Kisan Sabha Flashcards
What was the main objective of the Kisan Sabha Movement?
To secure ‘complete freedom’ from economic exploitation and achieve full economic and political power for peasants and working classes
This included all other exploited classes.
List some key demands of the Kisan Sabha Movement.
- Protection of peasants from economic exploitation
- Abolition of landlordism (zamindari system)
- Vesting of land to the tillers of the soil
- Reduction of revenue and rent
- Licensing of moneylenders
- Moratorium of debts
- Minimum wages for agricultural laborers
- Fair price for commercial crops
- Irrigation facilities
These objectives were to be achieved through organization and participation in the national struggle for independence.
What factors contributed to the growth of the Kisan Sabha?
Excessive taxation, fear of eviction, no-occupancy rights on land, price rises of essential commodities, torture by Zamindars, and passive government response
Nationalist movements of 1920-1922 and 1930-1934 also played a role in politicizing the peasants.
Who led the no-tax campaign in 1928?
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
This campaign resulted in the peasants winning their demand.
When was the All-India Kisan Sabha formed and who was elected as its President?
In 1936, under Swami Sahajanand as President
The formation took place in Lucknow.
What was the significance of the Kisan Manifesto?
It influenced the agrarian program adopted by the Congress at its Faizpur session
This was a crucial development in the peasant movement.
What marked the new phase in the peasant movement after the Congress ministries were formed in 1937?
Mobilization of peasants through Kisan conferences and introduction of pro-peasant legislations
This phase saw active engagement of the Congress with peasant issues.
What was the Bakasht Movement?
A movement in Bihar (1937-38) against landlords to fight the forceful eviction of peasants from bakasht lands
Bakasht lands were those lost due to non-payment of rent but still cultivated by tenants.
What was the Hat Tola Movement in Bengal about?
A peasant movement against landlords for a levy collected from peasants selling produce in weekly markets (Hat’s)
This occurred in 1939.
What was the Burdwan Satyagraha?
A protest against the canal tax imposed on peasants after the construction of the Damodar canal
This movement was led by Bankim Mukherjee.
Describe the movement of sharecroppers in Bengal.
A movement started in Dinajpur district where sharecroppers, poor peasants without tenure security, protested against evictions
The government later compromised with the peasants.
What demand emerged in Gujarat during the peasant movements?
Abolition of bonded labour
This movement saw significant success.
What did Nehru state about the peasant problem in 1957?
The outstanding problem of India is the peasant problem; all else is secondary
This highlighted the importance of the peasantry in India’s socio-political landscape.
True or False: The right-wing within the Congress supported the rise of class-consciousness among Indian peasantry.
False
The right-wing felt uneasy about peasant demands, particularly the demand for abolition of landlordism.
Fill in the blank: Kisan leaders preferred to rely on __________ in their struggle against the zamindars.
[themselves]
They had faith in Congress leadership for independence but focused on self-reliance for their struggles.
