Book Title: Samipya 2008 Vol 25 Ank 03 04
Author(s): R T Savalia
Publisher: Bholabhai Jeshingbhai Adhyayan Sanshodhan Vidyabhavan

View full book text
Previous | Next

Page 80
________________ Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra www.kobatirth.org Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir The heavy taxation of the state of Malia-Miyana added fuel to the fire. Particularly the people of Khakhrechi village under this state were awakened by the constructive activities of the local leader, Maganlal Panachand Vora, who had stayed with Gandhiji in Sabarmati Ashram of Ahmedabad for some years, 13 The ruler of Malia had imposed the following taxes : 1. When the ruler visits the village, free supply of milk. 2. Free supply of grass for the horses of the Prince. 3. Firewood to be supplied free for cooking. 4. Bedding and cushions to be supplied free. 5. People should join as 'begar' for supplying bricks, lime, stones, and carts for building the royal palace. The peasants should give their cotton to be pressed in the cottonj in prescribed by the state at prescribed rates.' After the death of a land-holder, for transferring it to his inheritor, a tax called "Sakar" (Sugar) to be given. 8. If a person wants to have more doors or windows in his house, he was to pay "Hava-vero" (Air tax), of Rs. five. Intolerable taxation was much on the produce of agriculture that it come to 70 to 75 percent. 14 As a result the peasant folk of khakhrechi staged a satyagraha. The eighteen leaders of the peasants were selected by the people. They were compared to the eighteen Adyayas of Gita. Gandhiji also supported this movement. It brought a new spirit among the local people.15 This satyagraha had the best wishes of Sardar Patel, Thakkar Bapa etc. Kathiawad Satyagraha Dal also joined the movement. Many volunteers, including some women came from wadhwan to help and participate in the movement. Taking into consideration the seriousness of Satyagraha, the British Agency forced the state to come to a compromise with the satyagrahis. Ultimately due to the support of the national leaders, firm decision of the volunteers and pressure of the British Agency, the Malia state had a compromise on 22nd January 1930 16 and the ruler Raysinhji Jadeja was forced to abdicate the throne in favour of his grandson, Harishchandrasinhji. This was the first Satyagraha in the peoples movement in the princely, states of Saurashtra. Gandhiji reacted to it by saying that the courage shown by the peasants of this small state was praiseworthy."? As this was the immediate result of Bardoli Satyagraha, it was called by "Saurashtra" weekly, as “Bardoli of Kathiawad". Moreover it played an important role for preparing the people of Saurashtra to participate in the Salt Satyagrahas to be staged as a part of Civil Disobedience Movement. Hence, it is called the rehearral of the salt satyagrahas of Dholera and Viramgam.” 18 Thus, this success enthused in the people the sense of self-confidence to protest against the injustice. As a result the people from all over Saurashtra, participated with enthusiasm in the salt satyagrahas of Viramgam and Dholera in 1930. The atrocities done by the police was not The Peasant's Participation in Freedom Struggle in Saurashtra 77 For Private and Personal Use Only

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164