The Bardoli Satyagraha was a peasant movement and nationalist protest in India. It was a protest against the increased taxes imposed on farmers by the colonial government, specifically demanding the rollback of a 22% tax hike in the Bombay Presidency. The movement began on February 12, 1928, and concluded successfully in August of the same year. It was ultimately led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and its success established him as one of the key leaders of the Indian independence movement.
Background of the Bardoli Satyagraha
In 1926, the Bardoli taluk in Surat district of Gujarat was facing an economic crisis. That year, the Bombay Presidency government increased the tax rate by 30%. Despite appeals from local groups, the government refused to roll back the tax increase and ignored the people's grievances. The farmers' situation was so dire that they barely had enough property and crops left to pay the taxes, let alone support their families.
Exploring Options for the Bardoli Satyagraha
Gujarati activists Narhari Parikh, Ravishankar Vyas, and Mohanlal Pandya met with village leaders and farmers, seeking support from Vallabhbhai Patel, one of Gujarat's most prominent freedom fighters. Patel had led the peasants of Gujarat during the Kheda Satyagraha and had recently served as the mayor of Ahmedabad. He was held in high esteem by the people of the state.
Patel told a delegation of farmers that they should fully understand the implications of rebellion. He would not lead them until there was consensus and understanding across all the villages. Failure to pay taxes could result in the confiscation of their property, including their land, and many could be sent to jail. They could face total ruin. The villagers replied that they were prepared for even the worst outcome, but they could not tolerate the government's unjust actions.
Patel then asked Gandhi to consider the matter, but Gandhi only sought Patel's opinion, and when Patel outlined the way forward with complete confidence, he gave his blessing. However, Gandhi and Patel agreed that neither the Congress nor Gandhi would be directly involved; the movement would be entirely in the hands of the people of Bardoli Taluk.
Bardoli Satyagraha Movement
On February 6, Patel first wrote a letter to the Governor of Bombay, requesting a reduction in the tax for that year, given the hardships faced by the people. However, the Governor ignored the letter and announced the date for tax collection.
Thereafter, Patel instructed all the farmers of the Bardoli taluk to refuse to pay the tax. With the help of Narhari Parikh, Ravishankar Vyas, and Mohanlal Pandya, he divided Bardoli into several zones, appointing a leader and volunteers in each zone. Patel also deployed some active workers close to the government to keep track of the activities of government officials.
Most importantly, Patel instructed the farmers to remain completely non-violent and not to react physically to any provocation or violent action by the authorities. He assured them that the movement would continue until all the taxes for that year were waived and all confiscated property and land were returned to their rightful owners.
The people of Gujarat fully supported the farmers. Many farmers hid their valuables with relatives in other areas, and the protesters received financial aid and essential supplies from other regions. However, Patel did not allow any sympathetic demonstrations by enthusiastic supporters in Gujarat or other parts of the country.
The government declared that it would crush this rebellion. Along with tax collectors, some Pathans from northwest India were also brought in to seize the villagers' property and intimidate them. The Pathans and tax collectors forcibly entered houses and looted all property, including livestock (the protesters kept their animals inside their houses when the tax collectors came, so they couldn't take the animals from the fields).
The government started auctioning the houses and land, but no one from Gujarat or any other part of the country came forward to buy them. Patel had appointed volunteers to monitor each village. As soon as the volunteers learned that the officials were coming to auction the property, they would blow conch shells. The farmers would then leave the village and hide in the forest. They never knew which house belonged to whom.
But some wealthy people from Bombay came to buy some land. Even a village that had paid its taxes was targeted. Those who did not participate in the tax boycott or bought confiscated land were ostracized by the community; relatives severed all ties with the families in the village. Other forms of social sanctions against such landlords included refusing to rent their land or work for them. Members of the Legislative Council in Bombay and across India were outraged by the brutal treatment of the protesting peasants. Indian members resigned from their posts and openly expressed their support for the farmers.
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