Discuss in brief about agrarian movements in Pre‐independent India.

 Q. Discuss in brief about agrarian movements in Preindependent India.

Agrarian Movements in Pre-Independent India

Agrarian movements in pre-independent India were a significant part of the larger struggle against British colonial rule and the exploitative feudal system. These movements were driven by the oppressive land revenue policies imposed by the British, the exploitation of peasants by landlords (zamindars), moneylenders, and colonial authorities, and the overall economic distress faced by the rural population. The agrarian crisis in colonial India was deeply rooted in the British land revenue systems such as the Permanent Settlement of 1793, the Ryotwari System, and the Mahalwari System, which aimed at maximizing revenue extraction rather than improving agricultural productivity or the welfare of peasants. The peasants were often left with very little for subsistence after paying exorbitant land taxes and debts to moneylenders, leading to chronic poverty, indebtedness, and social unrest. As a response, various peasant uprisings and agrarian movements emerged across different regions of India throughout the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries.

One of the earliest agrarian uprisings was the Sanyasi and Fakir Rebellion (1763–1800) in Bengal, where displaced and impoverished peasants, along with ascetic groups, revolted against British revenue policies and the devastation caused by the Bengal famine of 1770. Similarly, the Rangpur Dhing (1783) was a significant peasant rebellion against the harsh taxation imposed by British revenue collectors. The Poligar Rebellion (1799–1805) in South India was also a notable anti-British agrarian movement where local chieftains (poligars) led the peasants against the British East India Company's oppressive revenue demands. The Bhil Rebellion (1817–1819) and the Kol Uprising (1831–1832) in Central and Eastern India were manifestations of tribal and agrarian discontent against British land policies and encroachments on tribal land rights.

The Indigo Rebellion (1859–1860) in Bengal was one of the most famous agrarian movements in pre-independent India. Indigo planters, backed by the British administration, forced peasants to cultivate indigo under highly exploitative terms. When peasants refused to grow indigo, they faced brutal repression. The peasants organized protests and boycotts, and the rebellion eventually forced the British government to appoint the Indigo Commission in 1860, which recognized the grievances of the peasants and recommended reforms. The Pabna Agrarian Unrest (1873–1876) in Bengal was another significant movement where peasants resisted the zamindars’ attempts to increase rents and impose illegal cesses. The peasants formed agrarian leagues and organized peaceful protests to demand legal protection from oppressive landlords.


The Deccan Riots (1875) in the Bombay Presidency were a direct response to the crushing burden of debt and high revenue demands. The Ryots (peasants) attacked moneylenders and burned debt records, seeking relief from the exploitative debt system. The British government responded by passing the Deccan Agriculturists' Relief Act (1879), which sought to protect peasants from moneylenders’ exploitation. The Mappila Rebellions (1836–1921) in the Malabar region of Kerala were another series of agrarian revolts that combined religious and economic discontent. The Mappila peasants, predominantly Muslim tenants, rebelled against Hindu landlords and British authorities, protesting against high rents and land alienation.

The early 20th century saw the rise of more organized and politically conscious agrarian movements influenced by the Indian National Congress and other nationalist groups. The Champaran Satyagraha (1917) led by Mahatma Gandhi was a landmark agrarian movement where indigo cultivators in Bihar protested against the Tinkathia system that forced them to grow indigo under harsh terms. Gandhi's intervention resulted in the abolition of the Tinkathia system and marked the beginning of his role in India's nationalist movement. The Kheda Satyagraha (1918) in Gujarat was another major peasant movement led by Gandhi, where peasants resisted the British demand for land revenue despite crop failures and famine conditions. The success of this movement reinforced the idea of non-violent resistance (satyagraha) as a powerful tool for agrarian and political struggles.

The Bardoli Satyagraha (1928) led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was another successful agrarian movement where peasants in Gujarat resisted an unjust increase in land revenue rates. The peasants organized mass protests and boycotts, and Patel’s leadership ensured that the British government eventually rolled back the increased taxes. The success of the Bardoli movement earned Patel the title of "Sardar" (leader). The Tebhaga Movement (1946–1947) in Bengal was a radical agrarian movement led by the Kisan Sabha (Peasants' Association), where sharecroppers (bargadars) demanded a two-thirds share of the produce instead of the traditional one-half share retained by landlords. The movement was marked by militant resistance and organized political action, reflecting the growing influence of communist and socialist ideologies among Indian peasants.

The Telangana Rebellion (1946–1951) was one of the largest and most radical agrarian movements in pre-independent and early post-independent India. Led by the Communist Party of India, the movement involved peasants and landless laborers in the princely state of Hyderabad who rose against the feudal zamindari system and the oppressive rule of the Nizam. The peasants seized land, redistributed resources, and established village-level self-governance structures. Although the rebellion was eventually crushed by Indian military action after independence, it had a profound impact on the land reform policies of independent India.

Throughout the pre-independence period, agrarian movements played a crucial role in exposing the exploitative nature of British colonialism and the feudal land ownership structures that perpetuated rural poverty and inequality. These movements highlighted the deep economic distress faced by Indian peasants and the need for structural reforms in the agrarian sector. The success and failures of these movements shaped the political consciousness of Indian peasants and contributed to the broader nationalist struggle for independence. The legacy of these movements influenced post-independence agrarian reforms, including the abolition of the zamindari system, land redistribution, and the establishment of cooperative farming structures. The agrarian movements of pre-independent India were thus not only a fight for economic justice but also an integral part of India's larger quest for political freedom and social equality.

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