Notes-Class 8-History-Chapter-11-Struggle for Equality-Maharashtra Board

Introduction :

• The struggle for liberty was founded on the notion of human emancipation.
• Opposition to feudalism, social inequality, and economic exploitation, as well as political dependence.
• Social equality is as important as freedom.
• The struggle of the farmers, workers, women and dalits, as well as socialism gave emphasis on equality.

Peasant's Movement :

• The British government's economic policies favoured landlords and moneylenders while harming farmers. Peasants rose against injustice in many places of India.
• Bengal's peasants formed a union and revolted against the compulsion to plant indigo.
• In 1875, peasants in Maharashtra rose against the injustices committed by landowners and moneylenders.
• The farmers in Uttar Pradesh formed ‘Kisan Sabha’ in 1918 under the leadership of Baba Ramchandra.
• The Mopla peasants in Kerala rose in great revolt.
• With the initiative of Prof N.G. Ranga Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha' was established. It presented a declaration of peasants rights to the Indian National Congress.
• Thousands of peasants attended the session of Indian National Congress which was held in rural part of Faizpur.
• In 1938, due to heavy rains crops were destroyed in eastern Khandesh. Sane Guruji organised the farmers who were in a miserable state and took out procession.
• The peasants participated in large numbers in the revolutionary period of 1942.

Workers Union :

• Because of industrialisation, the working class established around the beginning of the nineteenth century. They worked hard to fix their problems.
• Shashipad Banerjee and Narayan Meghaji Lokhande organised local workers and worked to solve their difficulties.
• Narayan Meghaji Lokhande, known as the "Father of the Indian Workers Movement," founded the "Bombay Mill Hands Association" in 1890. This was the start of an organised movement in India.
• Workers on Assam's tea estates staged a strike to protest their poor working conditions.
• In 1899, the workers of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway (GIP) called for a strike for their demands.
• During the anti-partition movement, workers carried out strikes from time to time in support of Swadeshi.
• In 1920, 'Al1 India Trade Union Congress’ (AITUC) was established.
• Lala Lajpat Rai was the President of the first session of AITUC. He told the workers to actively participate in the national movement.
• Shripad Amrut Dange, Muzaffar Ahmed, and other socialist leaders tried to build militant organisations by propagating socialism ideology among workers.
• In 1928, the Mumbai Mill workers went on strike for six months.
• Many such strikes were carried out by the railway workers, jute mill workers, etc.

 Socialist Movement :

Many young leaders of the Congress believed that

• To protect the interest of the people it is necessary to overthrow the
• British government.
• Society should be restructured on the basis of economic and social equality.
• This led to rise and growth of Socialist ideology.

Formation of Congress Socialist Party :

• It was decided by the Socialist youth to form Socialist party within the Indian
• National Congress while they were in Nashik jail.
• So, the Congress Socialist party was formed in 1934 by leaders like Jayprakash Narayan, Acharya Narendra Dev, Minu Masani and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia.
• These leaders guided the Quit India Movement in 1942.

Communist Party of India :

• Indians got introduced to Karl Marx and his Communism.
• In 1881, an article was written on Marx by Lokmanya Tilak.
• Manavendranath Roy played an active role in the International Communist
• Movement.
• After the First World War the influence of Communism was felt in India
• The Communist Party of India was formed in 1925.

Meerut Conspiracy Case :

• The young communist leaders built militant organisations of workers and peasants.
• The growing influence of Communism on Indian youth became a matter of concern for the British.
• The communist leaders like Shripad Amrut Dange, ' Muzafiar Ahmed, Keshav Neelkanth Ioglekar, etc. were arrested and charged with planning to overthrow the British rule.
• As the trial was conducted at Meerut it is known as 'Meerut Conspiracy Case’.
• They were given different punishments.

Feminist Movement :

Reforms related to women :

• In the Indian social system, women were treated unfairly and with second-class status.
• Many female leaders participated actively in the feminist reform movement during the 20th century.
• They began to fight for things like the right to inherit and the ability to vote, among other things.
• They worked for a solution to the problems affecting women. Their efforts had a nationwide impact.
• Women were now included in the Provincial Ministries with the Act of 1935.

Institutions setup by Women :

• Pandita Ramabai — Arya Mahila Samaj and Sharda Sadan.
• Ramabai Ranade — Seva Sadan.
• 'Bharat Mahila Parishad' was founded in 1904.
• In 1927, All India Women's Conference’ was established.

Dalit Movement :

• The Dalit movement was launched to remove the injustice done to Dalits due to Indian social structure.
• Mahatma Phule and Narayan Guru brought about awakening among the people regarding social inequality.
• Gopal Baba Walangkar condemned untouchability through his book 'Vitaal
• Vidhwansan'.
• Periyar Ramaswamy started a movement for the eradication of untouchability in Tamil Nadu.
• Maharshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde founded the ‘Depressed Classes Mission’ for the progress of the Dalits.
• Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj worked to remove restrictions on inter dining, inter marriage and change of occupation.
• Mahatma Gandhi presented the issue of untouchability before the Indian
• National Congress.
• Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar dedicated his entire life for the Dalit movement and gave it broader perspective.