CENT CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH BIHAR Department of History & Archaeology Course content Course Instructor: Dr. Sudhanshu Kumar Jha Programme: MA History Semester-4 Course Code: MAHIS4003C04 Course Title: History of Resistance- Tribal and Peasant Movements in colonial period Date: 20-4-2020 TOPIC: Causes and Characteristics of the Tebhaga Movement (1946-47)
Objectives
To learn about the causes of Tebhaga Movement To learn about the nature of this movement To learn about different issues involved in this movement To learn about the local pattern of leadership and mobilization To learn about the changing nature of the Peasant Struggles in 20th century in general To trace about ideological differences in different peasant struggle in 20th century. To analyse post movement impact on the peasantry and peasant issues in Independent India
Introduction
The Tebhaga Movement was somewhat a radical movement started by the sharecroppers against the Jotedars in Bengal in 1946 with the slogan ‘Langal Jav, Jami Tar’i.e the lands belong to those who cultivate it. The movement was backed and led by the Bengal Kisan Sabha, an offshoot the Communist Party of India. All the sharecroppers belonging to different layers of the peasantry participated in this movement which was based on two principal issues-1, conversions of the sharecroppers into tenants, and 2. 2/3rd of total crops to be retained by the sharecroppers. The movement pushed its demands vociferously but it turned violent also. The government repressed it by adopting violent measures. Further, the movement lost its momentum due to more pressing issues of independence and partition moving round the corner. Thus, the movement failed to meet its objective but it largely influenced the peasant issues and peasant politics in Bengal in particular and in the country in general after independence.
Background and Causes
The peasantry of Bengal had been influenced and affected by two main agricultural developments following the establishment of colonial rule over there. The first issue was the change in legal framework regarding production relationship and the other related to market operations in agricultural crops, popularly known as the Zamindari system and the Commercialization of agriculture. Through the Zamindari system, the Zamindars were allotted the proprietary rights over different tracts of vast land on the conditions of payment of annual rate of revenue fixed permanently to the government. on fulfilling such conditions, the Zamindars were declared independent to manage their estates according to their wisdom and convenience. In turn, the Zamindars leased out their lands to farmers on the conditions of payment of taxes by them to be renewed and reviewed periodically. it was known as the pattani system. The Jotedars managed their leased lands in two ways- either they cultivated their lands by employing agricultural labourers under their direct supervision or they gave lands to small farmers on lease. The farmers would pay all investing cost in agricultural practices and the crops would be shared equally between the farmers and the Jotedars. This system was known as the adhiyari system and the farmers as adhiyar or sharecroppers. The small peasants or sharecroppers were affected by several other issues along with the inherent problem of total investment and equal division of crops on which the system was based. The commercialization of agriculture, price rise of rice, indebtness and the famine of 1942 added severe wounds to the sharecroppers who were inflicted already by the conditions involved in the sharecropping system. In the meantime, Kisan Sabhas were coming into existence in different states. In Bengal, the Kisan Sabha was set up as an offshoot of the Communist Party of India. In Bengal the Kisan Sabha took up the issues of the sharecroppers and started a movement at Jessore and Khulna, now the parts of Bangladesh, the Kisan Sabha submitted a 70-page memorandum to the Land Revenue Commission in 1939. But the issue of Tebhaga, 2/3rd shares to be retained by the sharecroppers was largely absent by then. In March, 1940, the Land Revenue Commission, headed by F.L.C Floud, and thus popularly known as the Floud Commission, published its report which suggested several reforms. Along with other recommendations, the Commission suggested two important reforms: 1. The sharecroppers should retain 2/3rd share of total crops 2. Produce must be stacked in the khamars of the sharecroppers. These recommendations of the Land Commission galvanized the farmers. The Kisan Sabha took up the issue and started mobilizing the share croppers. At the 4th provincial Kisan conference held at Panjia, Jessore in June, 1940, the call for Tebhaga was given. But the start of World War II and the great famine delayed the movement. After the World War, Bengal Kisan Sabha Council met in September, 1946, and gave call to launch the Tebhaga movement. Thus, the Tebhaga Movement started in September, 1946.
Forms of Movement The sharecroppers started stacking the crops at their khamars. They took to forcible harvesting. The mobs, at times, turned violent, Kisan Sabha distributed pamphlets ‘Kisan Lariyer Kaida’ outlining the strategy of the movement. Tebhaga committees were formed. The peasants were encouraged to violate the criminal code of 144. At Dinajpur and Rangpur, parallel governments were set up. In the meantime, the then Suharwardy Government published Bengal Bargadars Temporary Regulation Bill on 22 January, 1947. It recommended for retention of 2/3rd share of total crops by the sharecroppers. This bill motivated the peasants and they construed their demands as legitimate. The peasants became more aggressive and started burning and damaging post offices and the telegraph line to mark the celebration. The government was alarmed by the prevailing conditions and went on to apply repressive measures to crush the movement. The movement, thus, finally came to an end without achieving any legal protection.
Significance
The movement failed to meet its objective. But it cannot be dismissed as a futile attempt on the part of the peasants. The movement showed a broader solidarity. The share croppers of all social sections including tribes and the SCs participated in the movement. This movement was by far the most important one to raise the issues of the small farmers and agricultural labourers instead of the rich and the middle peasants. Also, the movement was not allowed to turn communal given the social structure of the region. Hindu-Muslim unity was the main feature of this movement although the main landlords happened to be largely Hindus. Haji Mohammad Danesh was on important leader who took all pains to prevent communalization of the movement. But the violent character of this movement provided opportunity to the government to repress it terribly. The legacy of this movement was very much recognized after independence which went a long way to reshape the peasant politics in Bengal. THE END