Question

What was the outcome of the Kheda movement?
(A) The land taxes were altogether abolished
(B) The increased taxes were abolished
(C) The taxes were abolished for two years
(D) There was no change in the tax structure

Answer 1

Hint Kheda Movement or Kheda Satyagraha is known for its support to peasants during the British Raj since they were unable to pay the high taxes levied on them due to failure of crop and plague.

Complete answer:
The Kheda Movement or Satyagraha organised by Mahatma Gandhi in 1918 was for the support of peasants of Kheda, Gujarat. This struggle is also known as no-tax peasant struggle. The movement was launched under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, N.M. Joshi, Indulal Yajnik, Shankerlal Pareek and several others. This movement was the one like in Champaran, based on non-violence. This provided an opportunity to non-peasanty people to establish contact with the actual peasantry life and stand for them. Kheda, in central Gujarat is quite fertile for the cultivation of tobacco and cotton. A few causes of the movement are mentioned below -
1. On reassessing the land of Kheda and the crops, the revenue was increased which was unacceptable for the peasants
2. Peasants suffered from famine which resulted in crop failure. The government did not accept this and insisted on full realisation of land tax. However peasantry emphasised persistently that the government was not justified in demanding full tax
3. The peasants were frequently plagued by poverty, famines, scant resource, untouchability, alcoholism and British discrimination
4. The Bombay Presidency increased the taxes in 1917-18 by 23%

Gujarat Sabha wrote petitions and telegrams to the government for the suspension of the revenue assessment for the year 1919. But the officials maintained and rejected the demand for non-payment of tax. When the government refused to consider the requests, Gandhiji exhorted the peasants to resort to satyagraha. Outcome of this was well-to-do peasants would pay up the land rent and the poorer ones would be granted remissions.

Note Important aspect of the movement is that it created an awakening among peasants about their rights and demands. They also sought their involvement in the struggle for independence.