Peasant Movements

Peasant and Non-Tribal Movements during British India

Name of the movement	Main cause(s)	Course of the movement and consequences
Sanyasi Rebellion Region: Bengal Year: 1763-1800	Displaced peasants, Demobilized Soldiers, disposed Zamindars, Participated led By Sanyasis.	It was made famous by Bankim Chandra Chaterjee. In his novel: Anandmath
Titu Mir Peasant Movement Region: Bengal Year: 1782-1831	Against Hindu landlords who imosed beard tax on Faraizis	Leadership of Mir Nathar Ali
	Attempts of the British to force Katabomman to accept their suzerainty and his refusal	Defiance of the British by Kattabomman for 7 years; his final capture and execution by the British (1779); annexation of his territory by the British (1779).
Rebellion of the Paiks Region: Orissa Year: 1804-06 Leader: First under the Raja of the Khurda and later under jagabandhu	British Occupation of Orissa (1803); resentment of the paiks (a militia class occupying rent free lands under the zamindars) against British land and land revenue policies	Unsuccessful attempt of the Raja of Khurd to organize a rebellion with the help of the Paiks, and confiscation of his territory by the British (1804) continuous unrest among the Paiks between 1804 & 1806; rise of the Paiks under Jagabandhu and their occupation of Puri after defeating the British force (1807); final suppression of the movement by force and conciliatory measures by British.
Revolt of Velu Thampi Region: Travancore Year: 1805-09 Leader: Velu Thambi (Dewan of Travancore)	Financial burden imposed on the state by the British through the subsidiary system; the high handedness of the British Resident there; and British demand for the removal of Dewan.	Beginning of war between the two sides (December 1805); fall of Trivendrum (Capital of Travancore) to the British (February 1809); death of Velu Thampi in forest due to serious injuries.
Revolt of Rao Bharmal Region: Cutch and Kathiawar in Gujrat Year: 1861-19 Leader: Rao Bharmal (Rule off Cutch)	Anti-British feeling due to British expansionist policy and their interference in internal affairs of Cutch.	Final defeat and deposal of Rao Bharmal; imposition of Subsidary treaty on Cutch.
Revolt of Ramosis Region: Poona Year: 1822-29 Leader: Chittur Singh and Umaji	British Annexation of Peshwa’s territory(1818), resulting in large scale unemployment among Ramosis (under the Peshwa, they served in inferior ranks of police)	Revolt of the Ramosis under Chittur Singh (1822-24); their revolt under (Umaji (1822-24); establishment of peace by the British by pardoning all the crimes of the Ramosis and also by granting them lands and recruiting them as hill police.
Kittur Rising Region: Kittur (near dharwar in Karnataka) Year: 1824-29 Leader: Channamma and Rayappa	Death of Shivalinga Rudra Desai (chief) of Kittur (1824), leaving no male to recognize the adopted issue; Doctrine of lapsed applied	Revolt of Channamma (widow of late Desai) in 1824 and murder of English officers including Thackeray (Collecter of Dharwar); conquest of Kitttur and its annexation by the British. Revolt of the people of Kittur under Rayappa who declared independence and set up the adopted boy as the Desai (1829); capture and execution of rayappa by British, and death of Channamma in Dharwar prison.

Sambalpur Outbreaks Region: Sambalpur (Orissa) Year: 1827-40 Leader: Surendra Sai	Frequent interference of British in the internal affairs of Sambalpur such as the issue of succession.	Death of Maharaja Sai (ruler) and outbreak of civil war; succession of Mohan Kumari (widow of the late Raja) with the support of the British and revolt of other claimants under Surendra Sai; final arrest and life imprisonment of Surendra Sai by British (1840).
Bundela Revolt Region: Sagar & Damoh (Bundelkhand) Year: 1842 Leader: Madhukar Shah and Jawahir Singh	Resentment against British land revenue policy	Revolt of the Bundelas under Shah and Singh; murder of police officers and disruption of British administration; capture and execution of madhukar Shah and Singh by British.
Gadkari Rebellion Region: Kolhapur (Maharashtra) Year: 1844-45	Assumption of direct administration of Kolhapur by British and reforms of D.K. Pandit; resentment of the Gadkaris (a militia class who had earlier held revenue free lands in retum for their services to the ruler against the revenue reforms.	Revolt of the Gadkaris, followed by a popular revolt in the city of Kolhapur and all other parts of the state of Kolhapur; final suppression of the movement by the British.
Satavandi Revolt Region: Satavandi (Maharashtra) Year: 1839-45 Leader: Phond Savant-(leading noble) and Anna Sahib (heir apparent)	Deposal of Khen Savant (ruler of satavandi) and appointment of a British officer to administer to administer the state; resentment of the people against British system of administration.	Revolt of the nobles and their attempts to drive away the British; transformation of the revolt into a popular movement with the common people all over the state rising in arms against the British; proclamation of martial law and suppression of the movement by the British.
Raju Rebellion Region: Visakhapatnam (A.P.) Year: 1827-33 Leader: Birabhadra Raju	Birabhadra was dispossessed of his estate by the British in return for a small amount of pension	Revolt of Birabhadra and his defiance of British authority till he was captured
Palakonda Outbreak Region: Palakonda (Andhra Pardesh) Year: 1831-32 Leader: Zamindar of Palakonda	Attachment of the property of the zamindar for non-payment of revenue	Revolt of the zamindar; suppression of the revolt of forfeiture of Palakonda estate to the British
Gumsur Outbreak Region: Gumsur (Ganjam District) Year: 1835-37 Leader: Dhananjaya Bhanja (Zamindar of Gumsur)	His failure to clear the arrears of revenue to the British	Revolt of zamindar; Appointment of Mr. Russel as the Commissioner; final suppression of the movement after larger scale military campaign in 1837

Parlakimedi Outbreak Region: Parlakimedi (Orissa) Year: 1829-35 Leader: Jagannath Gajapti Narayan Rao	Attachment of his zamindari for arrears by the British in 1827	Revolt of the zamindar, followed by a popular rising of the people; final suppression of the movement.
Movement of the Faraizis (In the later stages it was amalgamated with the Wahabi movement) Region: East Bengal Year: 1838-62 Leader: Shariatuallah and Muhammad Mushin (bêtter known as Dudhu Mian)	Degeneration of the Islamic society and loss of power to the British (Hence its aims were to remove abuses from Islamic society as well as to restore Muslim rule by expelling the British from India).	Foundation of the movement by Shariattullah of Faridpur, the movement under him was mainly religious in character, though he had declared British as enemies; his death in 1837; succession of Duhu Mian as the leader of the Movement, under him it became mainly political in nature; his success in mobilizing all the Muslim peasants of East Bengal against zamindars and indigo planters; his arrest and confinement in the Alipore jail.
Pagal panthis Peasant Movement Region: Sherpur (East Bengal) Year: 1825-33 Leader: Karam Shah and Tipu	Resentment of the peasants against the operession of zamindars	Under Karam Shah (founder), It was mainly a religious movement, but under tipu (son of successor of Shah) it became a political movement against the oppressive zamindars and British, its final suppression by British after large scale military operations.
Indigo Revolt Peasant Movement Region: Bengal Year: 1859-60 Leader: Digambar Biswas & Bishnu Biswas	Forced cultivation of Indigo without any proper remuneration	Planters could not withstand thee resistance of ryots, indigo cultivation virtually wiped out, Govt. response restrained & not harshLed by Vasudeo Balawant Phadke
Phadke's Ramosi Uprising Peasant Movement
Pabna Movement Peasant Movement Region: East Bengal (Bangladesh) Year: 1873 Leaders: By Shah Chandra Toy, Shambu Pal, Khoodi Mullah. Supported by BC Chatterjee, RC Dutt	Enhanced rent Beyond the legal Limit & prevention of tenants from acquiring the occupancy rights	By Shah Chandra Toy, Shambu Pal, Khoodi Mullah. Supported by BC Chatterjee, RC Dutt Govt. accepted the Demands & promised to protect Tenants. It enacted Bengal tenancy Act 1885.
Deccan Riots Peasant Movement Region: Poona & Ahmadnagar Year: 1874	Riots against Gujrati and Marwari moneylenders	By Maratha peasants. Govt. repressed the Movt. It enacted Deccan Agriculture Relief Act, 1879 to protect peasants against the money lenders
Phadke Ramosi Uprising Peasant Movement Region: Maharashtra Year: 1877-87	Against the Britishers failure to take up anti Famine measures	By Wasudeo Balwant Phadke
Peasant unrest Region: Punjab Year: 1901	Against the acquisition of the land by the money lenders	Punjab Land Alienation Act of 1902 enacted prohibiting transfer of the land from the peasants to the money lenders & mortgages for more 20 years.
Champaran Satyagraha Peasant Movement Region: Champaran, Bihar Year: 1917	Against Tinkatia System introduced by European Indigo Planters	Champaran Agrarian Act Abolished Tinkatia system
Kheda Satyagraha Peasant Movement Region: Kheda, Gujarat Year: 1919	Against ignored appeals for remission of Land Revenue in Case of Crop Failures	The demands were finally fulfilled.
Eka movement Peasant Movement Region: Harrdoi, Bahraich, Barabanki, Sitapur (U.P.) Year: 1921-22 Leader: Madari pasi	Enhanced rent Oppression of the contractors	Police managed to crush the movt
Moplah Rebellion Peasant Movement Region: Malabar, Kerala Year: 1922	Cultivators of Malabar revolted against the moneylenders & Zamindars against the lack of security of tenure, exorbitant rent and renewal fees.	It later assumed Communal colour Crushed by the Govt. in 1921.
Bardoli Satyagraha Peasant Movement Region: Bardoli - Gujarat Year: 1927 Leader: Vallabhbhai patel	Enhancement of the land revenue by 22% even though cutton prices had declined	By Kunbi patidar landowning peasants and Untouchables. supported by mehta Brothers, Patel. Govt. tried to suppress the govt. Maxwell Broomfield enquiry Committee report, which admitted Bardoli assessment was Faulty. Revenue was brought down to 6.03%.
All India Kisan Congress Area: Lucknow Year: 1936 Leader: Presided over by Swami Shajanand	Against moneylenders, Zamindars, traders & Govt.	A Kisan manifesto was adopted in Bombay session in 1937
Tebhaga movement Peasant Movement Region: Bengal Year: 1946 Leader: Bengal Provincial Kisan Sabha	By the sharecroppers against the Jotedar’s demand of ½ share of crop instead of 1/3 share	In 1950 congress passed Bargadar’s Bill- against zamindars and money lenders
Bakasht Land Struggle Peasant Movement Region: Bihar Year: 1938-47 Leader: Karyanand Sharma; Yadunandan Sharma, Jauna Karjee, Rahul Sanskritayana	Bakasht lands were those lands which tenants had lost to zamindars during depression years by virtue of non- payment of rent which they continued to cultivate as sharecroppers	The movement continued till the zamindari was abolished.
Telangana Insurrection Peasant Movement Region: Hyderabad Year: 1946-51	Against moneylenders and officials of Nizam of Hyderabad.