Samipya 1991 Vol 08 Ank 01 02

Author(s): Pravinchandra C Parikh, Bhartiben Shelat
Publisher: Bholabhai Jeshingbhai Adhyayan Sanshodhan Vidyabhavan

Page 79

Most of the cultivator-landholders and tenants belonged to the high castes of Patidars, Anavil Brahmins, Brahmins, Vaniyas, Rajputs, Parsis, Muslims, Sheikhs and Vobras. The lower sections belonged to the castes of Baraiyas, Patanvadiyas, Kolis, Ghanchies, Thakardas and bulk of tribal population called adivasis such as Bhils, Dublas, Dhondiyas, Gamits, Chodhras, Naikdas ets. Though agriculture provided livelyhood at subsistence level but since, agriculture was a familial activity and immigration to South Africa, Mauritus, Burma was much common among high caste peasants, they were economically better. They equally enjoyed high social status. The socio-economic structures conicided with each other. The Bhakti movementa kind of socio-religious reform movement spread during early decades of the twentieth century. Introduction of education and Gandhian constructive programme led awareness among lower strata. The members of the low caste experienced collective social consciousness during 1930 and the 40s.
The nature and intensity of the peasants participation in 1942 movement was entirely in consonance with their identification with the prevalent ideologies and organizations. The Congress was the most pervading organization and deeply rooted. The hold of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee GPCC was complete. Gandhi and Vallabhbhai Patel were its sole leaders. It had led notable peasant movements like Kheda (1918), Bardoli(1920-28), Borsad and Ras(1922-23) as well as non-cooperatoin movement and Dandi March. It had created a band of local leaders, workers and volunteers and developed organizational network throughout Gujarat. The Congress became the forum of well to-do peasantry whose hit target was British Government due to its Draconian land revenue policy and land laws.5 After 1923, the Congress through Gandhian constructive programme and Ashram organizations did try to bring the tribal population within its fold but with little success.
The other group which was important for the event of 1942 was the Gujarat Vyāyām Pracharak Mandal. Its leader, Chhotubhai Purani, a Brahmin of Broach district (1885-1950) was a science graduate from the Bombay University, connected with nationalist-terrorist organizations in his young days. He was making bombs. Later on, he joined congress but had no faith in Gandhian technique of non violence. He, together with his younger brother Ambubhai and a friend Chandrashanker Bhatt, founded a network of gymnasiums all over Gujarat.7 He gathered youths, gave them revolutionary methods of guerilla warfare, making of bombs and carrying of Sabotage activities. "Use your brain and body to combat British imperialism" was his lesson to his students. These boys mostly belonged to high castes of Brahmins, Patidars, Anavils, Rajputs and Vaniyas. Their parents who happened to be peasants had adopted Gandhian method to seek redressal of their grievances against the British Government. But the younger generation started taking revolutionary training furing 1940s. To advocate revolutionary ideologies they published magazines entitled Inquilab
Peasant's Assertion in Gujarat and Quit India Movement of 1942]
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