Samipya 1991 Vol 08 Ank 01 02

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

Page 80

and Rajdroh. Both Gandhi and Vallabhbhai Patel had no objection in their gymna stic activities. On the contrary, they found it supportive.8
Hence the rich and middle class peasants were aligned with Congress and Vyāyām Pracharak Organization.
The third group was the ginger group of socialists developed within the Congress. It was a group of enthusiastic youths of high castes. They were disillusioned by moderate reformist tacties of the rightwing. They founded Gujarat Socialist Party in 1933. The prominent among them were Indulal Yagnik (1892-1972), a nagar Brahmin from Nadiad and a doyen of Home Rule League movement in 1916 in Gujarat; Dinkar Mehta (1907-88), Anavil Brahmin from Surat belonging to teaching profession; Jayanti Thakore (1913-1981). Brahmakshatriya from Ahmedabad, popularly known as Shaher Suba-the head of the city; Amritlal Sheth, Bombay-based Vaniya providing financial support to all these activities. They started a journal Navi Duniya which became a powerful organ to propagate socialist ideology. They were in link with leading socialists like Achyut Patwardhan of Maharashtra; Sahajanand Saraswati, a peasant leader from Bihar; and Professor N. J. Ranga, a pioneer labour leader of Andhra. They incurred displeasure of Vallabhbhai Patel and hard core congressmen.10
Indulal Yagnik, on his return from Europe in 1930 founded Kisan Sabha almost on the line of Kisan Sabha, the parent organization in U.P. Soon he secured the support of the leftists like Dr. Sumant Mehta of Baroda and Kakalbhai Kothari of Kathiawar. Kisan Sabha provided a platform to the downtrodden peasantry. The Rabaris and Thakardas, the shepherd community of north Gujarat; the Baraiyas, Patanwadias, Kolis and Bhils of central Gujarat and bulk of Adivasis of South Gujarat came under its sway. To ventilate their grievances Yagnik started in 1934 Khedut Patrika. It championed their demands for lower rent, lands to the tillers, abolition of Jamindari, and end of forced labour. They justified violence against exploiters.11
On the eve of the general election in 1937, Kisan Sabha became very active. It prepared Peasant manifesto asking for radical change and new agrarian policy favourable to poor peasants. The abolition of Jamindari, end of forced labour, eradication of land debts, only one fourth of landrevenue out of total produce constituted the main plank in the manifesto,12
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Congress secured all 19 general seats and 3 out of 5 special seats in Gujarat. It was a landslide victory. Kisan Sabha expected congress to fulfill their demands but much to their dismay. Once again Congress proved to be the organization of the rich peasantry. It incorporated minimum demands of Kisan manifesto viz.; reduction in revenue and rent, end of forced labour, recognition of peasant unions
etc. 13
[Sampуa: April, '91-March, 1992