Dr Sujay Ghosh Political Science Second Semester PLS203

Dr Sujay Ghosh Political Science Second Semester PLS-203 A

Topic 3 Rural Society and Agrarian Changes

Keywords • • • Rural society in pre-Modern India Rural society in British India Rural society in independent India Social changes in rural India Land Reforms Green Revolution

Rural Society in India 1 • In ancient and medieval times, rural India had a very closed life: hardly any connection with the outside world. • Land was the community property: no private ownership

Rural Society in India 2 • During ancient and medieval period, the relationship between the rulers and village community was only tax collection. People did not bother who was the ruler

Rural Society in India: British Period • With British rule, there was a fundamental structural shift, as capitalist system was introduced in the land relations

Rural Society in India: British Period • The forces of colonial capitalism entered the interior of rural India. • Rural society became integrated with the British rule

Rural Society in India: British Period • Subsequently, this also paved way for the nationalist leadership to reach the interior of the country. • The spread of literacy & modern means of communication facilitated the process

Rural Society after Independence • Massive social and political mobilisation occurred in rural India during the freedom struggle phase • Rural India played definite role in India’s struggle for independence

Agrarian Change in Contemporary India • We have seen the historical background of rural India • Agrarian change has to be seen in this backghround

Importance of Agriculture • Agriculture, we know is the backbone of rural economy and society • Land is the marker of power and prestige

Social Changes in Rural India • Social conflicts in rural India have gathered around land caste • Caste has been used to reinforce the existing power relations in rural India

Social Changes in Rural India • caste and land therefore, were the epicentres of social conflict and change in rural India • Agrarian conflicts has to be seen in this context

Agrarian Changes • Conflicts on agriculture were the motivators for agrarian changes • Agrarian conflicts occurred during medieval and British period as well • Mahatma Gandhi’s struggle in India started with Bardoli Satyagraha, around agrarian issues

Agrarian changes in the 1960 s • In independent India, Agrarian conflcits & changes started occurring in the 1960 s • Then it became all-India issues

1960 s • Two particular issues must be remembered – they have erupted in the 1960 s • One, violent Maoist movement, known as Naxalite movement. It started in West Bengal, but spread over to many parts of the country • Two, the Green Revolution

Naxalite Movement • This movement, started with the demand for better wages for agricultural workers in the village of Naxalbari, West Bengal • It was against the landowners • Ultimately, the movement snowballed into a major revolt against the Indian state as it had spread into many regions • Even today, some parts of India are afflicted by violent agrarian conflicts

The Green Revolution • Agricultural production multiplied in India, thanks to the Green Revolution • This created a rich peasantry who wanted to benefit from the market forces • That also changed the socio-economic relation in the villages

Green Revolution: Downsides • Landlords operated on the basis of ruthless profit-and-loss • Instead of sharecroppers, agricultural labourers were hired • However, such market logic did not increase the bargaining power of the labourers. They were still ties with the bindings of caste

The 1970 s • Aftermath the Naxalite movement, demands for Land Reforms had grown • Although conceived by Nehru, it did not advance much • The Left Front government in West Bengal, had Land Reforms as its electoral agenda • They implemented it after 1977 electoral victory • As an institutional infrastructure, they started Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) – rural local governments

The 1980 s • Many other states started implementing Land Reforms since the 1980 s • The result was mixed – not as successful as West Bengal • However, the importance of PRIs was stressed

The 1990 s • The historic 73 rd Amendment was passed in 1992 – PRIs became mandatory • PRIs were also empowered to implement various development programmes in the villages

Beyond 1990 s • The 73 rd Amendment had contributed to significant democratisation of rural India • At the same time, due to increase of population, land was fragmented • As a result, the large landowning ommunities faced disintegration • Alongside, agricultural labour became quite assertive & organised in rural India

The Current Situation • Urban space is gradually increasing • Many people in rural India are losing interest in agriculture • Significant migration to urban India • Growth of rural based industries • All these are leading to strain in the agricultural sector, already afflicted by everrising input costs

Conclusion: Agriculture is the basis of our civilisation