Description

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context

Observed on March 19 every year Muzhara Movement in Punjab especially in Patiala & East Punjab States Union (PEPSU) region was a fight against feudal landlords (biswedars) who exploited tenant farmers.

Key Highlights

Muzhara Movement emerged in 1930s in villages of erstwhile princely state of Patiala which later became part of Patiala & East Punjab States Union (PEPSU) post independence.

It was a resistance against feudal landlords called biswedars who controlled large estates & forced tenant farmers (muzharas) to give up portion of their agricultural produce.

Muzharas were landless cultivators who tilled land for generations but had no ownership rights.

Under British rule some small farmers were even forced to surrender their land & work as muzharas.

The feudal system in Patiala was particularly exploitative where one-third of produce from land cultivated by muzharas went to biswedars & portion was further given to king who paid revenue to British authorities.

Impact of Feudal Oppression & Economic Hardship:

The feudal landlords lived in large havelis & wielded significant social & economic power in villages.

The system kept farmers in bondage preventing them from accumulating wealth or breaking free from cycle of poverty.

Even after independence in 1947 biswedars continued demanding their share of produce leading to an escalation of tensions.

Tenant farmers were subjected to forced labor, exploitation & eviction if they resisted.

The movement intensified in late 1940s as muzharas began demanding permanent ownership of lands they had cultivated for generations.

March 1949 Revolt in Kishangarh Village:

March 1949 became a defining moment in movement as biswedars tried to forcefully reclaim land from muzharas in Kishangarh village (now in Mansa district, Punjab).

Muzharas fought back fiercely refusing to give up land they had tilled.

Over time nearby villages joined struggle providing moral & physical support.

Muzharas in Kishangarh took complete control of agricultural production refusing to pay taxes to landlords.

They harvested sugarcane, produced jaggery & stored food supplies preparing for a prolonged resistance against state forces.

Patiala police intervened leading to clashes that resulted in death of police officer on March 17, 1949.

35 muzharas were arrested & charged with murder but they were all acquitted in February 1950 marking significant legal victory for movement.

Day of Martyrdom:

On March 19, 1949 PEPSU administration sent army to suppress movement.

The village of Kishangarh was surrounded by armed forces leading to a violent confrontation.

Four muzharas were killed in battle becoming martyrs of struggle.

This event turned March 19 into a symbolic day observed every year to commemorate sacrifices of farmers.

From 1953 onwards March 19 was officially recognized as Muzhara Struggle Day with annual gatherings in Kishangarh.

Key Leaders of Muzhara Movement:

Leader	Contribution
Jagir Singh Joga	Mobilized tenant farmers, organized protests & led resistance efforts against landlords.
Buta Singh	Prominent activist who fought for land rights & redistribution policies.
Teja Singh Sutantar	A revolutionary associated with multiple peasant movements in Punjab, supported Muzhara Movement.
Sewa Singh Thikriwala	Though involved in earlier anti-princely struggles, his ideology influenced movement.
Bhai Jodh Singh	Played a major role in spreading awareness & strengthening resistance against biswedars.

Post-Independence Impact & Land Reforms:

By 1952 following years of struggle & advocacy PEPSU government introduced land reforms officially granting ownership rights to tenant farmers.

The reforms abolished biswedari (landlordism) & redistributed land to thousands of muzharas marking one of most successful peasant movements in Indian history.

The movement was seen as an early example of land redistribution & agrarian justice in independent India.

It significantly inspired future farmer movements including protests against land acquisitions & farmer rights struggles in Punjab.

Annual Commemoration & Cultural Legacy:

The entry gate of Kishangarh village bears an inscription: "Muzhara Lehar de Shaheedan di Yaad Nu Samarpit" (Dedicated to Martyrs of Muzhara Movement).

A memorial & hall have been built in Kishangarh on land that previously belonged to biswedars.

Symbol of Resistance & Modern Relevance:

Muzhara Movement remains a symbol of resilience & justice in Punjab agrarian history.

The movement has often been cited during recent farmer protests particularly 2020–21 Farmers Protest against controversial farm laws.

Peasant Movements in India

Peasant Movement	Period	Region	Causes	Key Leaders	Outcome
Indigo Revolt	1859-1860	Bengal	Exploitation by British planters forcing farmers to grow indigo at low prices	Digambar Biswas, Bishnu Biswas	British government passed Indigo Commission Report (1860), leading to decline of indigo plantations.
Deccan Riots	1875	Maharashtra (Pune, Ahmednagar, Satara)	High-interest loans from moneylenders, land dispossession	Local peasant groups	British introduced Deccan Agriculturists' Relief Act (1879) to regulate moneylending practices.
Champaran Satyagraha	1917	Bihar	Forced cultivation of indigo by European planters under tinkathia system	Mahatma Gandhi, Rajkumar Shukla	British abolished tinkathia system, granting farmers freedom to grow crops of their choice.
Kheda Satyagraha	1918	Gujarat	Peasants unable to pay taxes due to famine; demand for tax suspension	Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel	Government granted tax relief to farmers.
Bardoli Satyagraha	1928	Gujarat	Unfair land revenue hikes by British government	Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel	Government withdrew tax hike & returned confiscated lands.
Tebhaga Movement	1946-1947	Bengal	Sharecroppers (bargadars) demanded two-thirds of produce instead of existing one-half share given to landlords	Kisan Sabha (CPI-led), Benoy Choudhury, Hare Krishna Konar	Bengal government passed Bargadari Act (1950) to protect sharecroppers' rights.
Telangana Rebellion	1946-1951	Hyderabad (Telangana)	Feudal oppression by zamindars & landlords; bonded labor & high rents	Communist Party of India (CPI), P. Sundarayya, Ravi Narayan Reddy	Land redistribution policies introduced, but movement was eventually suppressed by Indian Army in 1951.
Muzhara Movement (PEPSU Tenant Farmers' Movement)	1930s-1952	Punjab (Patiala, Barnala, Mansa, Sangrur, etc.)	Tenant farmers (muzharas) fought against biswedars (landlords) for land ownership rights	Jagir Singh Joga, Buta Singh, Teja Singh Sutantar	Land reforms in PEPSU granted ownership rights to tenant farmers.
Naxalbari Uprising	1967	West Bengal	Landless peasants demanded redistribution of land from landlords	Charu Majumdar, Kanu Sanyal	Movement led to rise of Naxalite/Maoist insurgency in India.
Bharatpur Peasant Movement	1925	Rajasthan	Oppression by jagirdars (feudal landlords) & high land revenue	Nemi Chand Jain, Kisan Sabha	Contributed to abolition of jagirdari system post-independence.
Eka Movement	1921	Uttar Pradesh	High rent demands by landlords, corruption in revenue collection	Madari Pasi, Sahodradeo	Movement suppressed by British forces.
Pagri Sambhal Jatta Movement	1907	Punjab	Protest against increased land revenue under British rule	Bhagat Singh’s uncle Ajit Singh, Kishan Singh	British withdrew increased revenue demands.
Malabar Rebellion (Moplah Rebellion)	1921	Kerala	Agrarian grievances of Muslim tenants against Hindu landlords & British administration	Variyankunnath Kunjahammed Haji, Ali Musaliar	Suppressed by British; led to widespread violence & crackdown.
Bijolia Movement	1897-1941	Rajasthan	Farmers resisted high taxes & oppressive feudal levies	Sitaram Das, Vijay Singh Pathik	British reduced taxes; influenced later peasant struggles.
Pabna Revolt	1873-1876	Bengal	Zamindars illegally increased rents & evicted farmers	Kisan Sabha, Shambhu Pal	Led to Bengal Tenancy Act (1885), restricting zamindari exploitation.
Bakasht Movement	1930s	Bihar	Landlords illegally reclaimed bakasht (self-cultivated) lands from peasants	Swami Sahajanand Saraswati	Strengthened demand for land reforms in post-independence Bihar.

For more information, please refer to IAS GYAN

Sources:

INDIAN EXPRESS

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Peasant movements in India have historically shaped agrarian policies & land reforms. In this context analyze significance of Muzhara Movement in Punjab highlighting its causes, key events, impact on post independence land rights & agrarian justice.