Peasant Movements in India (1825–1951)

Introduction
• Peasant movements during British rule emerged as direct resistance by agrarian communities against oppressive land systems, heavy revenue demands, moneylenders, and exploitative colonial structures.
• Peasant agitations before 1914 were mostly localised and grievance-specific.
• After 1914, they increasingly merged with the nationalist movement, becoming broader and more organised.

The Pagal Panthis (1825–1833)
• A semi-religious sect formed among the Hajong and Garo tribes of Mymensingh (Bengal).
• Founded by Karam Shah; leadership later passed to his son Tipu.
• Arose due to excessive rent demands and exploitation by zamindars.
• The British attempted reforms but eventually suppressed the movement violently.

Narkelberia Uprising (1831)
• Led by Mir Nithar Ali, popularly known as Titu Mir.
• Mobilised Muslim peasants against Hindu zamindars who imposed beard tax on Faraizis.
• Also opposed British indigo planters.
• Considered the first organised armed peasant uprising.
• Later linked to the broader Wahabi Movement.

Faraizi Revolt (1838–1857)
• Faraizis were followers of Haji Shariat-Allah from Faridpur (Eastern Bengal).
• Emphasised socio-religious reforms and resistance against British rule.
• Organised by Dadu Mian, son of Haji Shariat-Allah.
• Aimed to oust British authority.
• Many Faraizis joined the Wahabi movement.

Indigo Revolt (1859–60)
• Indigo planters (mostly European) forced peasants to grow indigo at unremunerative rates.
• Led by Digambar Biswas and Bishnu Biswas of Nadia.
• Peasants refused to sow indigo and resisted coercion.
• Supported by Bengali intelligentsia.
• Indigo Commission (1860) accepted peasants’ grievances:
  – Ryots could not be forced to grow indigo.

Pabna Revolt (1873–1876)
• Agrarian discontent in Eastern Bengal due to illegal rent enhancements and denial of occupancy rights.
• Peasants in Yusufshahi Pargana formed agrarian leagues.
• Adopted peaceful methods:
  – Rent strikes
  – Legal resistance
• Supported by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, R.C. Dutt, Surendranath Banerjee.
• Result: Bengal Tenancy Act (1885) granted occupancy rights and curbed excesses of zamindars.

Deccan Riots (1875)
• Occurred in Poona and Ahmednagar due to the Ryotwari system and exploitation by outsider moneylenders (Marwaris, Gujaratis).
• Causes:
  – Cotton price crash after 1864
  – Revenue hike by 50% (1867)
  – Bad harvests
• Ryots organised social boycotts against moneylenders.
• Movement suppressed, but Deccan Agriculturists Relief Act (1879) provided some relief.

Eka Movement (1921)
• Occurred in Hardoi, Bahraich, and Sitapur (UP).
• Issues:
  – Excessive rent (50% above legal)
  – Oppression by thekedars
• Peasants pledged:
  – Pay only recorded rent
  – Follow panchayat decisions
  – Refuse begar (forced labour)
• Led by Madari Pasi—leadership from lower castes and small zamindars.
• Suppressed by March 1922.

Mappila Revolt (1921–22)
• Mappilas were Muslim tenants of Malabar under Hindu landlords.
• Long history of agrarian unrest due to:
  – High rents
  – Evictions
  – Oppressive levies
• Their grievances merged with Khilafat and Non-Cooperation Movement.
• Initially anti-landlord and anti-government.
• Later turned communal, isolating them from mainstream national leadership.
• Suppressed with severe brutality.

Moplah Uprisings (Recurrent; peak 1921–22)
• Related to revenue hikes and diminishing landholdings.
• Congress–Khilafat involvement raised hopes but communal tensions weakened unity.
• Distanced Moplahs from Congress.

Bardoli Satyagraha (1928)
• Bardoli (Surat district) saw heavy political activity under Gandhi’s influence.
• Revenue raised by 30% despite drought-like conditions.
• Vallabhbhai Patel invited to lead movement.
• Women of Bardoli gave him the title “Sardar”.
• Features:
  – Creation of 13 workers’ camps (chhavanis)
  – Bardoli Satyagraha Patrika for mobilisation
  – Strong organisational discipline
• Result:
  – Revenue hike declared unjustified
  – Revised increase of only 6.03%
• One of the most successful Gandhian peasant movements.

Kisan Sabha Movement (1918–1920s)
• Awadh talukdars regained lands after 1857; exploited peasants with:
  – High rents
  – Bedakhli (evictions)
  – Illegal cesses
  – Nazrana (renewal fees)
• United Provinces Kisan Sabha formed (1918) by Gauri Shankar Mishra & Indra Narayan Dwivedi.
• Awadh Kisan Sabha (1920) formed under Baba Ramchandra.
• Demands:
  – End to bedakhli
  – No hari, begar
  – Settling disputes via panchayats
• Centres: Rae Bareli, Faizabad, Sultanpur.

Tebhaga Movement (1946–47)
• Launched by Bengal Provincial Kisan Sabha.
• Demand: two-thirds share (tebhaga) for sharecroppers instead of half.
• Slogan: “nij khamare dhan tolo” (take paddy to your own threshing floor).
• Participants: Rajbanshis, other low-caste peasants, large Muslim participation.
• Fizzled out due to:
  – Bengal Muslim League ministry’s Bargardari Bill
  – Hindu Mahasabha’s demand for separate Bengal
  – Communal riots in Calcutta

Telangana Movement (1948–51)
• Largest peasant guerrilla uprising in modern India.
• Occurred in Hyderabad state under the Nizam.
• Oppressive deshmukhs, jagirdars, and dora system exploited peasants.
• Organised through village sanghams.
• Guerrilla tactics: lathis, stones, chilli powder.
• Peak: Aug 1947–Sept 1948.
• Razaqars (Nizam’s militia) defeated by peasants before Indian army intervention.
• Achievements in liberated villages:
  – Abolition of vethi (forced labour)
  – Higher agricultural wages
  – Land redistribution and restoration
  – Social reforms & improved status of women
  – Irrigation and public health improvements

Conclusion
• Peasant movements were crucial to shaping resistance against colonial rule.
• They exposed the structural injustices of revenue systems.
• Post-1914, they merged more closely with the national movement, contributing directly to India’s freedom struggle.

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Subject: Modern History

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