Bijolia movement
The Bijolia movement was a peasant movement started in the Mewar region, of Rajasthan in India against the excessive land revenue exactions, where the peasants refused to do bagar (unpaid labour) and held back the taxes for three years. Based in Bijolia, a town in Bhilwara district and gradually spread to neighbouring jagirs (feudal estates), initial leadership to the movement was provided by Sitaram Das, later Bhoop Singh and Manikyalal Verma prominently further carried the movement.
The movement had its origins in the Great Famine of 1899-1900, which lead to mass migration from the area. The remaining farmers were exploited by the thikana (estate) owner through heavy taxes. The first revolt took place in 1905, then in 1913 and continued intermittently for several decades, with the most potent revolt in 1916. In 1916, the leaders of the movement led a no tax movement against the Maharaja of Udaipur State, a princely state under the British Raj. The farmers refused to cultivate the land. The movement continued till 1941 after a bitter struggle lasting about half a century, gained national attention and resisted state oppression.[1][2][3]
References
- ↑ Dictionary of the History of India
- ↑ C. S. K. Singh, "Bhils' Participation in Politics in Rajasthan in the 1920's " Social Scientist, University of Chicago Press, v 13, no. 143 (April 1985) p. 32.
- ↑ R.K. Gupta; S.R. Bakshi (2008). Studies In Indian History: Rajasthan Through The Ages The Heritage Of Rajputs (Vol 5). Sarup & Sons. pp. 319–320. ISBN 8176258415.
Bibliography
- Ram Pande (1974). Agrarian Movement in Rajasthan. University Publishers (India).
- Pema Ram (1986). Agrarian movement in Rajasthan, 1913-1947 A.D. Panchsheel Prakashan.
- Brij Kishore Sharma (1990). Peasant movements in Rajasthan, 1920-1949. Pointer Publishers. ISBN 8171320244.