Kisan March in Pratapgarh District (1920) Explained

The first major Kisan March, a significant event in the history of peasant movements in India, took place in the Pratapgarh District of Uttar Pradesh in the year 1920. This march was a crucial step in the consolidation of peasant resistance against oppressive landlord practices and unfair agricultural policies during the era of the Indian independence movement.

Role of Jawaharlal Nehru

The organization and leadership of this historic Kisan March were primarily spearheaded by Jawaharlal Nehru. He was a prominent leader in the Indian National Congress and actively involved in mobilising farmers and addressing their grievances.

• Jawaharlal Nehru, along with other Congress leaders, visited Pratapgarh to support the ongoing peasant agitation.
• He worked towards uniting the farmers and articulating their demands, which often included issues like high rents, illegal levies, and the exploitation by landlords (talukdars).
• The Pratapgarh Kisan March was part of a larger awakening among the peasantry, influenced by the Non-Cooperation Movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi.
• Nehru's involvement helped bring national attention to the plight of the farmers in Uttar Pradesh and strengthened the connection between the peasant struggle and the broader national freedom movement.

Significance of the Kisan March

The 1920 Kisan March in Pratapgarh highlighted the growing political consciousness among the rural population and their willingness to participate in collective action. It demonstrated the power of organised peasant resistance and laid the groundwork for future agricultural reforms and movements.