"The impoverishment of the Indian peasantry was a consequence of the transformation of the agrarian structure". In the context of this statement, analyze the nature and the extent of the peasant movements in pre-independence period.

a) Colonial exploitative land tenure policies of Zamindari System.

b) Ruin of handicrafts leading to pressure on land.

c) De-industrialization by flooding of Indian markets by cheap colonial imports.

d) Colonial economic policies of 'economy drain'.

e) Colonial repressive judicial system and overemphasis on cash crops.

Thus peasants suffered forced evictions, moneylenders' exploitation, unpaid labour etc.

The peasants, from owner of land were reduced to be mere tenants, sharecroppers and landless labourers because Britishers made land a private ownership. This realization of exploitation led to social movements. Nature of these movements -

i) Their demand were on economic lines than on nationalist.

ii) Peasants took help of legal recourse.

iii) These were short lived as there was no theory in these movements.

iv) It were limited in its objectives.

v) After 1900, these struggles merged with freedom struggle like Champaran, Bardoli Movement etc. then they acquired better results.

vi) They educated people about the economic cruelty of colonisers. Indigo Movement (1860) is a case in point.

Examples

i) Kisan Sabha Movement in Awadh against high rents, bedakhali.

ii) Eka Movement in UP against high rents, evictions.

iii) Mapilla revolts in Kerala, which unfortunately got entangled in communal angle.

iv) Telangana Movement against Razakars who exploited peasants.

v) Champaran, Bardoli Satyagraha.