(Indigo Revolt (1859–60) and Dinkar Rao’s role, Deccan Riots (1875): rural credit, moneylenders, Pabna Agrarian Unrest (1873): tenant rights, Bardoli Satyagraha (1928): Patel and Gujarat peasants, Government response and nationalist support)
| For UPSC aspirants, understanding these movements is essential for GS Paper I (History), GS Paper II (Polity and Social Justice), and GS Paper IV (Ethics), along with Essay and Optional Papers. |
The Peasant movements in colonial India form a critical component of India’s socio-economic and political history. These movements—ranging from localized agrarian uprisings to coordinated nationalist campaigns—highlight the structural exploitation faced by rural communities under British rule.
1. Indigo Revolt (1859–60): A Peasant Uprising Against Exploitative Plantation System
Background: The Indigo Revolt emerged in Bengal, particularly in the districts of Nadia and Jessore, in response to the oppressive practices of European indigo planters. Peasants were forced to grow indigo under the ‘tinkathia’ system, often at unremunerative prices.
Key Features:
- Led by local leaders like Digambar Biswas and Bishnu Biswas.
- Peasants refused to sow indigo, attacked factories, and organized mass protests.
- Supported by the Bengali intelligentsia and press, including Harish Chandra Mukherjee and Dinabandhu Mitra (“Nil Darpan”).
Government Response: The British appointed the Indigo Commission (1860), which acknowledged the coercion by planters and upheld peasants’ rights to refuse indigo cultivation.
Dinkar Rao’s Role: Dinkar Rao, though primarily a statesman in Gwalior, represented the moderate administrative voice of reform during that period. While not directly linked to the Indigo revolt, his policy outlook symbolized early administrative efforts to mitigate peasant exploitation.
2. Deccan Riots (1875): Rural Credit Crisis and Peasant Assertion
Background: Sparked in Pune and Ahmednagar districts of Maharashtra, the Deccan Riots were a response to the exploitative practices of moneylenders amidst falling agricultural prices and increasing debt.
Key Features:
- Organized attacks on moneylenders’ records and properties.
- Primarily led by Maratha peasants.
- Protest against excessive interest rates and land mortgaging.
Government Response:
- Deccan Agriculturists Relief Act (1879): Limited the power of moneylenders and regulated rural credit practices.
3. Pabna Agrarian Unrest (1873): Fight for Tenant Rights
Background: Occurred in the Pabna district of Eastern Bengal, this movement was rooted in the zamindari system and the denial of tenant rights.
Key Features:
- Non-violent protests, rent strikes, and legal battles.
- Formation of agrarian leagues to fight oppressive zamindars.
- Focused on permanent tenants’ rights under the Bengal Tenancy Act.
Government Response:
- Bengal Tenancy Act (1885): Provided legal protection to tenants and regulated rent.
4. Bardoli Satyagraha (1928): A Nationalist Peasant Movement
Background: Led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, this movement took place in Bardoli, Gujarat, against a 30% hike in land revenue during a time of economic distress.
Key Features:
- Non-cooperation with revenue collection.
- Formation of Bardoli Inquiry Committee.
- Strong organization of women and village committees.
Government Response:
- Revenue hike withdrawn.
- The movement was praised for its discipline and non-violent approach.
Nationalist Support:
- Backed by the Indian National Congress.
- Elevated Patel’s status to “Sardar” for his leadership.
Government Response and Nationalist Support
Colonial responses ranged from suppression to legislative reforms, depending on the intensity and publicity of the movement. Nationalist leaders increasingly incorporated peasant demands into their broader agenda, creating synergy between local grievances and national liberation.
Legal Reforms Introduced:
- Deccan Agriculturists Relief Act (1879)
- Bengal Tenancy Act (1885)
- Inquiry Commissions and administrative leniency in response to widespread agitation
Nationalist Integration:
- Mahatma Gandhi’s emphasis on rural distress.
- Congress-led provincial governments addressing land reforms in the 1930s.
Conclusion
Peasant movements were more than just protests—they were foundational to India’s democratic ethos. They voiced rural discontent, challenged colonial injustice, and laid the groundwork for socio-economic legislation in independent India.
| For UPSC aspirants – Peasant movements must be correlated with broader issues like industrialization, the rise of nationalism, and rural transformation. Ethically, these movements underscore values like justice, equity, and human rights. |
MCQ
Q1. Which of the following statements regarding the Indigo Revolt are correct?
- It took place primarily in Bengal.
- It was supported by the Bengali intelligentsia.
- It led to the formation of the Indigo Commission.
A) 1 and 2 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
Explanation: All three are correct; the revolt was in Bengal, had elite support, and led to the Indigo Commission (1860).
Q2. Assertion (A): Indigo planters faced violent resistance during the revolt.
Reason (R): Peasants were promised better wages by the British.
A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
C) A is true, but R is false
D) A is false, but R is true
Answer: C
Explanation: Peasants resisted planters, but they were not promised better wages by the British.
Q3. The Deccan Riots of 1875 occurred primarily because of:
A) Increased land revenue assessments
B) Arbitrary forest laws
C) Exploitation by moneylenders
D) Forced indigo cultivation
Answer: C
Explanation: Excessive rural debt and coercive practices by moneylenders were the main causes.
Q4. Which legislation was introduced following the Deccan Riots?
A) Bengal Tenancy Act, 1885
B) Deccan Agriculturists Relief Act, 1879
C) Indian Council Act, 1892
D) Champaran Agrarian Act, 1918
Answer: B
Explanation: It aimed to protect peasants from exploitative debt and foreclosure.
Q5. Assertion (A): The Deccan Riots led to the end of the zamindari system in Maharashtra.
Reason (R): The British shifted to the ryotwari system as a result of the riots.
A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation
B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation
C) A is false, but R is true
D) Both A and R are false
Answer: C
Explanation: Ryotwari already existed in Maharashtra; the riots did not abolish zamindari.
Q6. The Pabna movement in Bengal was a response to:
A) Oppressive indigo plantation
B) Rent hikes and denial of tenant rights
C) Religious discrimination by landlords
D) British forest policies
Answer: B
Explanation: It was a peaceful legal movement against arbitrary rent enhancement by zamindars.
Q7. Which law was enacted after the Pabna unrest to protect tenant rights?
A) Indian Tenancy Act
B) Bengal Tenancy Act, 1885
C) Permanent Settlement Act
D) Land Alienation Act
Answer: B
Explanation: It secured tenant rights and formalized rent control in Bengal.
Q8.Assertion (A): The Pabna peasants aimed to overthrow the colonial state.
Reason (R): They created agrarian leagues for national independence.
A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation
B) A is true, but R is false
C) A is false, but R is true
D) Both A and R are false
Answer: D
Explanation: The movement was non-political, legal, and limited to agrarian rights.
Q9. Who led the Bardoli Satyagraha in 1928?
A) C. Rajagopalachari
B) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
C) Lala Lajpat Rai
D) Mahatma Gandhi
Answer: B
Explanation: Vallabhbhai Patel led the agitation and was called “Sardar” for his role.
Q10. The Bardoli movement was initiated in protest against:
A) Partition of Bengal
B) Forest Act restrictions
C) Revenue hike during economic hardship
D) Salt tax enforcement
Answer: C
Explanation: It was against a 30% increase in land revenue during a time of crop failure.
Q11. Assertion (A): Bardoli Satyagraha ended with the revenue increase being withdrawn.
Reason (R): The movement gained widespread support and remained non-violent.
A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation
B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation
C) A is true, but R is false
D) A is false, but R is true
Answer: A
Explanation: The successful outcome was due to disciplined, non-violent resistance.
Q12. Match the following movements with their associated regions:
- Indigo Revolt — A. Bengal
- Deccan Riots — B. Maharashtra
- Bardoli Satyagraha — C. Gujarat
A) 1-A, 2-B, 3-C
B) 1-C, 2-A, 3-B
C) 1-B, 2-C, 3-A
D) 1-A, 2-C, 3-B
Answer: A
Explanation: Indigo Revolt – Bengal; Deccan Riots – Maharashtra; Bardoli – Gujarat.
Q13. Dinabandhu Mitra’s play Nil Darpan is associated with:
A) Deccan Riots
B) Champaran Satyagraha
C) Indigo Revolt
D) Pabna Movement
Answer: C
Explanation: The play depicted the exploitation of indigo farmers, influencing public opinion.
Q14. Which movement is best known for its peaceful, legal approach and tenant associations?
A) Deccan Riots
B) Pabna Movement
C) Tebhaga Movement
D) Bardoli Satyagraha
Answer: B
Explanation: Pabna tenants used legal means and formed leagues without violence.
Q15. One major contribution of peasant movements to the freedom struggle was:
A) Promotion of capitalist agriculture
B) Collapse of the zamindari system
C) Rural mobilization in nationalist politics
D) Increase in export of cash crops
Answer: C
Explanation: These movements politicized rural grievances and aligned them with national goals.
