PEPSU Muzhara Movement

GS1 – Medieval Indian History

Context:

Observed annually on March 19, the Muzhara Movement was a significant agrarian struggle in Punjab, where tenant farmers fought for land rights, a movement that traces back to the 1930s.

Background of the Muzhara Movement

• Biswedari System (1870s): The Maharaja of Patiala established a feudal system in which biswedars (landlords) exercised control over villages, stripping the original landowners of their rights and reducing them to tenant farmers.
• Exploitative Practices: Tenant farmers, known as Muzharas, were required to surrender a substantial portion of their agricultural produce to landlords, who in turn paid revenue to both the Maharaja and British colonial authorities.
• Loss of Land Ownership: Under British rule, many small farmers were forced into tenancy, losing direct ownership of their ancestral lands.

Origins & Growth of the Movement

• Initial Resistance (1930s): Muzharas began protesting against the feudal system, demanding ownership of the land they cultivated.
• Influence of Political Movements: Inspired by Akali and Praja Mandal movements, tenant farmers organized resistance against landlords.
• Post-Independence Struggle: Despite India’s independence in 1947, feudal landlords continued to extract a portion of the farmers’ produce, leading to renewed and intensified resistance.

Major Events of the Movement

• October 1948: The Maharaja proposed granting one-third of village lands to jagirdars, but the proposal was rejected by the farmers.
• March 1949: Muzharas in Kishangarh strongly opposed landlords’ attempts to reclaim land, escalating tensions.
• March 17, 1949: A confrontation with the Patiala police resulted in the death of a police officer, leading to widespread arrests.
• March 19, 1949: Security forces attacked Kishangarh, killing four Muzharas. This day later became a symbol of resistance.
• 1951: The Congress-led government established an Agrarian Reforms Enquiry Committee to address land disputes.
• 1952: The enactment of the PEPSU Tenancy (Temporary Provision) Act allowed tenant farmers to acquire land ownership by paying compensation.

Key Figures of the Movement

Leader	Role & Contributions
Jagir Singh Joga	Mobilized tenant farmers, organizing large-scale protests.
Buta Singh	Advocated for peasant land rights and legal reforms.
Teja Singh Sutantar	Revolutionary leader who saved Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew’s life, protected Muslims during Partition, edited radical journals, and led peasant uprisings.
Sewa Singh Thikriwala	His earlier struggles against princely rule shaped the movement’s ideology.
Bhai Jodh Singh	Played a key role in spreading awareness and strengthening the resistance.

 

Impact & Legacy

✔ Abolition of Feudal Landlordism: The movement led to the end of the Biswedari System in the Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU).
✔ Land Rights for Farmers: Tenant farmers were officially granted ownership rights in 1952.
✔ Legal Reforms: The PEPSU Tenancy Act created a legal framework for land redistribution, ensuring agricultural equity.

PEPSU: Formation & Merger

• Establishment of PEPSU (1948): The Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU) was created by merging eight princely states following India’s independence.
• Integration with Punjab (1956): In 1956, PEPSU was dissolved and merged into Punjab, but its agrarian movements left a lasting influence on land reform policies in the region.