Bijolia movement
DR. Prabhat kumar singhal
The Bijolia movement was a peasent movement in the Bijolia jagir of the former Mewar state against excessive land revenue exaction. Originating in the town of Bijolia in Bhilwara district, the movement gradually spread to neighbouring jagirs. "Vijay Singh Pathik" was the leader of this movement. To make the movement a success, Sitaram Das and Manikya Lal Verma also played an important role.
During the movement, some peasants chose not to cultivate their lands and migrated to neighbouring Gwalior and Bundi due to the increased taxes. In 1916, war fund contributions were further imposed on the peasants which lead to renewed dissatisfaction. It was in 1916 that Bhoop Singh alias Vijay Singh Pathik arrived in Bijolia and organized the peasants under the Bijolia Kisan Panchayat to appose payments to the war fund and other taxes.
Petitions were sent to the Maharana and stories of the agitation started receiving publicity in various newspaper. Partially because of the press, the Maharana appointed a commission of inquiry, which found the peasants grievances to the genuine and recommended the abolition of some taxes and begar (forced labor). But the Maharana failed to act on the report and the appression as well as the movement led by Pathik continued.
After the failure of the inquiry to yield results. Pathik advised peasants to cultivate unirrigated lands which were subject to lower taxes.
Leaders of the Bijolia movement attempted to obtain the support of the Indian national congress (INC) . But all in vain because INC disfavoured agitation in the princely states. None the less these efforts attracted the attention of national leaders towards the Bijolia movement and it obtained the support of some of the leaders.
Thus, this movement became a grand success of peasant which inspired others to take steps against such taxes in Bengu, also.
साभार :
© CopyRight Pressnote.in | A Avid Web Solutions Venture.