Question

Who led the peasant movement in Awadh?
A) Gandhi Ji
B) Jawahar Lal Nehru
C) Baba Ramchandra
D) Alluri Sitaram Raju

Answer 1

Hint: The leader of the peasant movement was an Indian trade unionist who organised the farmers of Oudh. Peasants had to do a lot of toil at landlords’ farms. The peasant movement demanded reduction of revenue demanded and social boycott of oppressive landlords.

Complete answer:
The peasant movement in Awadh was led by Baba Ram Chandra a sanyasi who had earlier worked in Fiji as an indentured labourer. The movement here was against talukdars who were also known as landlords who demanded high rents from the peasants.

Jawaharlal Nehru mobilized the villagers and formed Oudh Kisan Sabha. Within a month, over 300 branches had been set up in the villages around the region. As the movement spread in 1921, the houses of talukdars and merchants were attacked, bazaars were looted and grain hoards were taken over. Now let's see the options:-
Gandhi Ji- The father of the nation was not contemporary to these movements hence this is an incorrect option.
Jawahar Lal Nehru- He was the first Prime Minister of India and an independence activist and not a contemporary to these movements. Hence this is incorrect.
Baba Ramchandra- He led a peasant's movement in Awadh against Talukdars and Landlords. He demanded reduction of rent, abolition of Begar and the boycott of landlords. Therefore is the correct option.
Alluri Sitaram Raju- He was an Indian revolutionary involved in the Indian independence movement but not involved in the Awadh region hence this is incorrect.

Hence the correct answer is option C.

Note: Peasants started the protest because we have to work for long hours without any payment. In many places nai-dhobi( barbers and washermen) bandhs were organised to deprive landlords of the services of even washermen and barbers.