Samipya 1991 Vol 08 Ank 01 02

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

Page 83

to sack police stations and post offices should not be considered acts of violence. The symbols of tyrannical rule must be smashed'.24
The movement in the month or August which started with hartals, strikes, demonstration and processions began to be violent by October 1942. The districts of Mehsana and Ahmedabad in north Gujarat, Kheda, Broach and Baroda state in Central Gujarat, Surat, Valsad, Jalalpore taluko in South Gujarat were the strongholds of the movement. It lasted for eight months upto March 1943. The rich and middle class peasant youths, urban well as rural based carried out the sabotage activities alongwith students.25
The landholder Khatedars wholeheartedly supported the Quit India movement because the no revenue campaign was not the main plank of 1942 movement. The Congress did not insist it also since land revenue collection was to fall in the month of December and January. The peasants had suffered a lot in 1920s and 30s because of no tax campaign. They had lost their lands. In 1942, the government was equally not desireous of land confiscation knowing that Congress ministry would return them. In Gujarat the high caste peasants played significant role in alliance with Congress in 1942 which gave effective blow to the British authority.26
There was regional variation in the class support to the movement. The lower peasantry barring few instances did not join the higher rungs. The movement took a different turn for lower sections. It resulted into a class war. They attacked their well entrenched exploitative machinery set by Government officials, Patidar, Anavil, Vaniya landholders and moneylenders and Parsi- liquor sellers.
In north Gujarat in the Mehsana district of Baroda state the Rabaris and Shakardas condemned the decision of Praja Mandal support?ng Quit India movement. They passed resolution in favour of their ruler Haikwar who was pro-British.27
In central Gujarat in the Kheda district the low caste Baraiyas and Patanwadias completely showed independent nuclue of their power. They were sore of Congress policy. At the time of Civil Disobedience movement the confiscated lands of Patidars and Anavils were purchased by the Baraiyas and Patanwadias at throw-way prices from the Government. When the Congress framed the ministry in 1938, the lands were returned to the original holders by law. As a result they formed a Kshatriya Association claiming high Kshatriya status as a rival to Patidar dominated Kheda district Congress. They also linked with Kisan Sabha and remained aloot from the participation in the 1942 movement.28
Ia South Gujarat, in the predominantly Adivasi dominated talukas of Mahuva, Valod, Vyara, Songadh and Mandvi some adivasis under the influence of Kisan Sabha attacked Government officers Patels the village head men, looted Vaniya the moneylenders and Parsi-liquor sellers' shops, burned their records hoping to be free from debts.29
Peasant's Assertion in Gujarat and Quit India Movement of 1942]
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