Peasant movements are a part of social movements against British exploitation in the 18th and 19th centuries of the British Colonial period. The peasants were exploited under the British rule and their conditions reduced to penury.
Weakness of the 19th Century Peasant Movements:
(Lacked of adequate understanding of Colonialism)
- the peasants fought only for their own demands.
- Centred almost wholly on economic issues.
- They fought against their immediate enemies, foreign planters and indigenous Zamindars and monneylenders.
- They did not make Colonialism their target.
- Their objective was not the ending of the system of their subordination and exploitation.
- They had little territorial reach with no mutual communication or linkages.
- They also lacked continuity of struggle or long-term organisation.
- Lack of understanding of economic structure.
* 1783- Rangpur Dhing
* 1825- Movement of Pagal Panthis
* 1832- Kol Rebel in Chota Nagpur
* 1854- Kuka Movement
* 1855- Santhal Rebellion in Jharkhand
* 1859-62- Indigo Rebellion (Bengal)
* 1870-80- Pabna Rebellion
* 1875- Deccan Riots
* 1899- Munda Ulgulan
* 1917- Champaran Satyagraha ( Bihar)
* 1918- Kheda Satyagraha (Gujrat)
* 1921- Eka Movement
* 1921- Moplah Rebellion (Kerala)
* 1928- Bordoli Satyagraha
* 1946- Tebhaga Movement
Impact of these Movements -
• Though these revolts were not aimed at uprooting the British rule from India, they created awareness among the Indians.
• The peasants developed a strong awareness of their legal rights and asserted them in and outside the courts.
• Peasants emerged as the main force in agrarian movements, fighting directly for their own demands.
• Various Kisan Sabhas were formed to organise and agitate for peasants demands during Non-cooperation Movement.
• These movements also contributed to the growth of nationalism.
• These rebellion movements prepared also the growth for other uprisingd across the country.