Question
Give an idea about the peasant movement during the Anti-Partition of Bengal movement.
Answer
During the Anti-Partition of Bengal movement, a new type of peasant rebellion emerged, which was aimed at solving the problems faced by the peasants and safeguarding their interests. The Swadesh Bandhab Samity, formed by Aswini Kumar Dutta, played a significant role in addressing the issues faced by the peasants. However, the farmers’ rebellion took on a communal character, and the government labelled it communal unrest to investigate the rebelling farmers. The farmers protested against the landlords and moneylenders, tearing off the loan agreement papers of Hindu moneylenders. The farmers’ unrest took the form of communal riots in Komilla and Mymensingh during 1906-07. The British took advantage of the helplessness of the poor Muslim peasants, as described by Rabindranath Tagore in his novel ‘Ghare Baire’. Similar predicaments were faced by the farmers of Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh, where 936 farmers were ousted from their lands.
