Peasant Movements of Rajasthan — REET Mains Notes

Background to the peasant movements

Under the jagirdari system in Rajasthan's princely states, peasants bore a heavy burden of land revenue, lag-bag (extra levies), and begar (forced, unpaid labour). Jagirdars collected taxes arbitrarily from peasants working their land, and refusal was met with the threat of eviction from the land or other punishment.

From the early 20th century onward, peasants began organising against these exploitative practices, and these very movements went on to prepare the ground for the wider awakening and Prajamandal movements in Rajasthan. In these movements, peasant panchayats and assemblies were formed to collectively put forward demands, a new political consciousness for that era.

It is worth noting that these movements were not direct revolts against the princely rulers themselves, but demands for reform in exploitative jagirdari practices — most movements adopted non-violent methods such as satyagraha and non-cooperation.

Major peasant movements — region, leadership and period

The Bijolia movement — among India's longest peasant movements

The Bijolia movement began in 1897 in the Bijolia thikana of the Mewar state (present-day Bhilwara district). In its early phase, Sadhu Sitaramdas organised the peasants and carried their grievances to the court — he travelled from village to village to spread awareness among peasants and make them conscious of their rights. After 1916, under the leadership of Vijay Singh Pathik (original name Bhup Singh), the movement became more organised and wide-ranging, continuing until 1941 with demands against lag-bag and begar — making it one of the longest-running peasant movements in India.

The Begun movement began in 1921 in the Chittorgarh area of the Mewar state under the leadership of Vijay Singh Pathik and Ramnarayan Chaudhary, and it centred on demands against land revenue.

Key terminology

Lag-bag

The various, often arbitrary, levies collected by jagirdars over and above the regular land revenue.

Begar

The practice of forcing labour for a jagirdar or ruler without any payment.

Vijay Singh Pathik

Regarded as the leading figure of the peasant movement in Rajasthan; associated with both the Bijolia and Begun movements. His original name was Bhup Singh, and he was also connected with the wider activities of the freedom struggle.

Ramnarayan Chaudhary

Co-leader alongside Vijay Singh Pathik in the Begun peasant movement.

Meena-Bhil tribal discontent

Alongside the peasant movements, discontent and local protest also arose in Rajasthan's tribal areas (such as among the Bhils) over princely taxes and forest rights.

Peasant panchayat

In the Bijolia movement, peasants formed local bodies such as the 'peasant panchayat' to collectively put forward their demands — a new organisational initiative for its time.

Year of the Begun peasant movement

The Begun peasant movement began in 1921 and centred on demands against land revenue in the Chittorgarh area of Mewar state.

The wider impact of the peasant movements

The success of movements like Bijolia and Begun inspired peasants in other parts of Rajasthan — Shekhawati, Mewat, and Marwar — to organise as well. These movements saw the formation of local peasant sabhas, which adopted a strategy of collective non-cooperation against the jagirdars, such as 'no-tax' campaigns and leaving land uncultivated.

The long-term effect of these movements was that princely rulers were forced to partially concede to peasant demands, and they also gave momentum to the demand for a national movement and responsible government in Rajasthan. The organisational lessons learned in the peasant movements — such as putting forward collective demands through panchayats and sabhas — were later also adopted in the strategy of the Prajamandal movements.

These movements also created a belief among ordinary people that organised, non-violent protest could pressure the ruling establishment — a sentiment that also matched the spirit of India's broader national movement in the first half of the twentieth century.

Historians today regard the Bijolia movement as an important chapter in the history of India's peasant movements, because it showed how a long, well-organised mass movement could force even a feudal system to bend. For aspiring teachers, this topic is also relevant because, while discussing modern India's mass movements in the Social Studies curriculum, students can be connected to these local Rajasthan examples.

Why this matters for REET Mains

The most frequently asked fact in this topic is the 'movement-leader-princely state' match. The Bijolia movement's period (1897–1941) and the roles of both Sadhu Sitaramdas and Vijay Singh Pathik in it must be clearly remembered, since the exam often confuses these two names. Similarly, keep in mind Ramnarayan Chaudhary's co-leadership role in the Begun movement.

Practice Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

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