Peasants in Resistance: Political Economy and Social Movements in Indian Agriculture
Sarfaraz Ahmad Rather
Ph.D Research Scholar, Department of History, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar- 608 002
R. Rajeshwari
Assistant Professor, Department of History, Thanthai Periyar Govt. Arts and Science College, Tiruchirappalli, India
Beginning with early resistance during colonial rule—such as the Santhal Rebellion, the Champaran Satyagraha, and the Moplah uprising—the study examines how exploitative land policies, commercial agriculture, and caste-based hierarchies shaped agrarian unrest. It then charts the transformation of peasant mobilizations from spontaneous uprisings to organized, ideologically driven movements, particularly under the influence of Marxist and Gandhian thought. The paper highlights three major phases of peasant agitation: colonial resistance (1857–1921), organized class-based movements (1923–1946), and post-independence struggles, including the Telangana and Naxalite movements. The post-liberalization era introduces a new dynamic wherein middle-class and affluent farmers lead protests against globalization, land acquisition, and neoliberal reforms. Movements like the Bharatiya Kisan Union and the Singur and Nandigram agitations demonstrate a shift toward broader civil society engagement. Drawing from historical records, political theory, and social movement literature, the article underscores the changing nature of rural mobilization, reflecting the persistent socio-economic marginalization of Indian peasants. Ultimately, it argues that peasant movements remain critical to understanding India's agrarian structure, class dynamics, and the evolving relationship between state, land, and rural communities in both historical and modern contexts.
Keywords: Peasant movements, agrarian unrest, colonial exploitation, class struggle, rural mobilization, land reforms, neoliberal policies.
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