SOCIAL MOVEMENTS IN INDIA

Social movements are intrinsically related to social change. It can be defined as a voluntary association of people engaged in a concerted effort to change attitudes, behavior and social relationships in a larger society. Social movements are a type of group action. They can be classified into four types:

• Reactionary- It embraces aims of the past.
• Conservative- It tries to maintain society’s current value.
• Revisionary- It seeks a slight or partial change within the existing order.
• Revolutionary- It seeks to overthrow existing social structure.

In India, main types of social movements are tribal, dalit, peasant or agrarian, worker’s, women’s, environmental and religious.  Some of them are discussed as under.

DALIT MOVEMENTS

The word ‘dalit’ means the oppressed. They have been the most deprived social group, socio-economically and ritually. Gandhi called them ‘harijans’ and they were also called as ‘depressed classes’. They have faced discrimination and persecution. Some of the movements for their upliftment are as follows:

• Satya Shodak Samaj Movement- By Jyotibha Phule in 1873 (Maharashtra).
• Aravippuram Movement- By Shri Narayana Guru in 1888 (Kerala).
• Nair Movement- By C.V Raman Pillai, K.R Krishna Pillai and M.Padmanabha Pillai in 1891 (Kerala).
• Justice Party Movement- By T.M Nair, C.N Mudalair and P.T Chetti in 1916 (Madras).
• Congress Harijan Movement- 1917 onwards.
• The Depressed Classes (Mahars) Movement- By B.R Ambedkar in 1924 (Maharashtra).
• Self-Respect Movement- By E.V Ramaswami Naicker or Periyar in 1925 (Tamil Nadu).

TRIBAL MOVEMENTS

Some of the tribal uprisings or rebellions are as follows:

• Chuar uprising- by Chuar aboriginal tribesmen in 1776 against rise in demands and economic privation by the British.
• Bhil revolt- against company rule in 1817-19 and 1913 (Western Ghats).
• Ahom’s revolt- against the non fulfillment of the pledges of the company in 1828-33 (Assam).
• Khasis revolt- led by ruler Tirath Singh in hilly region between Jaintia and Garo hills in 1830s
• Kol uprising- by the Kols of Chotanagpur in 1831 against expansion of British rule on their lands.
• Santhal rebellion- by the Santhals in 1855-56 against practices of Zamindars later it turned anti-British (Bihar).
• Munda uprising- by Birsa Munda 1899-1900 against exploitation by moneylenders, introduction of feudal and zamindari tenures (South of Ranchi).
• Naga movement- led by Jadonang against British rule in 1905-31 (Manipur).
• Kukis revolt- against British policies of recruiting labor during World War I in 1917-19 (Manipur).
• Forest Satyagrahs by chenchu tribals in 1920s (Andhra).

FARMERS MOVEMENTS

Farmer movements in its early phase were against unjust demands of Zamindars and British rule. Some of them are as follows:

• Pagal Panthis- A semi-religious sect took up the cause against hike in rent in 1825-35 (Bengal).
• Moplah (Mappila) Rebellion- against oppression of Muslim Moplah peasants by Hindu Zamindars in 1836-1854 (Malabar region).
• Indigo revolt- against exploitation by indigo planters in 1859-60 (Bengal).
• Pabna agrarian uprising- against oppression of peasants by Zamindars in 1870s and 1880s (Bengal).
• Champaran Satyagrah- against the tinkathia system imposed by European indigo planters in 1917 (Bihar).
• Kheda Satyagrah- against ignored appeal for remission of land revenues in case of crop failures in 1918 led by Gandhi (Gujarat).
• Bardoli Satyagraha- against hike in revenue supported by Vallabhai Patel in 1928 (Gujarat).
• Eka Movement- against hike in rents by members of Pasi and Ahir castes in 1921-22 (Awadh).
• Tebhaga Movement- against Zamindars and moneylenders in 1946 (Bengal).
• Telangana Movement- against practices of Nizam officials in 1946-51 (Hyderabad).

Several Sabha or associations were formed in the later phase to maintain their interests and status. For example:

• Poona Sarvajanik Sabha (1870)
• United Province Kisan Sabha (1918)
• Awadh Kisan Sabha (1920)
• Andhra Riots Association (1928)
• All India Kisan Sabha (1936)

ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENTS

The concern for environment problems led to environmental movements which are relatively recent in origin. Some of the best examples are:

• Chipko Movement- to protect the Himalayan forests in the early 1970s (Uttarakhand) (important leader-Chandi Prasad Bhatt).
• Silent Valley Movement organized by Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishat against the Silent Valley hydro electric project (Kerala).
• Narmada Bachao Andolan- against the Narmada River Valley Project in mid 1980s (important leader-Medha Patkar)
• The Tehri Dam Project- movement against construction of dam on the river Bhagirathi in Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand from 1980s till 2004 (important leader- Sunderlal Bahuguna).

WOMEN MOVEMENTS

The relationship between women and social movement is quite intricate. The core of the social reform movements that took shape in the early decades of 19^th century was constituted by the changing conditions of women and their status. Many social reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy (against Sati practice), Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar (widow remarriage and women education), and Jyotiba Phule etc. contributed greatly. Some of the developments that took place are as follows:

• Abolition of Sati Act, 1828
• The Hindu Widows Remarriage Act 1856 (later repealed in 1983)
• Civil Marriage Act, 1872
• All India Women’s Association( 1927)
• Hindu Marriage Act of 1955
• Hindu Succession Act of 1956
• Shah Bano Case is a great example of women movement which is a milestone in Muslim women’s fight for rights.

LABOR MOVEMENTS

Labor in India is relatively well organized in public sector. Labor Movements can be defined as an organized effort by the workers to improve their economic and social status through the medium of labor unions. Some of the important developments since pre-independence era have been mentioned below.

• All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) was founded on October 31, 1920 for the purpose of conducting and coordinating the activities of the labor organizations. Lala Lajpat Rai was the first president of AITUC.
• Trade Union Act of 1926 recognized trade unions as legal associations, laid down conditions for registration and regulation.
• Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) was formed in 1947 by the congress supporters in AITUC.
• Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) was formed by socialists and the Indian Federation of Labor after breaking away from AITUC in 1948.
• United Trade Union Congress (UTUC) was formed in 1949.
• Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) was established in 1955 by Bhartiya Jana Sangh.
• Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) was formed in 1970 by the leaders of the CPI (M).

There are other forms of workers organizations such as morchas, labor cooperatives, NGOs etc. performing the role of promoting workers welfare.

For a social movement to be successful, leadership too plays an important role. It helps in articulating ideologies and objectives and maintaining the spirit of the participants as well. This is evident from the numerous movements that have taken place since early 19^th century. Social movements are not limited to bringing a social change. They also help in shaping the policy and law of the country by fighting for the rights, providing different perspective and alternatives to the society and government and play a vital role in transforming the society.  

Mock tests for UGC NET Exam

Thanks.