During the struggles from 1858 to 1914, it was the peasants who took center stage, fighting directly for what they needed. However, these movements were often limited to specific areas, lacked coordination, and were focused on addressing particular issues. This was different from the movements that occurred after 1914, which were more widespread and connected.

Causes of the Movements

• Peasant Suffering: Imagine being a farmer back then – facing high rents, dealing with illegal charges, getting kicked out of your own land without any warning, and worst of all, working your heart out and not getting paid. That’s what the poor peasants in Zamindari areas were going through.
• Tough Times for Indian Businesses: Think about your favorite local shops and traditional crafts disappearing. The British messed up the economy so much that our small industries were going bankrupt. Big corporations took over, and it all led to farmers being stuck with heavy debts and poverty.
• Not-So-Great Government Moves: Picture a government that’s supposed to have your back but instead supports the rich folks. That’s exactly what the British were doing – protecting the landlords and moneylenders while squeezing the life out of the hardworking farmers. No wonder the peasants got fed up and rebelled against this unfair treatment.

19^th Peasant Movements (Pre-Gandhian Phase)

Indigo Rebellion (1859-62):

• Cause: European planters convinced peasants to grow indigo instead of food crops for increased profits.
• Peasants’ Discontent:
  • Low prices offered for indigo cultivation.
  • Indigo not financially lucrative.
  • Indigo planting led to soil fertility decline.
  • Exploitation by traders and middlemen.
• Movement:
  • Peasants in Bengal launched a non-cultivation movement against indigo.
  • Support from press and missionaries.
  • Journalist Harish Chandra Mukherjee highlighted peasants’ plight in ‘The Hindu Patriot.’
  • Playwright Dinabandhu Mitra’s ‘Nil Darpan’ depicted harsh treatment by indigo planters, causing controversy and banning.
• Government Response:
  • Indigo Commission appointed.
  • November 1860: Order declared forcing ryots to cultivate indigo illegal.
  • Victory for the peasants.

Pabna Movement (1870s-80s):

• Issue:
  • Landlords in Eastern Bengal forcibly collected high rents and land taxes.
  • Poor peasants denied Occupancy Rights under Act X of 1859.
• Movement:
  • May 1873: Agrarian League formed in Yusufshahi Pargana.
  • Rent strikes, legal resistance, minimal violence.
  • Spread throughout Patna and East Bengal.
• Resolution:
  • 1885: Bengal Tenancy Act enhanced occupancy rights.
  • Support from figures like Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, R.C. Dutt, and Surendranath Banerjea’s Indian Association.

Deccan Riots (1875):

• Cause:
  • Peasant uprising against Marwari and Gujarati moneylenders’ excesses.
  • Heavy taxation under Ryotwari system, 50% land revenue increase in 1867.
• Social Boycott (1874):
  • Ryots organized social boycott against moneylenders.
  • Refusal to buy from moneylenders’ shops and cultivate fields.
  • Barbers, washermen, shoemakers refused services.
• Riots:
  • Spread to Poona, Ahmednagar, Solapur, Satara with systematic attacks on moneylenders’ properties.
• Government Response:
  • Movement repressed.
  • Deccan Agriculturists Relief Act passed in 1879 as a conciliatory measure.

20^th Century Peasant Movements (Gandhian Phase)

Significance of the Movements

• Raising Awareness: Although these uprisings didn’t aim to kick the British out, they did make Indians more aware. Peasants, in particular, became more aware of their legal rights and started asserting them in and out of the courts.
• Inspiring Unity and Resistance: The revolts inspired a sense of organization and resistance against exploitation. This laid the groundwork for subsequent uprisings like the Sikh Wars and the 1857 Revolt.
• Unity Among Peasants: The anti-imperialist struggle brought together all sections of the peasantry, including landless laborers. This unity allowed the Peasant Movement to encompass both anti-feudal and anti-imperialist goals.
• Peasant Voices Heard: Directly fighting for their demands, peasants found that their voices were heard. Movements like the Indigo Rebellion, Bardoli Satyagraha, Pabna Movement, and Deccan Riots prompted responses to the peasants’ demands.
• Formation of Kisan Sabhas: During the Non-Cooperation Movement, various Kisan Sabhas were formed to listen to and address the concerns of the peasants.
• Growth of Nationalism: The ideology of non-violence empowered peasants, contributing to the overall growth of nationalism.
• Encouraging Post-Independence Reforms: These movements set the stage for post-independence agrarian reforms, such as the abolition of Zamindari. They also weakened the power of the landed class, transforming the agrarian structure.

Impact of Peasant Movements

The impact of peasant movements in India are discussed briefly below:

• Even though these uprisings weren’t specifically aimed at kicking the British out of India, they did make Indians more aware of their rights.
• The farmers became more aware of their legal rights and started asserting them both in and outside of courts.
• Farmers became the driving force behind movements in agriculture, directly fighting for their own needs.
• Different Kisan Sabhas (farmers’ organizations) were created to rally and push for the demands of the farmers during the Non-Cooperation Movement.
• These movements weakened the power of the wealthy landowners, contributing to changes in the agricultural structure.
• The farmers felt the need to unite and stand against exploitation and oppression.
• These rebellious movements set the stage for other uprisings across the country.

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