Deccan Uprising 1875

Deccan Uprising 1875

2020-04-27 15:11:23

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![[Drawing 2022-09-13 17.48.18 Deccan Uprising.excalidraw |400]]

• Deccan Agrarian Outbreak in Poona and Ahmednagar (1875) :
• Deccan Riots occured after the Gov decided to raise land revenue by 50% in 1867 after the end of American Civil War.
• Social boycott against moneylenders ended with the passing of the Deccan Agriculturist Relief Act in 1879.
• Poona, Ahmednagar, Sholapur and Satara.

Background

• Ryotwari system was prevalent here, Peasants found it impossible to give revenue without the lending money from Moneylenders.
• American Civil War had pushed up demand and prices when it ended it brought recession. Govt inc. revenue demand by 50%, situation became worst by succession of bad harvest.
• started in Kardab village in Sirur taluq against the pulling down of the house of a peasant by the local moneylender.
• resorted to social boycott.
• Spread to Poona, Ahmednagar, Sholapur and Satara.
• soon turned into agrarian ryots, attacked the houses of moneylenders, burnt debt bonds and deeds and other documents.
• very little violence was more a demonstration of popular feeling of strength and unity.
• Colonial regime passed the Deccan Agriculturist Relief Act of 1879.
• Poona Sarvajanik Sabha led by Justice Ranade organised successful campaign among the peasants and supported the DAR bill.

Revolt and Analysis

• The interest on loans were 25-50%
• Introduction of the Ryotwari system led to the disruption of traditional system of tax collection.
• New laws and courts polarised the difference between the Vanis who were village moneylenders and Kunbis or the cultivators.
• Along with the increase in the population, dislocation of the economy, enhancing of rents by the administrators.
• Deccan uprising against moneylenders and grain dealers.
• Account papers/bahi khatas, bonds, grains, country cloth, house of moneylenders were burnt.
• Sahukars were both moneylenders and traders

Views

• David Hardiman : peasants incorporated their uprising into a long tradition of revolt in Maha.
• Ravinder Kumar : cause was redistribution of social power in villages
• Ian catanach : land transfers were not amin reason
• Neil Charlesworth : completely dismisses land transfer as factor only 5 % cultivable land passed to Marwaris
• Charlesworth : inc rates not the reason as Ahmadnagar most affected did not face tax revision

• 1867 gov inc rev rates
• Kunbi were peasants
• Poona Sarvajanik Sabha’s report : Bombay gov giving major consessions sell movable property then land etc - moneylenders not giving loans insufficient collateral
• Other factors - end of Am civil war, ill conceived tax revision, Kunbis vs sahukars