonths,BritishgovernmentlostcontroloverErnadandWalluvanadtaluksforseveral
months.
ThismovementwastermedasAntiBritish,AntiZamindarsand,tosomeextent,asantiHindu.
PodanurBlackhole:Britishput66Moplahprisonersintoarailwaywagonandcompletelyshutit
down.Theyalldiedofasphyxiation.
Result:HundredsofMoplahlostlivesasaresulttheywerecompletelydemoralizedanddidnt
joininanyfuturefreedomstrugglesorevencommunistmovementspostindependence.
BardoliSatyagraha(1928)
Area:Bardoli,Gujarat
Reason:landRevenueincreasedby22%.
SardarPatelpersuadedthefarmers:
nottopayRevenue,requiredthemtotakeoathinthenameoftheirrespectiveHindu/Muslim
gods.
socialboycottofanyonewhopaidrevenue.
ResistevictionandJabti(Confiscation).LockhousesandmigratetoBarodaState
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socialupliftmentofKaliparajcastewhoworkedaslandlesslaborers.
KMMunshiresignedfromBombayLegislativecouncil.
Bombaycommunistsandrailwayworkersalsothreatenedstrikesandboycotts.
Result:

GovernmentsetupMaxwellBroomfieldcommission.
ReducedlandRevenueto6.03%
Returnedconfiscatedlandbacktofarmers.
VallabhbhaigotthetitleofSardar.
CivilDisobedienceMovement(CDM)193031
InUP,CongressaskedZamindarsnottopayrevenuetoGovernment.(norevenue)
AndaskedFarmersnottopayrenttoZamindars.(norent)
ButZamindarsremainedloyaltoBritish=>asaresultonlyfarmersparticipatedinnorent
movement.
Misc.PeasantMovementsinthe1920and30s
GreatDepressionstartedinUSA,spreadinEurope=>agriculturalpricescrashed.
ButRevenue,rentsandtaxesremainedhigh,impoverishingthepeasants.
farmersemboldenedbySuccessofBardoliSatyagrahaof1928
ManyZamindarleadersstoodupin1937sprovincialelectionsonCongressticketsbuttheywere
defeated=farmersevenmoreemboldened.
BakashtMovement Bihar
BarhaiyaTal Bihar.TorestoreBakashtland.Leader:KaryanandaSharma
Bengal,Bihar RefusedtopayChaukidaritax
KisanrancampaigntoabolishZamindari,restoreBakshatlands.Matter
Solvedwhenprovincialcongressgovernmentpassedact.
Bihar
BiharProvincialKisanSabha,1929

Bombay,Central
Againstforestgrazingregulations
Provinces
HajongTribals inGarohills.toreducerentfrom50%to25%.LeaderMoniSingh.
Maharashtra,
Karnataka, NoRevenuemovement
Bundelkhand
againstfeudallevies,advancerentsandeviction.Result:MalabarTenancy
Malabar,Kerala
actwasamended.
PunjabRiyasatiPrajaMandal(1928)
AgainstMaharajofPatialahehadincreasedlandRevenueby19%
Punjab
farmerswantedhimtoabolishhislandreservedforshikar(hunting)
forreductionofcanaltaxes.
Surat,Kheda FarmersrefusedtopayRevenue.MigratedtoBarodaState.

PeasantRevoltsinthe40s

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Generalfeatures:
DuringWW2,thepeasantmovementshaddeclined.
ButaftertheendofWW2(1945)peasantleadersanticipatefreedomandnewsocialorder.
Hencenewmovementswithrenewedvigour.
EarlierkisanmovementsusuallydidntdemandabolitionofZamindari.Theymerelywanteda
fairsystemoflandrevenueandlandtenancy.Butthesenewmovementsstronglydemandedfor
abolitionofZamindari.
Evenwhentheywereunsuccessful,theycreatedaclimatewhichnecessitatedthepost
independencelandreformsandabolitionofZamindari.
Earliermovementswerebyandlargenonviolent.Butnowtheyturnedmilitante.g.Telangana
movementinHyderabadstateandtheTebhagamovementinBengal.SimilarlyAllIndiaKisan
Sabhaopenlypreachedmilitancy,violanceagainstZamindars.
Tebhaga,Bengal,1946
inthisregion:Richfarmers(Jotedars)leasedthefarmstosharecroppers(Bargadar)
FloutCommissionhadrecommendedthatBargadarshouldget2/3ofcropproduceandjotedar
(thelandlord)shouldget1/3rdofcropproduce.
Tebhagamovementaimedtoimplementthisrecommendationthroughmassstruggle.
BengalProvincialKisanSabha
communistgroups
who
lowerstratumoftenantssuchasbargardars(sharecroppers),adhiarsandpoor
peasants,teaplantationworkersetc.
against zamindars,richfarmers(Jotedars),moneylenders,traders,localbureaucrats

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whom
SuharwardysGovernmentintroducedBargardariBill.Butoverall,Limitedsuccess:

Brutalpolicesuppression.
differenceofopinion
tribalelementswantedmoremilitantprotest
poorandmiddlelevelfarmersupportdeclined
urbanprofessionaldidnotsupport(Becausemanyofthemhadgiventheirvillagelandto
Bargadars)
RiotsstartedinCalcutta,demandforpartition.
Telangana,HyderabadState(4651)
Who?FarmersofTelenganaandMadras,PrajaMandalorg.,Communistparty.
Againstwhom?Nizamsofficials,landlords,moneylenders,traders
BiggestPeasantguerrillawarinModernIndianhistory.
Reasons?
UnderAsafjahiNizambureaucraticdominationbyMuslimandHinduelites
Vethi:forcedlabourandpaymentsinkindbyJagirdar.Tribalswereturnedintodebtslaves.
highrents,forcedevictionandotherformsofbadassthuggaryassociatedinafeudalarea.
Whyguerrillawar?

Armsactwasimplementedinslackmanner.Easytobuycountrymadeguns.
Congress,AryaSamajetc.didnotwantNizam/RazakarstosetupanindependentHyderabad
countryafterindependence.Sotheygavemoralsupport,funding.
Result

revenueandrentrecordsdestroyed
bondedlabour/vethidisappeared,declineinuntouchability
Agriculturalwageswereincreased.
Destroyedaristocracy/feudalismfromHyderabad.PavedwayforformationofAndhraStateand
VinobasBhudanmovement.
Whydecline?

OperationPolo:In1948,IndiangovernmentsentarmytooverthrowNizam.
evenafterliberationofHyderabad,theCommunisthadinternalpoliticaldifference.Theclasswar
turnedintopettymurderingofforestofficialsandmoneylenders.Asaresultmovementlost
support.
Varli,BombayProvince
Varli=tribalsinW.India.
KisanSabhasupportedthem.Laterundertheinfluenceofcommunists.
Againstwhom?forestcontractors,themoneylenders,therichfarmers,landlords,British
bureaucracy.

MockQuestions
5marks

Pabnamovement. BabaRamdevChandra.
IndigoMovement(185960) EkaMovement
DeccanRiots(187475) KhedaSatyagraha
http://mrunal.org/2013/10/landreformspeasantstrugglesforlandreformsduringbritishraj.html/print/ 12/13
5/18/2017 MrunalLandReformsinIndia:PeasantrevoltsinBritishRaj4UPSC

SanyasiRevolt RamosiRevolts
BardoliPeasantMovement(1921) BirsaMundascontributioninFreedomstruggle
IndigoMovement(195960) TebhagaMovement
PagalPanthisandFaraizisRevolt Telenganamovement(194651)
PeasantMovementinAvadh
12marks

Themostimportantcontributionofthepeasantmovementsthatcoveredlargeareasofthe
subcontinentinthe30sand40swasthattheycreatedtheclimatewhichnecessitatedthepost
independenceagrarianreforms.Comment
WriteanoteonPeasantmovementsunderGandhisleadership
WriteanoteonPeasantsmovementsunderSardarPatelsleadership.
WriteanoteonthecharacteristicsofpeasantmovementsinIndiafrom1857toSecondWorld
War.
WriteanoteonthegrowthofPeasantmovementsafter1920s.
Underlinethecriticallinkbetweenthelonghistoryofthenationalandpeasantmovementsin
Indiaandthenatureandintensityofthelandreforminitiativestakenafterindependence.
WhatweretheimportantpeasantstrugglesthattookplaceontheeveofIndianindependence?
Inthenextarticle,wellseethelandreformsinitiatedbyProvincialCongressgovernments
beforeindependence,roleofAllIndiaKisanSabha,viewsofGandhiandRanadeonLandreforms
etc.

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