Workers, Peasant and Tribal Movements in British India
Indigo Revolt (1859-60)
The Indigo revolt of Bengal was directed against British planters who forced peasants to take advances and sign fraudulent contracts which forced the peasants to grow Indigo under terms which were the least profitable to them. The revolt began in Govindpur village in Nadia district, Bengal and was led by Digambar Biswas and Bishnu Biswas who organised the peasants into a counter force to deal with the planters lathiyals (armed retainers).
In April 1860 all the cultivators of the Barasat subdivision and in the districts of Pabna and Nadia resorted to strike. They refused to sow any indigo. The strike spread to other places in Bengal. The revolt enjoyed the support of all categories of the rural Population, missionaries and the Bengal intelligentsia. This was vividly portrayed by Din Bandhu Mitra in his play, Neel Darpan enacted in 1869. It led to the appointment of an Indigo Commission in 1860 by the government by which some of the abuses of Indigo cultivation was removed.
Pabna Movement (1872-76)
In East Bengal the peasantry was oppressed by zamindars through frequent recourse to ejection, harassment, arbitrary enhancement of rent through ceases (abwabs) and use of force. The zamindars also tried to prevent them from acquiring the occupancy rights under the Act of 1859.
In May 1873 an Agrarian League was formed in the Yusufzahi Pargana of Pabna district (East Bengal). Payments of enhanced rents were refused and the peasants fought the zamindars in the courts. Similar leagues were formed in the adjoining districts of Bengal. The main leaders of the Agrarian League were Ishan Chandra Roy, Shambu Pal and Khoodi Mullah. The discontent continued till 1885 when the Government by the Bengal Tenancy Act of 1885 enhanced the occupancy rights.
The Deccan Peasants’ Uprising, 1875
The Deccan peasants uprising was directed mainly against the excesses of the Marwari and Gujarati Money lenders. Social boycott of moneylenders by the peasants was later transformed into armed peasant revolt in the Poona and Ahmadnagar districts of Maharashtra. The peasants attacked the moneylender’s houses, shops and burnt them down.
Their chief targets were the bond documents, deeds and decrees that the money lenders held against them. By June 1875 nearly a thousand peasants were arrested and the uprising completely suppressed. The Government appointed the Deccan Riots Commission to investigate into the causes of the uprising. The ameliorative measure passed was the Agriculturists Relief Act of 1879 which put restrictions on the operations of the peasants land and prohibited imprisonment of the peasants of the Deccan for failure to repay debts to the moneylenders.
Punjab Peasants Discontent (1890-1900)
Rural indebtedness and the large scale alienation of agricultural land to non-cultivating classes led to the peasant discontent in Punjab. The communal complexion of the Punjab rural situation and the martial character of the Sikhs called for an early effective action by the government. The Punjab Land Alienation Act, 1900 was passed which prohibited the sale and mortgage of lands from peasants to moneylenders. The Punjab peasants were also given partial relief against oppressive incidence of land revenue demand by the Government and it was not to exceed 50% of the annual rental value of land.
Champaran Satyagraha (1917)
The peasantry on the indigo plantations in the Champaran district of Bihar was excessively oppressed by the European planters. They were compelled to grow indigo on at least 3/20th of their land (tinkathia system) and to sell it at prices fixed by the planters. Accompanied by Babu Rajendra Prasad, Mazhar -ul-Huq, J.B. Kripalani, Narhari Parekhand Mahadev Desai, Gandhiji reached Champaran in 1917 and began to conduct a detailed inquiry into the condition of the peasantry.
The infuriated district officials ordered him to leave Champaran, but he defied the order and was willing to face trial and imprisonment. Later the Government developed cold feet and appointed an Enquiry Committee (June 1917) with Gandhiji as one of the members. The ameliorative enactment, the Champaran Agrarian Act freed the tenants from the special imposts levied by the indigo planters.
Kaira Satyagraha (1918)
The Kaira (Kheda) campaign was chiefly directed against the Government. In 1918, crops failed in the Kheda districts in Gujarat but the government refused to remit land revenue and insisted on its full collection. Gandhiji along with Vallabhai Patel supported the peasants and advised them to withhold payment of revenues till their demand for its remission was met. The satyagraha lasted till June 1918. The Government had to concede the just demands of the peasants.
Moplah Rebellion (1921)
In August 1921, peasant discontent erupted in the Malabar district of Kerala. Here Moplah (Muslim) tenants rebelled. Their grievances related to lack of any security of tenure, renewal fees, high rents, and other oppressive landlord exactions. In 1920, the Khilafat Movement took over the tenant rights agitation (which had been going on in the Malabar region since 1916) after the Congress Conference held at Manjeri in April 1920. The arrest of established leaders of the Congress and the Khilafat movement left the field clear for radical leaders.
In the first stage of the rebellion, the targets of attack were the unpopular jenmies (landlords), mostly Hindu, the symbols of Government authority such as courts, police stations, treasuries and offices, and British planters.
But once the British declared martial law and repression began in earnest, the character of the rebellion underwent a definite change. It took communal tones because the class divide approximated the communal divide. The movement was severely depressed by December 1921.
Bardoli Satyagraha (1928)
Enhancement of land revenue by 22% in the Bardoli district of Gujarat by the British government led to the organisation of a ‘No-Revenue Campaign’ by the Bardoli peasants under the Leadership of Vallabhai Patel. Unsuccessful attempts of the British to suppress the movement by large scale attachment of cattle and land resulted in the appointment of an enquiry committee. The enquiry conducted by Broomfield and Maxwell come to the conclusion that the increase had been unjustified and reduced the enhancement to 6.03%.
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Workers, Peasant And Tribal Movements In British India
India was a colony of the British Empire for over 200 years. During this time, the Indian people were subjected to economic exploitation and political oppression. This led to a number of workers, peasant, and tribal movements that sought to improve the lives of the Indian people.
One of the earliest workers’ movements in India was the Indigo Revolt of 1859. This revolt was led by peasants in Bengal who were protesting against the British East India Company’s monopoly on the indigo trade. The peasants were forced to grow indigo on their land, and they were paid very little for their labor. The revolt was successful in forcing the British East India Company to end its monopoly on the indigo trade.
Another important workers’ movement was the Deccan Riots of 1875. These riots were led by peasants in the Deccan region of India who were protesting against high taxes and oppressive landlords. The riots were successful in forcing the British government to reduce taxes and improve the conditions of the peasants.
The Santhal Rebellion of 1855 was a peasant uprising against the British East India Company. The Santhals were an indigenous people of India who were being exploited by the British. The rebellion was led by Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu, two Santhal brothers. The rebellion was successful in driving the British out of the Santhal region.
The Kuka Rebellion of 1857 was a religious uprising led by the Kuka sect of the Sikh religion. The Kukas were protesting against British rule and the conversion of Sikhs to Christianity. The rebellion was unsuccessful, but it led to the British government making some concessions to the Sikhs.
The Pabna Revolt of 1873 was a peasant uprising against the British government. The peasants were protesting against high taxes and oppressive landlords. The revolt was successful in forcing the British government to reduce taxes and improve the conditions of the peasants.
The Champaran Satyagraha of 1917 was a peasant uprising led by Mahatma Gandhi. The peasants were protesting against the British government’s forced cultivation of indigo. The satyagraha was successful in forcing the British government to end its policy of forced cultivation of indigo.
The Kheda Satyagraha of 1918 was a peasant uprising led by Mahatma Gandhi. The peasants were protesting against the British government’s high taxes. The satyagraha was successful in forcing the British government to reduce taxes.
The Non-Cooperation Movement of 1920-22 was a mass movement led by Mahatma Gandhi. The movement was against British rule and it called for non-violent resistance to British rule. The movement was successful in forcing the British government to make some concessions to the Indian people.
The Civil Disobedience Movement of 1930-32 was another mass movement led by Mahatma Gandhi. The movement was against British rule and it called for non-violent resistance to British rule. The movement was successful in forcing the British government to pass the Government of India Act of 1935, which granted limited self-government to India.
The Quit India Movement of 1942 was a mass movement led by Mahatma Gandhi. The movement called for the British to quit India. The movement was successful in forcing the British to withdraw from India in 1947.
The Tebhaga Movement of 1946-47 was a peasant uprising in Bengal. The peasants were protesting against the British government’s zamindari system, which allowed landlords to exploit the peasants. The movement was successful in forcing the British government to reform the zamindari system.
The Telengana Rebellion of 1946-51 was a peasant uprising in Telangana. The peasants were protesting against the Nizam of Hyderabad’s oppressive rule. The rebellion was successful in forcing the Nizam to abdicate and join the Indian Union.
The Naxalite Movement of the 1960s and 1970s was a peasant uprising in West Bengal. The peasants were protesting against the Indian government’s exploitation of the peasants. The movement was unsuccessful, but it led to the Indian government making some concessions to the peasants.
The Jharkhand Movement of the 1970s and 1980s was a tribal uprising in Jharkhand. The tribals were protesting against the Indian government’s exploitation of the tribals. The movement was successful in creating the state of Jharkhand in 2000.
The Bodoland Movement of the 1980s and 1990s was a tribal uprising in Bodoland. The tribals were protesting against the Indian government’s exploitation of the tribals. The movement was successful in creating the state of Bodoland Territorial Area District in 2003.
What were the main causes of the workers, peasant and tribal movements in British India?
The main causes of the workers, peasant and tribal movements in British India were economic exploitation, social injustice, and political oppression.
What were the main demands of the workers, peasant and tribal movements in British India?
The main demands of the workers, peasant and tribal movements in British India were better wages, improved working conditions, Land reforms, and political rights.
What were the main achievements of the workers, peasant and tribal movements in British India?
The main achievements of the workers, peasant and tribal movements in British India were the improvement of wages and working conditions, the implementation of land reforms, and the attainment of political rights.
What were the main limitations of the workers, peasant and tribal movements in British India?
The main limitations of the workers, peasant and tribal movements in British India were their lack of unity, their inability to achieve their full demands, and their impact on the British colonial rule.
What were the long-term effects of the workers, peasant and tribal movements in British India?
The long-term effects of the workers, peasant and tribal movements in British India were the independence of India, the improvement of the lives of workers, peasants, and tribal people, and the strengthening of Democracy in India.
What are the lessons that can be learned from the workers, peasant and tribal movements in British India?
The lessons that can be learned from the workers, peasant and tribal movements in British India are that unity is strength, that it is important to fight for one’s rights, and that democracy is the best form of government.
Question 1
Which of the following was not a reason for the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857?
(A) The introduction of the Enfield rifle, which required soldiers to bite off the cartridge that contained gunpowder. (B) The growing discontent among Indian soldiers over their pay and conditions. (C) The British government’s decision to annex the Indian state of Awadh. (D) The spread of Hindu and Muslim revivalist movements.
Answer (D) The spread of Hindu and Muslim revivalist movements was not a reason for the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. The other three Options were all reasons for the mutiny.
(A) Self-government for India within the British Empire. (B) Independence for India from British rule. (C) The establishment of A Secular State in India. (D) The promotion of Hindu-Muslim unity.
Answer (D) The promotion of Hindu-Muslim unity was not a goal of the INC. The INC was founded in 1885 by a group of Indian intellectuals who sought to achieve self-government for India within the British Empire. The INC was initially a secular organization, but it became increasingly divided along religious lines in the early 20th century.
Question 3
Which of the following was not a leader of the Indian independence movement?
(A) Mahatma Gandhi. (B) Jawaharlal Nehru. (C) Muhammad Ali Jinnah. (D) Subhash Chandra Bose.
Answer (C) Muhammad Ali Jinnah was not a leader of the Indian independence movement. Jinnah was a lawyer and politician who played a leading role in the All-India Muslim League. He was the founder of Pakistan and its first Governor-General.
Question 4
Which of the following was not a result of the Indian independence movement?
(A) The partition of India into India and Pakistan. (B) The establishment of the Republic of India in 1950. (C) The adoption of a secular constitution for India. (D) The end of British rule in India.
Answer (A) The partition of India into India and Pakistan was not a result of the Indian independence movement. The partition was the result of the All-India Muslim League’s demand for a separate Muslim state. The partition was a violent and chaotic event that led to the deaths of millions of people.
Question 5
Which of the following was not a challenge faced by India after independence?
(A) The integration of the princely states into the Indian Union. (B) The Hindu-Muslim conflict. (C) The Economic Development of India. (D) The Kashmir conflict.
Answer (D) The Kashmir conflict was not a challenge faced by India after independence. The Kashmir conflict is a dispute between India and Pakistan over the region of Kashmir. The conflict began in 1947, shortly after India’s independence from British rule.