What was the reason for Mahatma Gandhi to organize a satyagraha on behalf of the peasants of Kheda? 1. The Administration did not suspend the land revenue collection in spite of a drought. 2. The Administration proposed to introduce Permanent Settlement in Gujarat. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Contents18
- A1 only
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (A) 1 only
Statement 1 is CORRECT:
The Kheda Satyagraha (1918) happened because crops failed due to drought/plague in the Kheda district of Gujarat, but the British administration REFUSED to suspend or reduce land revenue collection.
Peasants couldn't pay because their crops had failed.
Gandhi organized them to refuse payment until the government showed leniency.
Statement 2 is WRONG:
The British never proposed introducing Permanent Settlement in Gujarat.
The Permanent Settlement was specific to Bengal (1793, by Lord Cornwallis) and was never extended to Gujarat.
Kheda had the Ryotwari system.
This is a factually incorrect distractor.
Timeline to remember:
- Champaran (1917, Bihar, indigo farmers)
- Kheda (1918, Gujarat, revenue issue)
- Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918, Gujarat, wages)
— these were Gandhi's first three satyagrahas in India.
The Kheda Satyagraha of 1918 was Gandhi's second major movement in India, focused on land revenue relief during crop failure caused by drought and plague.
UPSC is testing whether students can distinguish between different colonial land revenue systems - Permanent Settlement was only in Bengal, while Gujarat had Ryotwari system.
Kheda Satyagraha 1918
Modern Indian History Kheda satyagraha peasants land revenue
Kheda Satyagraha 1918: Gandhi's Second Major Movement in India
Kheda Satyagraha (1918) - Gandhi's second major movement in India after Champaran
Cause: British refused to suspend land revenue despite crop failure due to drought
Location: Kheda district, Gujarat under Ryotwari system
Method: Refusal to pay revenue until government showed leniency
Background Context
The Kheda Satyagraha of 1918 was Gandhi's second major movement in India, occurring in Kheda district of Gujarat. Crops failed due to drought and plague, but the British administration refused to provide relief by suspending revenue collection.
Key Details
Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
Year | 1918 |
Location | Kheda district, Gujarat |
Immediate Cause | Crop failure due to drought and plague |
Government Response | Refused to suspend land revenue collection |
Peasants' Condition | Unable to pay revenue due to no crops/income |
Gandhi's Strategy | Organized refusal to pay revenue until relief |
Land System | Ryotwari system (peasants owned land, paid directly to government) |
Sequence of Events
%%{init: {"flowchart": {"wrappingWidth": 460}}}%%
flowchart TD
s1["`**Crop Failure**
Drought and plague destroy crops in Kheda district`"]
s2["`**Revenue Demand**
British administration continues demanding full land revenue`"]
s3["`**Peasant Appeal**
Peasants request suspension/reduction of revenue collection`"]
s4["`**Government Refusal**
Administration refuses to provide any relief or concessions`"]
s5["`**Gandhi's Intervention**
Gandhi organizes satyagraha - refusal to pay revenue`"]
s6["`**Mass Movement**
Peasants unite in non-payment until government shows leniency`"]
s1 --> s2
s2 --> s3
s3 --> s4
s4 --> s5
s5 --> s6Question Connection
Statement 1 is correct - the administration did not suspend land revenue despite drought. Statement 2 is wrong - Permanent Settlement was never proposed for Gujarat (it was specific to Bengal, 1793).
Trap: Confusing Permanent Settlement (Bengal 1793) with Kheda's Ryotwari system
Trap: Mixing up Gandhi's early movements - Champaran (1917, indigo) vs Kheda (1918, revenue)
Trap: Assuming all revenue-related movements involved Permanent Settlement introduction
Gandhi's First Three Satyagrahas
Modern Indian History satyagraha Gandhi
Gandhi's First Three Satyagrahas in India (1917-1918)
Champaran (1917) - Bihar, indigo farmers vs European planters
Kheda (1918) - Gujarat, peasants vs revenue collection during drought
Ahmedabad Mill Strike (1918) - Gujarat, workers vs mill owners for wages
These established Gandhi's satyagraha method in Indian context
Significance
These three movements established Gandhi as a leader in India and proved the effectiveness of satyagraha (truth-force) as a method of resistance. Each targeted a different social group and economic issue.
Comparative Analysis
Movement | Year | Location | Issue | Target Group | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Champaran | 1917 | Bihar | Indigo cultivation | Peasants | European planters |
Kheda | 1918 | Gujarat | Land revenue | Peasants | British administration |
Ahmedabad Mill Strike | 1918 | Gujarat | Workers' wages | Mill workers | Indian mill owners |
Key Outcomes
Champaran: Abolished the oppressive tinkathia system of forced indigo cultivation
Kheda: Government eventually agreed to suspend revenue collection for the poorest peasants
Ahmedabad: Workers got a 35% wage increase through negotiated settlement
All three established Gandhi's reputation as champion of the oppressed
Trap: Mixing up the chronology - Champaran came first (1917), then Kheda and Ahmedabad (both 1918)
Trap: Confusing issues - indigo (Champaran) vs revenue (Kheda) vs wages (Ahmedabad)
Trap: Location confusion - Champaran in Bihar, others in Gujarat
Permanent Settlement System
Modern Indian History Permanent Settlement
Permanent Settlement System: Bengal's Zamindari Revenue System (1793)
Permanent Settlement (1793) - Lord Cornwallis's land revenue system in Bengal
Created hereditary zamindars as revenue collectors and landowners
Fixed revenue amount - could never be increased by government
Limited to Bengal, Bihar, Orissa - never extended to Gujarat or other regions
Historical Context
Lord Cornwallis introduced Permanent Settlement in 1793 in Bengal to create a stable revenue system. It made zamindars permanent landowners in exchange for fixed annual revenue to the British government.
Key Features & Impact
Aspect | Details | Impact |
|---|---|---|
Revenue Amount | Fixed permanently, never to be increased | Government lost potential extra revenue |
Zamindars' Role | Became hereditary landowners with property rights | Created loyal class supporting British rule |
Peasants' Status | Became tenants with no ownership rights | Exploitation by zamindars increased |
Geographic Scope | Only Bengal, Bihar, Orissa | Other regions got Ryotwari/Mahalwari systems |
Why Not in Gujarat
Gujarat had the Ryotwari system where peasants directly owned land and paid revenue to the government. The British never proposed extending Permanent Settlement to Gujarat or other western regions.
Trap: Assuming Permanent Settlement applied everywhere - it was only in Bengal region
Trap: Confusing with Ryotwari system used in Gujarat, Bombay, Madras
Trap: Mixing up governors - Cornwallis (Permanent) vs Munro (Ryotwari)
British Land Revenue Systems
Modern Indian History
British Land Revenue Systems in India: Three Major Types
Three systems: Permanent Settlement, Ryotwari, and Mahalwari
Permanent Settlement - Bengal, fixed revenue, zamindars as intermediaries
Ryotwari - South & West India, direct peasant-government relationship
Mahalwari - North India, village-level collective responsibility
Overview
The British implemented three different land revenue systems across India based on local conditions and administrative convenience. Each system had different implications for landowners, peasants, and revenue collection.
Comparative Analysis
System | Introduced By | Year | Regions | Revenue Payer | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Permanent Settlement | Lord Cornwallis | 1793 | Bengal, Bihar, Orissa | Zamindars | Fixed revenue forever |
Ryotwari | Thomas Munro | 1820s | Madras, Bombay, Gujarat | Individual peasants | Direct ownership |
Mahalwari | Holt Mackenzie | 1833 | Punjab, UP, Central India | Village community | Collective responsibility |
Geographic Distribution
Source: GeeksforGeeks — Ryotwari and Mahalwari Systems - GeeksforGeeks · www.geeksforgeeks.org
System Characteristics
Permanent Settlement: Created hereditary landlord class, peasants became tenants
Ryotwari: Peasants got direct land ownership, no intermediaries like zamindars
Mahalwari: Village headman collected revenue from all villagers collectively
Revenue rates: Permanent (fixed), Ryotwari (variable), Mahalwari (periodically revised)
Trap: Assuming one system applied everywhere - each had specific geographic regions
Trap: Confusing Gujarat (Ryotwari) with Bengal (Permanent Settlement)
Trap: Mixing up administrators - Cornwallis, Munro, Mackenzie introduced different systems