Understanding the Oudh Kisan Sabha

The question asks about the formation year of the Oudh Kisan Sabha. This organization played a significant role in the peasant movements that took place in the Awadh (Oudh) region of India during the early 20th century.

Origins and Formation of Oudh Kisan Sabha

The Oudh Kisan Sabha was a peasant organization that emerged in response to the grievances of farmers in the Awadh region. These grievances included high rents, illegal cesses (taxes), arbitrary evictions by landlords (talukdars), and forced labour (begar).

Peasant discontent in Awadh intensified around 1918-1919. Initially, local kisan sabhas (peasant societies) were formed in various villages. These village-level organizations were often linked to the Kisan Sabha organized by Gauri Shankar Mishra, Indra Narayan Dwivedi, and supported by Jawaharlal Nehru.

However, due to differences among the leaders and a desire for a more centralized and effective organization focusing specifically on Oudh's peasant issues, the Oudh Kisan Sabha was set up. This crucial step towards organizing the peasants on a larger scale occurred in a specific year that marked a turning point in the peasant struggle in the region.

Identifying the Correct Formation Year

Historical records indicate that the Oudh Kisan Sabha was established in October 1920. Key figures like Baba Ramchandra, a sanyasi who had previously worked as an indentured labourer in Fiji, became a prominent leader of the movement in Awadh, organizing peasants and leading agitations against the oppressive landlord system. The formation of the Oudh Kisan Sabha consolidated these efforts and provided a platform for voicing the demands of the Oudh peasantry.

Let's look at the options provided:

• 1930: This year is too late for the initial formation of the Oudh Kisan Sabha, although peasant movements continued.
• 1925: This year is also later than the actual formation year.
• 1920: This year aligns with the historical establishment of the Oudh Kisan Sabha.
• 1928: This year is later than the formation of the organization.

Therefore, based on historical facts, the Oudh Kisan Sabha was set up in 1920.

Significance of the Oudh Kisan Sabha

The formation of the Oudh Kisan Sabha in 1920 was a significant event because it:

• Unified scattered peasant movements in Awadh under one umbrella.
• Provided a formal structure for peasant demands and protests.
• Played a role in mobilizing peasants for larger national movements, although it primarily focused on local agrarian issues.
• Brought prominent leaders like Baba Ramchandra to the forefront of the peasant struggle.

Revision Table: Oudh Kisan Sabha Facts

Additional Information: Peasant Movements in India

Peasant movements were a crucial part of India's struggle for independence and social reform. They often arose from economic exploitation, agrarian distress, and opposition to colonial policies or oppressive landlord practices. Some other notable peasant movements include:

• Champaran Satyagraha (1917): Led by Mahatma Gandhi against the indigo planters' exploitative practices in Bihar.
• Kheda Satyagraha (1918): Led by Gandhi in Gujarat against high taxes during a famine.
• Mappila Rebellion (1921): A peasant uprising in Kerala, primarily against landlords and the British.
• Bardoli Satyagraha (1928): Led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel against arbitrary tax increases in Gujarat.

These movements, including the one organized through the Oudh Kisan Sabha, highlight the deep-seated agrarian issues that existed during the colonial period and the efforts of farmers and leaders to challenge the oppressive systems.