11. Struggle for equality In the progress of Modern India, In 1936, with the initiative of Prof. struggle for political freedom was N.G.Ranga, the ‘Akhil Bharatiya Kisan important. This struggle was based on Sabha’ was established. Swami broad philosophy of man’s emancipation. Sahajananda Saraswati was the President Therefore in the course of this struggle of this organisation. along with political dependence there was This Sabha presented a opposition to things like feudalism, social declaration of peasants’ inequality, economic exploitation. Like rights to the Indian freedom the principle of equality is very National Congress. The important. From that point of view the session of the Congress contribution of movements built up by was held in the rural various social groups such as farmers, part of Faizpur in workers, women, dalits etc as well as the Maharashtra. Thousands stream of socialism giving importance to of peasants attended Prof. N.G.Ranga equality, proves to be significant. Without this session. realising its contribution we will not be In 1938, the crops able to understand the developmental in eastern Khandesh process of Modern India. Therefore let us were destroyed due to study some of these movements. heavy rains. The Peasant Movement : The Indian condition of the farmers had to suffer due to the ill effects farmers was miserable. of British economic policy. The British In order to get the Government used to protect the landlords land revenue waived, and money lenders. They gave unjust Sane Guruji organised treatment to the farmers. On many meetings and occasions the farmers rose against this Sane Guruji processions at many injustice. The peasants in Bengal formed places. He took out marches on the their union and revolted against the Collector office. The peasants participated compulsion of cultivating indigo. The play in large numbers in the revolutionary ‘Neel Darpan’ written by Deenbandhu period of 1942. Mitra brought to the notice of the society the wretched conditions of the peasants Do you know ? producing indigo. In 1875, farmers from Maharashtra rose in revolt against the Sane Guruji built up unity of the atrocities of the landlords and money workers. He tried to create strong lenders. The farmers in Uttar Pradesh centre of workers union at Dhule- formed ‘Kisan Sabha’ in 1918 under the Ammalner. He was the President of leadership of Baba Ramchandra. The Mill Workers Union of Ammalner. Mopla peasants rose in a great revolt in He went on fast unto death to open Kerala. But the British government crushed the doors of Vithal temple at Pandharpur it down. for the Dalits. Workers Union : there was rise of worker class in India, and In the latter half of then a necessity for nation wide worker 19th century, textile union was felt. With this necessity, in 1920, mills, railway All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) companies and such was established. N.M.Joshi had a major industries were role in the working of AITUC. Lala Lajpat started in India. The Rai was the President of the first session workers group had of AITUC. He told the workers to actively not aroused on large participate in the national movement. scale but in this Narayan Meghaji Shripad Amrut Dange, Muzaffar Lokhande period efforts were Ahmed such socialist leaders, by spreading made to solve the the socialist ideology among the workers, problems of the workers. Sashipada worked to form Banerjee and Narayan Meghaji Lokhande militant organisations. organised the workers at local level. In 1928, the Mumbai Lokhande’s contribution to the working Mill Workers Union class movement was so valuable that he went on strike for six is described as ‘Father of Indian Workers months. Many such Movement’. strikes were made by the Railway workers, Do you know ? jute mill workers etc. The government was The native place of Narayan disturbed to see the Shripad Amrut Dange Meghaji Lokhande was Kanhesar near growing strength of the Saswad in Pune district. He formed workers movement. To supress this the mill workers union known as movement legislations were made. The ‘Bombay Mill Hands Association’ in workers struggle proved to be supportive 1890. This workers union is believed to the national movement. to be the beginning of organised Socialist Movement : Many of the movement in India. He was also the young activists in the Indian National chairman of Mumbai branch of Congress felt that for protecting the Satyashodhak Samaj founded by interest of the people it is necessary to Mahatma Phule. Due to his efforts, overthrow the British Government. from 10 June 1890, the workers started Similarly, they started realising that the getting weekly holiday on Sunday. society should be restructured on the At the same time an agitation was principle of economic and social equality. launched against the wretched condition of Through this realisation, there was rise the tea plantation workers in Assam. In and growth of Socialist ideology. 1899, the Great Indian Peninsular (GIP) The Socialist youths, while they were Railway workers called for a strike for in prison at Nasik, decided to form the their demands. During the anti partition Socialist Party within the Indian National movement workers carried out strikes from Congress. According to this decision, in time to time in support of Swadeshi. After 1934, the Congress Socialist Party was the First World War, due to industrialisation, formed which included leaders like practices, they were subjected to injustice. But during the modern period there was an awakening against it. Some of the male reformers took initiative in the reform movement related to women, in the course Pandita Ramabai Acharya Narendra Dev Dr.Ram Manohar Lohia of time women leaders started coming Acharya Narendra Dev, Jayprakash forward. Their independent institutes- Narayan, Minu Masani, Dr. Ram Manohar organisations came to Lohia etc. In Quit India movement of be established. Pandita 1942, these young socialists were in the Ramabai established the forefront. ‘Arya Mahila Samaj’ Indians got introduced to Karl Marx and ‘Sharda Sadan’, and his Communism. Lokmanya Tilak similarly ‘Seva Sadan’ had already written an article on Marx founded by Ramabai in 1881. After First World War the Ranade are examples of influence of Communism was felt in this. ‘Bharat Mahila India. Manavendranath Roy played active Ramabai Ranade Parishad’ (1904) and role in the International Communist ‘All India Women's Conference’ (1927) Movement. were founded as well. Therefore this In 1925, the Communist Party was institutional work reached at the national formed in India. The work of building level. For the issues such as right to militant organisations of workers and inheritance, right to vote etc. women had peasants was done by the young to struggle through the medium of these Communists. The British Government organisations. started feeling the danger of communist Rakhmabai Janardan Save was the movement. Shripad Amrut Dange, first practicing woman Muzaffar Ahmed, Keshav Neelkanth doctor in India. She Joglekar etc. were arrested. They were delivered series of charged with planning of a conspiracy to lectures related to overthrow the British rule. They were health issues of given different punishments. The trial women. She also took place at Meerut and is therefore opened a branch of known as the ‘Meerut Conspiracy Case’. Red Cross Society at Even after the Meerut trial, the influence Dr.Rakhmabai Save Rajkot. of Communist workers movement remained During the 20th century, participation constant. of women in public life began to increase. Feminist Movement : In the Indian Women's participation in the national social system, women were given movement and revolutionary work was secondary position. Due to many evil significant. After the Act of 1935, women educated and engaged Do you know ? in work, while the second part of their Dr. Anandibai Joshi : First Indian work was to destroy Female Doctor. Her son lived a life of the delusive ideas only ten days and regarding dalits in the then died. This sorrow minds of the upper became responsible castes. For this for inspiring her to purpose he founded study medicine. She marathi schools, work Maharshi Vitthal acquired M.D. degree schools in parts of Ramji Shinde in 1886. While Parel, Deonar in Mumbai. He actively returning to India Dr.Anandibai Joshi took part for the benefit of Dalit class Anandibai contracted regarding satyagraha for entry in Parvati tuberculosis. Later on 16 February temple at Pune, Shetkari Parishad of 1887 she died in Pune. Dalits, federal electorate etc. were included in the Provincial Ministries Rajarshi Shahu gave support to the as well. After independence, the principle leadership of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. of equality of men and women has been During his period, he led the Non Brahmin clearly stated in the constitution of India. movement. Rajarshi Dalit Movement : The Indian social Shahu Maharaj made structure was based on inequality. Social revolutionary reformers like Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, declaration for Narayan Guru brought about awakening reservation in state of the people against the unjust treatment of Kolhapur. He given to Dalits in the society. Following made a law for free the teachings of Mahatma Phule, Gopal and compulsory Baba Walangkar and Shivram Janba primary education. Kamble worked for the eradication of He did substantial Rajarshi Shahu work for abolition untouchability. In 1888, Gopal Baba Maharaj Walangkar, in his book ‘Vitaal of caste distinction. Vidhwansan’ condemned untouchability. There were three restrictions put up in the Shivram Janba Kamble started the caste system – inter dining, inter marriage magazine ‘Somavanshiya Mitra’ on 1 July and change of occupation. In this regards, 1908. He raised voice regarding issues of during meetings and conferences Shahu Muralis and Jogtins. He also took initiative Maharaj ate food from the hands of Dalit for marriages of Devadasis. In Tamil people and overthrew the restriction on Nadu, Perriyar Ramaswamy started a inter dining.