Previous Year Question
What was the reason for Mahatma Gandhi to organise a Satyagraha on behalf of the peasants of Kheda?
The administration did not suspend the land revenue collection in spite of a drought.
The administration proposed to introduce permanent settlement in Gujarat.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct Answer: A
Detailed Solution
Statement 1 is correct.
In 1918, widespread crop failure in Gujarat’s Kheda district created conditions approaching famine. The peasants were unable to pay the land revenue for that year.
Under the prevailing Land Revenue Rules:
If the crop was four annas or less, approximately one-fourth of the normal output, the cultivators could claim suspension of land-revenue collection for that year.
The peasants maintained that the crop was below four annas.
The colonial officials estimated that the crop was above four annas.
The government refused the demand for an impartial inquiry and suspension of revenue collection.
After petitions failed, Gandhi advised the peasants to undertake Satyagraha and withhold the revenue payment. The Kheda Satyagraha began on 22 March 1918. Vallabhbhai Patel, Mohanlal Pandya and other local workers played important roles alongside Gandhi.
The government responded by attaching cattle and movable property and imposing penalties. Eventually, an arrangement was accepted under which cultivators capable of paying would pay, while collection from the poorer cultivators would be suspended. Thus, the central issue was the suspension of land-revenue collection following crop failure.
Statement 2 is incorrect.
The Kheda Satyagraha was not caused by a proposal to introduce Permanent Settlement in Gujarat. Gujarat formed part of the Bombay Presidency, where the Ryotwari revenue system was principally prevalent. Permanent Settlement was associated mainly with Bengal, Bihar and Orissa.
Therefore, only Statement 1 is correct.
Connection:
Champaran Satyagraha, 1917—Tinkathia indigo system
Ahmedabad Mill Strike, 1918—plague bonus/wage dispute of mill workers
Kheda Satyagraha, 1918—suspension of revenue after crop failure
Bardoli Satyagraha, 1928—opposition to enhanced land-revenue assessment