The Singur Movement (2006-2008) was a significant people's protest in West Bengal against the acquisition of fertile agricultural land by the government for a Tata Motors car factory. The movement centered in Singur, Hooghly district, where around 997 acres of multi-crop farmland was being acquired. Farmers, unwilling to give up their land, opposed the forced acquisition, leading to widespread protests.
The movement was primarily led by Mamata Banerjee and her party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), along with various local farmers' groups and civil society organizations. Banerjee went on a 26-day hunger strike in support of the farmers. Other prominent groups included the Krishi Jami Raksha Committee (Save Agricultural Land Committee).
After intense protests and legal battles, Tata Motors eventually withdrew from Singur in 2008. The movement became a defining moment in West Bengal’s political landscape, contributing to the end of the 34-year Left Front government in 2011.
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The Champaran Satyagraha (1917) was the first major nonviolent resistance movement led by Mahatma Gandhi in India. It was initiated in Champaran, Bihar, in response to the oppressive system of tinkathia, where indigo farmers were forced to grow indigo on 3/20th of their land by British planters. This system left farmers impoverished, as the indigo trade had become unprofitable due to the rise of synthetic dyes.
Gandhi, along with local leaders like Rajendra Prasad, J.B. Kripalani, and Braj Kishore Prasad, organized the movement. Gandhi used his method of Satyagraha (nonviolent protest) to mobilize peasants and demand relief from the exploitative system.
The movement attracted national attention, and after months of protests, investigations, and negotiations, the British government agreed to abolish the tinkathia system and introduced reforms. The success of the Champaran Satyagraha marked Gandhi’s emergence as a national leader and laid the foundation for future mass movements against colonial rule.
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The Bardoli Satyagraha (1928) was a significant peasant movement in Gujarat, led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. It was initiated in response to a 30% increase in land revenue imposed by the British colonial government, which was unbearable for the farmers of Bardoli taluka in Surat district, who had suffered from floods and famine.
The movement was spearheaded by the Bardoli Taluka Farmers' Association, with the involvement of local leaders like Indulal Yagnik and Kalyanji Mehta. Under Patel’s leadership, the farmers refused to pay the increased taxes, leading to the confiscation of their land, cattle, and property by the British authorities.
Despite severe repression, the movement gained widespread support across India. After months of nonviolent resistance, the British government was forced to roll back the tax hike and return the confiscated properties. This victory earned Patel the title of "Sardar" and strengthened his role in the Indian independence struggle.
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The Tebhaga Movement (1946-1947) was a significant peasant uprising in Bengal, aimed at improving the share of produce for tenant farmers. At the time, sharecroppers (bargadars) were required to give half of their harvest to landlords, but the movement sought to reduce this to one-third, hence the name Tebhaga (meaning "three shares").
The movement was led by the Kisan Sabha, the peasant wing of the Communist Party of India (CPI). Key leaders included Kangal Harinath, Hare Krishna Konar, Ajit Pandey, and Saroj Mukherjee.
The movement gained widespread support from impoverished peasants, particularly in the districts of Dinajpur, Rangpur, and Jalpaiguri. Although it faced severe repression from the colonial government and landlords, the Tebhaga movement was instrumental in drawing attention to the exploitation of peasants and laid the groundwork for land reform movements in post-independence India.
