Question -
Answer -
(i) Peasant movements have taken place from pre-colonial days. The movement took place between 1858 and 1914 remained localised, disjointed and confined to particular grievances. The well known movement are:
• Bengal Revolt of 1859 – 62 against the indigo plantation system.
• Deccan Riots of l857 against money lenders.
• The Bardoli Satyagraha -1928 was a non tax campaign started by Gandhi.
• Champaran Satyagraha 1917-18. It was directed against indigo plantations.
• Tebhaga movement (1946-47)
• Telangana movement (1946-51)
(ii) New farmer’s movement started in 1970s in Punjab and Tamil Nadu. Main Characteristics:
- Were regionally organised, non-party and involved farmers rather than peasants
- Basic ideology of the movement was anti-state and anti-urban
- The focus of demand were ‘price and related issues’ (for example price procurement, remunerative prices, prices for agricultural inputs, taxation, non-repayment of loans).
- Novel methods of agitation were used: blocking of roads and railways, refusing politicians and bureaucrats entry to villages, and so on.
- Broadened their agenda and ideology and include environment and women’s issues. Therefore, they can be seen as a part of the worldwide ‘new social movements’.