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UPPSC 2025
DAILY
CLASS NOTES
Modern History

Lecture – 41
Princely States
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Princely States
Labour Movement in India
All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC):
❖ Founded on October 31, 1920, in Bombay (now Mumbai)
❖ First President: Lala Lajpat Rai
❖ First national trade union federation in India
❖ Aimed to coordinate the activities of various trade unions across the country.
❖ Splits:
➢ Indian Trade Union Federation (ITUF): Formed in 1929 by former AITUC president V.V. Giri due
to ideological differences within AITUC.
➢ Red Trade Union Congress: Formed in 1931 as a split from AITUC due to further ideological
differences, aligning more closely with Marxist-Leninist principles.
Establishment of Congress Socialist Party in 1934
❖ Some Congress leaders, dissatisfied with Gandhiji's idealistic and mystical views, propelled the formation of
Congress socialist Party(CSP) in 1934.
❖ Prominent Leaders included Jayaprakash Narayan, Acharya Narendra Dev, Meenu Masani, Ashok
Mehta, and others.
❖ The first all-India meeting of the Congress Socialist Party was held in Mumbai in 1934, formally
establishing the party.
❖ The party defined freedom as economic freedom over political freedom.
❖ Aim was to organise workers and peasants and promote mass movements based on class struggle, while
working under the Congress.
❖ Impact on Congress:
➢ Changes in Congress's approach and program under leftist influence.
➢ The Karachi session saw resolutions on fundamental rights and the National Economic
programme.
➢ Congress's 1937 Election Manifesto.
➢ Formation of the Planning Committee in the Haripura session.
➢ India's commitment to socialist policy post-independence, including the addition of the word
"socialist" in the preamble by the 42nd constitutional amendment.
❖ Issues Faced by Communists in India:
➢ Incompatibility of Marxist Literature: Marxist literature was deemed contrary to Asian conditions,
and the Communist Party of India struggled to make necessary amendments.
➢ Russian Influence: The Communist Party's commitment was guided by the Russian Communist Party,
hindering its alignment with Indian nationalism.
➢ Lack of Strong Leadership: Unlike Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh and China's Mao Zedong, India lacked
strong Communist leadership. The Communist Party faced more capable leadership under Gandhi.
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Other Major Parties

❖ The Radical Democratic Party: M.N. Rai formed this party in 1940 after being disillusioned with
Marxism.
❖ Indian Bolshevik Leninist Party: Indrasen and Ajit Rai formed this party in Bengal in 1941 with the
cooperation of the socialist parties of Sri Lanka and Burma.
Peasant Movements in India (In 20th Century)
❖ Eka Movement (1921)
➢ Area: Awadh, Uttar Pradesh
➢ Leader: Madari Pasi
➢ Other Figures: Fiji-returned indentured labourer Baba Ramachandra
➢ Reason for the Revolt: Spanish flu, six years of drought, price rise, and a shortage of food, grains, and
fuel. Issues included charging higher than recorded rent, non-distribution of rent receipts, and
imposition of additional and arbitrary cesses.
❖ Mappila Revolt (1921)
➢ Area: Malabar region, Kerala
➢ Reason for the Revolt:
✓ Exploitation by Nambudiri Brahmin landlords. The rebellion started as an anti-government and
anti-landlord affair but acquired communal colours.
✓ Grievances centred around lack of security of tenure, high rents, renewal fees, and other
oppressive exactions. The Moplah movement merged with the ongoing Khilafat agitation.
❖ Bardoli Satyagraha (1928)
➢ Area: Gujarat
➢ Leader: Vallabhbhai Patel
➢ Reason for the Revolt: Against a 22% tax hike by the Bombay Presidency amid famine and flood.
➢ Vallabhbhai Patel emerged as a national leader, given the moniker "Sardar" by participating women.
➢ The government appointed the Maxwell-Broomfield Commission, which found that the tax raise
should be just 6.03%.
❖ All India Kisan Sabha (1936)
➢ Formed at: Indian National Congress (INC) Lucknow Session
➢ Founders: Swami Sahajananda Saraswati, N.G. Ranga
➢ Objectives:
✓ Representing peasants, agricultural and other rural labourers.
✓ Aiming to abolish landlordism and distribute land free of cost to agricultural and other rural
labourers.
✓ Improving the standard of living of rural masses and developing agriculture and industry.
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❖ Tebhaga Movement (1946-47)

➢ Area: Bengal
➢ Organised by: Communist cadres of the Bengal Provincial Krishak Sabha
➢ Demand: The sharecroppers' movement demanded two-thirds of the land's produce for themselves
and one-third for landlords.
❖ Other Key Kisan Sabhas
➢ Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha - Founded in 1929 by Sahajanand Saraswati.
➢ UP Kisan Sabha - Founded in 1918 by Gauri Shankar Mishra and Indra Narayan Dwivedi, supported
by Madan Mohan Malaviya.
➢ Awadh Kisan Sabha - Founded in 1920 by Baba Ramachandra.
Integration of Princely States
❖ Post-Revolt of 1857 Indian territory was broadly divided into British India and princely states.
❖ The British tried to impose sovereignty and paramountcy over princely states.
❖ Royal Titles Act 1876 was enacted, with the British queen taking the title of Empress of India (Kaiser-i-
Hind).
❖ In 1920 when Gandhi launched the Non-Cooperation Movement, rulers of princely states asked him to
integrate the national movement with princely states.
❖ Gandhiji refused due to lower political awareness among the masses of princely states.
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❖ But firstly in the Nagpur session, congress demanded the formation of responsible government in the
princely states.
❖ At the same time Britshers decided to bring all the rulers of princely states on one platform against the
national movement and established ‘Chamber of Princes’ (Narendra Mandal) in 1921, whereby native
rulers could discuss their common problems.
❖ Leaders of princely states established the Prajamandal Movement to promote democratic rights ,
nationalistic sentiments.
❖ In 1927, leaders of princely states established the All India States Peoples Conference.
❖ In the Lahore Session of 1929,Nehru passed the resolution demanding freedom and emancipation of
princely states along with British India.
❖ Butler Committee recommended that sovereignty of princely states be transferred to the British only
with prior consent of native rulers.
❖ All such developments convinced the princely states leaders and people to move away from british and be
involved in national movement.This shift was clear in All india state people's conference’s Ludhiana
session of 1939 presided by Nehru.It indicated the integration of National movement in princely states as
seen in Quit India movement.

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UPPSC 2025
Modern History DMP–35

Princely States – Practice Questions

1. Discuss the significant peasant movements in India during the 20th century.
(08 Marks, 125 Words)
How to approach the question:
❖ Introduction: Start the answer by mentioning the crucial role of peasant movements in 20 to 30 words.
❖ Main Body: Discuss in detail the major peasant movements in 70-80 words.
❖ Conclusion: Write a conclusion in 20 to 30 words highlighting the significance of peasant
movements.
Answer:
Introduction
Peasant movements in India played a crucial role in mobilising rural masses against colonial oppression and
local exploitation. The 20th century witnessed several significant peasant uprisings that highlighted the
grievances of peasants and their demand for economic and social justice.
Main Body
Major Peasant Movements of 20th century:
❖ Eka Movement (1921): Took place in Awadh, Uttar Pradesh, led by Madari Pasi and Baba
Ramachandra. It addressed issues like charging higher than recorded rent, non-distribution of rent
receipts, and arbitrary cesses amidst Spanish flu, drought, and price rises.
❖ Mappila Revolt (1921): Occurred in the Malabar region of Kerala due to the exploitation by Nambudiri
Brahmin landlords. It began as an anti-government and anti-landlord affair but later acquired communal
colors and merged with the Khilafat agitation.
❖ Bardoli Satyagraha (1928): Led by Vallabhbhai Patel in Gujarat against a 22% tax hike by the Bombay
Presidency amid famine and flood. Patel emerged as a national leader, and the movement succeeded in
reducing the tax hike to 6.03%.
❖ All India Kisan Sabha (1936): Formed at the Indian National Congress Lucknow Session by Swami
Sahajananda Saraswati and N.G. Ranga. Aimed to represent peasants and rural labourers, abolish
landlordism, and improve the living standards of rural masses.
❖ Tebhaga Movement (1946-47): Organised by Communist cadres in Bengal, demanding two-thirds of
the land's produce for sharecroppers and one-third for landlords. It was a significant sharecroppers'
movement.
❖ Other Key Kisan Sabhas: Included the Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha founded by Sahajanand Saraswati
in 1929, the UP Kisan Sabha founded by Gauri Shankar Mishra and Indra Narayan Dwivedi in 1918,
and the Awadh Kisan Sabha founded by Baba Ramachandra in 1920.
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Conclusion
The peasant movements in the 20th century were instrumental in addressing the grievances of the rural
population and asserting their rights. These uprisings not only aimed at economic relief but also fostered a
sense of unity and resistance against colonial rule.
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