The British land revenue policies, exploitation by zamindars and moneylenders, and destruction of traditional agrarian structures created immense hardship for peasants. As a result, several peasant movements arose in different parts of India during the 18th and 19th centuries. Though most were local and spontaneous, they highlighted the agrarian discontent under colonial rule and later influenced the national movement.
Table of Contents
Causes of Peasant Movements
-
High Land Revenue: Systems like Permanent Settlement, Ryotwari, and Mahalwari burdened peasants.
-
Exploitation by Zamindars and Moneylenders: Heavy rents, forced labour, and indebtedness.
-
Decline of Traditional Economy: Introduction of cash crops (indigo, opium, cotton) for export disrupted food production.
-
Famines and Poverty: Frequent famines worsened rural misery.
-
British Policies: Peasants had no security of land; oppressive laws favored landlords and moneylenders.
Major Peasant Movements
-
Indigo Revolt (1859–1860):
-
In Bengal, peasants resisted forced cultivation of indigo under harsh conditions.
-
Supported by intellectuals like Dinabandhu Mitra (play Nil Darpan).
-
British had to intervene and set up the Indigo Commission, which condemned indigo planters.
-
-
Pabna Agrarian Unrest (1873–1876):
-
In Pabna (East Bengal), peasants protested against excessive rents and illegal demands of zamindars.
-
Organized non-payment of rent, resisted eviction, and demanded legal rights.
-
Peaceful and organized movement, supported by nationalist leaders.
-
-
Deccan Riots (1875):
-
In Maharashtra, peasants revolted against moneylenders who seized their lands for debt repayment.
-
Peasants attacked moneylenders’ houses and burnt debt records.
-
British passed the Deccan Agriculturists Relief Act (1879) to protect peasants.
-
-
Tebhaga Movement (1946–47):
-
In Bengal, sharecroppers (bargadars) demanded that their share of produce be raised from one-half to two-thirds (tebhaga).
-
Supported by the Communist Party.
-
Though suppressed, it highlighted agrarian inequality and inspired future land reforms.
-
-
Other Movements:
-
Moplah Rebellion (1921, Malabar, Kerala): Muslim peasants rose against Hindu landlords and British.
-
Eka Movement (1921–22, UP): Protest against high rents and illegal cesses.
-
Champaran Movement (1917): Led by Mahatma Gandhi against indigo planters in Bihar; marked Gandhi’s entry into Indian freedom struggle.
-
Nature of Peasant Movements
-
Initially local and spontaneous, often violent.
-
Later, under nationalist influence, they became more organized and peaceful.
-
Connected with wider anti-colonial struggle in the 20th century.
Significance
-
Exposed the exploitative nature of British agrarian policies.
-
Brought peasants into the mainstream of India’s freedom struggle.
-
Laid the foundation for future agrarian reforms and peasant organizations.
Key Takeaway
-
The peasant movements of colonial India were rooted in agrarian distress and exploitation.
-
While early revolts were local and isolated, later ones linked with the nationalist movement, giving peasants a political voice.
-
They played a crucial role in shaping India’s social and economic reforms in the 20th century.