KHEDA SATYAGRAHA ARTICLE

In wake of the Britishers’ rising odious demands and laws, not one section of
our society had been left unscathed, their latest conquest being the exploitation
of the Kheda peasantry.
Not long ago, in the Kheda district located in central Gujarat, the British
bureaucracy had increased the land revenue by 23%. Additionally, the condition
of famine, as well as the outbreak of the plague and cholera, had taken around
17,000 lives as well as destroyed the agrarian economy of the region. The British’s
expectations of payment of increased taxes by the farmers, in such a time of
crisis, were unjust and outrageous. Despite the myriads of petitions and
telegrams submitted by the peasantry requesting for the suspension of the
revenue assessment for the year, the British were adamant to receive their taxes.
At this point, the peasants were exhorted by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
to resort to ‘satyagraha’. ‘Satyagraha’ is Gandhi’s policy of truthful and non-
violent resistance, which advocates suffering willingly while refusing to submit to
what is wrong. The peasants’ revolt against payment of revenue was led by
Gandhi, who had also headed the Champaran revolt and the mill workers' strike in
Ahmedabad recently. Assisted by stalwarts like Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Indulal
Yagnik, Shankarlal Banker and Mahadev Desai, he travelled across the countryside
to raise awareness about the rights of the farmers.
Predictably, the non-payment of taxes incurred the British government’s
wrath and led the government officials to auction off the peasants’ cattle,
confiscate their houses, and take away their agrarian property. The farmers did
not resist nor retaliate with violence to the force employed, but instead donated
all their cash and valuables to the Gujarat Sabha, which was officially organizing
the protest. The government finally succumbed to the farmers’ wishes and
fostered an honourable agreement for both parties. The revenue for this year and
the next would be suspended, increase in rate reduced, and all confiscated land
returned.
This protest was witness to an outstanding display of unity and discipline. Not
only did it resolve the farmers’ crisis, but also brought a new awakening among
the peasantry. They realized that if they wanted true freedom from exploitation
and injustice, they would have to win back their independence at all costs. It
changed their perspective of the bureaucracy from that of a well-wisher to a self-
serving oppressor. Their faith in Gandhi rose tremendously and they chose
Gandhi’s path of ‘satyagraha’ as their ticket to freedom. The match of nationalism
had been lit.