Peasant movements may be dated back to the colonial era. The word "peasant" is complicated because it encompasses a wide range of differences.
Small farmers, rich landowners, landless labourers hired
to work the land, sharecroppers, and other groups who see land as a source of
living are all included under the term peasant. As a result, the word
"peasant" understates the internal contradictions and complications
that exist.
The British revolutionised Indian agriculture by
establishing property rights in lands and commercialising the land, altering
people's relationships with the land.
The Indian economy, which was founded on subsistence
production, was also incorporated into the capitalistic market economy by the
British.
The Indian peasants were poor throughout colonialism and
faced several issues, including excessive rents, harsh evictions, unlawful tax
levies, and unpaid labour in the zamindari regions. Peasants eventually began
to fight the exploitation and adopted extreme measures in several locations.
During India's struggle for freedom, these activities became known as peasant
uprisings or peasant movements.
Indigo Revolt (1859-60):
The East India Company's Investments identified indigo as
a big cash crop. This uprising was aimed against European colonists who
exploited Indian peasants by compelling them to take loans and sign fake
contracts requiring them to grow Indigo instead of the more lucrative rice.
Digambar Biswas and Bishnu Biswas led the Indigo
insurrection in Bengal's Nadia area in 1859, organising peasants to resist the
violence of armed retainers.
Pabna Movement (1872-76):
In May 1873, an Agrarian League was created in the
Yusufzahi Pargana of Pabna district, Bengal.
The zamindars in East Bengal persecuted the peasantry.
With ceases and the use of force, they regularly evicted, threatened, and
raised rent unfairly. The zamindars also made it impossible for peasants to get
Occupancy rights under the Act of 1859.
Deccan Peasants Uprising (1875):
This was a protest against the Marwari and Gujarati
money lenders corruption. It began as a social protest of money lenders by
peasants but subsequently evolved into an armed peasant rebellion in
Maharashtra's Poona and Ahmednagar districts.
The peasants then set fire to the moneylenders' homes,
stores, and records, as well as their bond certificates.
The Punjab Peasants Discontent (1890-1900):
Rural debts and large-scale expropriation of agricultural
land for non-cultivating classes caused peasant dissatisfaction in Punjab.
The Punjab Land Alienation Act of 1900 made it illegal
for peasants to sell or mortgage their land to moneylenders. This provided
Punjab peasants with some relief from the government's harsh land revenue
demands.
The Champaran Satyagraha (1917):
The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was Gandhi's first
Satyagraha movement in India, and it is regarded as a pivotal moment in the
Indian Independence Movement. During the British colonial period, a farmer's
rebellion occurred in the Champaran area of Bihar, India.
Under the tinkathia system, peasants were forced to grow
indigo on the 3/20th of their property and sell it at prices set by the British
colonists.
The Kheda Satyagraha (1918):
The Kheda campaign, geared against the government, took
place in Gujarat's Kheda district.
Crops failed in 1918 due to a lack of rain, but the
government refused to give up land revenue and insisted on collecting the whole
amount. By June 1918, the government had no choice but to give in to the
satyagraha peasants' demands.
The Moplah Rebellion (1921):
The Moplahs were mostly Muslim tenants of Hindu
landowners in Kerala's Malabar district.
These tenants revolted in August 1921, citing issues
about a lack of security of tenure, excessive rents, renewal fees, and other
oppressive landlord practices. The extreme leaders there pushed them to rebel.
The Moplah Rebellion (1921):
The Bardoli taluk in Surat district was the epicentre of
this highly politicised peasant revolt. Vallabhai Patel was in charge. Because
of his leadership, the locals dubbed him "Sardar."
Residents in modern-day Gujarat demonstrated resistance
when the British administration hiked land revenue by 30%.
Tebhaga Movement (1946):
In Bengal, the land was rented to sharecroppers known as
Bargadar by wealthy farmers. The Flood Commission suggested Tebhaga, in which
the sharecroppers receive 2/3 of crop share and the
landlord receive 1/3 of crop share.
The Tebhaga campaign attempted to use mass resistance to
get the Flood Commission's recommendations implemented.
Written By - Tanya C
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