Peasant Movements in India: From Indigo to Telangana

TOPIC CLASSIFICATION

Subject: Indian History - Peasant and Tribal Movements in Modern India
Sub-topic: Peasant Movements - Indigo Revolt (1859-60), Pabna Agrarian Uprising (1873), Deccan Riots (1875), Champaran (1917), Kheda (1918), Mappila Rebellion (1921), Bardoli (1928), Tebhaga (1946-47), Telangana Armed Struggle (1946-51), Naxalbari (1967), Navalbari (1970s), Agrarian Struggles post-1947
Mains GS Paper-I: History of India - Resistance to British Rule, Peasant and Tribal Movements, Post-Independence Agrarian Struggles.

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EXAMINER REASONING

Peasant movements represent the awakening of India's agrarian masses against colonial exploitation and feudal oppression. Prelims tests: Indigo Revolt (1859-60), Deccan Riots (1875 - against moneylenders), Pabna (1873 - Bengal), Champaran (1917 - Gandhi's first major struggle in India), Kheda (1918 - Gandhi's first no-tax campaign), Bardoli (1928 - Sardar Patel), Mappila Rebellion (1921 - Malabar), Tebhaga (1946-47 - Bengal), Telangana (1946-51 - Hyderabad), Naxalbari (1967 - beginning of Maoist movement). Mains demands: (a) typology of peasant movements - anti-colonial, anti-zamindari, anti-moneylender, Gandhian-led, communist-led, (b) Gandhi's peasant struggles - Champaran (indigo planters), Kheda (no-tax due to crop failure), their significance (Gandhi's method of satyagraha tested), (c) communist-led movements - Tebhaga (sharecroppers demanding 2/3rd share), Telangana (against Nizam and feudal lords - armed struggle), (d) post-independence agrarian struggles -...