Untouchability & Social

Movements

1) Introduction to untouchability
2) Dimensions of untouchability
3) Different Sociologists on untouchability
4) Various Dalit (BC) movements
5) Agrarian movements (peasants and farmers movements)
6) Studies on farmers' movements
7) Women's movements
8) Genesis of women's movements
9) Historical view (19th and 20th C) on women's movements
10)Different women organisation
11) Objectives of women organisations

UNTOUCHABILITY & DALIT MOVEMENTS

INTRODUCTION

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
F)
G)

Hindu scriptures---> no such word as untouchability

Popularised this term by Ambedkar
Caste hierarchy---> difference between SWARNAS & AVARNAS
Also called PANCHAMS
Bottom of hierarchy
ASAT-SHUDRAS or ATI-SHUDRAS (PHULE)
Exterior caste (Hutton) 1st census administrator

H)
I)
J)
K)
L)

Depressed classes (Brits)

Harijans (Gandhi)
SC (schedule 6 of constitution)
Untouchables (maharaja of baroda)
Ambedkar refused the term "harijan"

DIMENSIONS OF DEPRIVATIONS OF UNTOUCHABLES

A) Socio-cultural deprivations

I) Degrading ritual status
II) Purity-pollution continuum
III) Denial of access to entry into temple, wells, schools, community centres and main
allays of village
IV) Denial of right to seek service from Brahmins
V) Physical segregation, living in outskirts
VI) Falling of shadow
VII)Molten led on ear

B) Economic Deprivation

I) Lack of control over production resources

II) Denial of land rights
III) Specific jobs (caste dharma)
IV) Agricultural labourer---> majority fro SC

C) Political Deprivation

I) Powerlessness
II) No representation
III) Social exclusion

VARIOUS SOCIOLOGISTS ON UNTOUCHABILITY

1) Louis Dumont & Michael Moffatt

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

UNITY MODEL
One should not see it from exploitative perspective
Hierarchy, an imperative feature of Hindu society
Western thought---> idea of equality
Untouchables themselves practice hierarchy
A) Intra group hierarchy
F) Hierarchy provides solidarity
G) Untouchables share the same Ideology as that of Hindus

2) Berreman (damn the Dumont)

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

DIFFERENTIAL OR POLARITY MODEL

Dumont view is parallel to brahminical view of caste
Blind eye to the miserable condition of those at the bottom
Their distinct culture as outcasts
Excluded section of society

3) Bernard Cohen & Pauline Kolenda

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

Buddha middle path

Agreed with both
No total rejection or exclusion
But they actually were oppressed
KARMA & DHARMA theory rejected by many untouchables
A) Since it conferred an inferior status
F) Some texts accepted as per advantages

DALIT MOVEMENT

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
F)
G)

Dalit means oppressed

Included SC, ST, WOMEN
It was a broad explanation
Later, narrower definition
Buddhism--> 1st against caste hierarchy
No one is Brahmin by birth, but by deeds
Buddha, meritocratic

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

Alternate path of salvation

Through devotion to God
Rejected brahminical ritual practices
Ramdas & KABIR (weaver caste)
BM not enduring impact
A) Restricted to religion
B) Diffused into many sects

1) BHAKTI MOVEMENT

2) SOCIO-RELIGIOUS REFORMS OF 1850

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

BS, AS, PS
Neo-Vedantic movement
Led by Brahmin upper caste
Middle class participates
Mitigated upper caste prejudices against lower caste

3) PHULE - SSS (Lower Class Movement)

A) Adi-dharma in Punjab
B) Adi-Dravidian in TAMILNADU
C) Nam-SHUDRAS movement in west Bengal

D) Demanded equality since they were original inhabitant (Risley's racial theory)

4) SNDP MOVEMENT

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
F)
G)
H)
I)
J)

Most successful movement

SHRI NARAYAN Guru DHARM PARIPALAN MOVEMENT (yogam)
Among ezavahas of Kerala
Narayan Gary was leader
Rejected brahminic Hinduism
Created temple for ezhavas, and made them priests there (consecration)
Adopted sanskritik lifestyle, not the brahminic domination
Joined communist party
Social mobility among ezavahas
PULLEYANS OF KERALA started "SADHU JAN PARIPALAN SANGAM"
A) Not as successful as SNDP
K) AYANKALI (a Dalit leader from Kerala) protested against denial of temple entry
L) Political coloration later on
M) Still below nayars

5) MAHAR MOVEMENT

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
F)
G)
H)
I)
J)
K)
L)
M)
N)
O)

Ambedkar
Protest against untouchability
Seeking entry into temple, well etc.
Powerlessness of Dalits
Independent labour party of Dalits (modelling PHULE)
But failed since no unity among Dalits
Engendered AISF (All India Sc Federation)
Ambedkar Lost election in 1956 as a member of AISF
Said no solution of untouchability in Hinduism
Converted to Buddhism, rejected Islam and Christianity
Buddhism, an Indian religion
Conversion as a protest
After his death, 3 million conversion
Gandhi led the harijan movement
Gandhi offered reservation, denied separate electorates



1) BACKWARD CLASS MOVEMENTS

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
F)
G)
H)
I)
J)
K)
L)
M)
N)
O)
P)
Q)
R)
S)

T)

Movement by middle class, located between Dalits and Dwijas

BC/OBC
BC movement in south and west only
Took form of anti-Brahmin & anti-caste movement
JYOTIBHA PHULE (SSS)
Dravidian movement of TAMILNADU
Maharashtra & TAMILNADU
Maharashtra after Peshawa rule ritual domination of Brahmin
No Kshatriyas and Vaisya caste in south
Kanbi became Kshatriyas in west
Spread of education---> Brahmin benefitted
INM & CONGRESS dominated by Brahmin
Iyyangars of south, all in congress
P.RADHAKRISHNAN---> 66% graduates, 3% Brahmin population
In north India, caste hierarchy was not as rigid as south
In traditional secular hierarchy
A) Land acquisition THAKURS, RAJPUTS & ASRAFS > BRAHMINS
B) Middle class emerged
Dispersed inequality in north, cumulative in south
Brahmins symbol of traditional hierarchy so attack them
Orientalist's aryan race theory
A) Aryan brought hierarchical system
B) Fair skin vs dark skin
C) Usage of race theory by TILAK, DALITS & PHULE
D) PHULE--> different avatars of Vishnu, different stages of Brahmin domination
E) Bali raja, Vishnu trickery
F) Brahmin conquered the land
G) Assumption---> that original Indian society was egalitarian Under Bali
H) SHUDRAS and ATI-SHUDRAS descendants of king Bali (PHULE)
I) BAHUJAN SAMAJ
J) DESTROY BHATT RAJ
K) Also tried to capitalise by KASHI RAM & AMBEDKAR
L) Phule Supported Brits
M) Marathas were criticised since on the path of Brahmins
N) Book "GHULAM GIRI" & "Shetkaryacha Asud" (predicament of peasants)
O) High taxes against peasants
P) Encroachments
Q) BUT Brahmins enemy > Brits enemy
SOLUTIONS BY PHULE
A) Watershed development
B) Building canals
C) Small or big dams
D) Return land to peasants
E) Inter-breeding of sheep and goat
F) Training program for peasants
G) Holding agricultural exhibition
H) Reducing salaries of government servants
I) No religious education but secular

J) Education for women (PANDITA RAMABAI & TARABAI) educated feminist

U) PERSONAL CONDUCT
A) Refused 2nd wife, 1st infertile
B) Educated 1st wife, activist
C) Rejected Hinduism
D) SATVAJANIK SATYA DHARMA (phule's religion)
E) No ritual
F) Followers from Dalits and mahar caste
G) Could not unite SHUDRAS and ATI-SHUDRAS
H) His work a precursor for dr. Ambedkar

2) SELF RESPECT OR DRAVIDIAN MOVEMENT

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
F)
G)
H)
I)
J)

K)
L)
M)
N)

Emphasise upon racial ideology

Aryan theory of race
Initiated as linguistic movement for the glorification of Tamil
Brahmin scriptures were in Sanskrit
At the onset ---> Not anti-brahmin or anti-caste but language oriented
20th century---> judiciary and civil services, mostly Brahmins
Nellore district and Anantpur, entire revenue dept.---> Brahmin
Brits were pissed off
Brahmins were in INC & INM
A) Brits divide & rule
B) Encouraged Dalit and Muslims
Urban (non-brahmin) educated elite started SOUTH INDIA LIBERAL
ASSOCIATION (1950) SILA
A) Published non Brahmin manifesto
B) 1919 SILA---> justice party
JUSTICE PARTY did well in elections
Demanded reservation in govt. services
1927 1st communal GO (government order) was issued
First time reservation was granted

3) VAIKOM SATYAGRAHA AND NEICKR

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
F)
G)
H)

VAIKOM TEMPLE MOVEMENT

Led by Ezhavas
T.K.MADHVAN its leader
Entry on the roads that lead to temple
Launched by congress, RAMASWAMY NEICKER a young leader in Congress's
After VAIKOM success, he became wrap
Took projects of Gandhi
Gurukula episode
A) Separate eating arrangements for Brahmin student
B) Against congress policy
C) But congress did not want any rift
D) NEICKER protested and left congress in 1925

E)
F)
G)
H)
I)

Gandhi supported NEICKER's cause butkept mum here

For him fighting colonialism was important
Trade union Wong of congress--> all Brahmins
No congress, no Brahmin, no case, no Gandhi, no god
NEICKER founded SELF RESPECT OR DRAVIDIAN MOVEMENT
A) Brahmins are aryans, non Brahmins are Dravidians
B) Scriptures for justification
C) Ravan Non Brahmin, Rama Brahmin
D) Glorified ravan
E) Forgot to look into economic bases of caste
F) SINGARVELU emphasise on economic basis of caste
G) NEICKER attacked caste, rituals and Brahmin
H) Emphasise on rational way of life
I) Gender equality
J) Condemnation of patriarchy
K) Symbols of women enslavement rejected (MANGALASUTRA)
L) Right of abortion, divorce and remarriage
M) Mobs into temple
N) Breaking sacred thread, cutting their hair
J) Justice party was working in urban, NEICKER in rural areas
K) Self respect movement attracted youth, film stars and intellectuals
L) 1944 merge his organisation with justice
party ----> DK (DRAVIDIAN KAZAKHAM)
M) DK internal debates
N) Whether participate in politics or not
O) Anna Dubrai in favour of fighting
P) NEICKER against
Q) DK collected huge funds
R) PERIYAR married manniama
S) Annadurai left DK, created his DMK
T) Non-Brahmins but upper caste constituted its
leadership
U) Main focus ---> tamil nationalism not social
reform
V) Demanded for separate Dravid state
W) PERIYAR helped congress against DMK
X) Annadurai won election in TAMILNADU and
became CM
Y) After INDO-sino war nationalistic politics influence annadurai to abandon the
demand of Dravid nadu

CONCLUSION

A) Nehru looked problem of untouchability in terms of class inequality (economic

angle)
B) Economic development is a solution (sort of Marxist-Socialist)
C) Economic empowerment

D)
E)
F)
G)
H)
I)
J)
K)
L)
M)
N)
O)
P)
Q)
R)
S)
T)
U)
V)

After 1947
AISF---> republican party
Base in Maharashtra and pockets of UP
Band wagon politics
Inner conflict in party
Young Dalits disillusioned from party way of working
Maharashtra educated Dalits were influenced by Marxist ideology
Agriculture, price rise and poverty hit Dalits primarily
Dalit panther movement on lines of black panther movement (1972) by educated
Dalits
Dalit consciousness and mobilisation
Green revolution helped them in mobility and strengthen their Dalit consciousness
No challenges in JAJMANI system
However, could not mobilise all Dalit caste
Horizontal mobility
A) BSP emerged
Unity among Dalits in UP, not in Punjab
Dalit movement increased socio-cultural mobility
Neglect economic aspect
Economic deprivation was there
Political power captured, but it can't run for long unless economic empowerment

PEASANTS AND FARMERS MOVEMENTS

A) Controversy over the term
peasants
B) Broad vs narrow meaning

1) ERIC WOLFE

A) Restricted view
B) Population in cultivation and
make autonomous decisions
C) Therefore, landless labourers

are not included

2) AR DESAI

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

classified movements into 2 categories

Pre-independent movements (peasant movements)
Post independent movements (farmers movements)
In post-independent movement
Both were clubbed as movements are also called agrarian movements

FARMERS MOVEMENT

GREEN REVOLUTION

1) pesticides, irrigation intensive

Post-Green revolution
but
Capital transformation of agriculture in India
2) Infrastructure in rural India
was not there
Participation of rich and middle class peasantry
3)
No warehousing
Demands---> profitability in post GR scenario
Directed at state
Asked for free electricity, unbridle water supply, loan wagers, higher MSP and
acquisition
7) In north India, Bharat KISAN union and
SHRESHTKARI SANGHTHAN by SHARAD
JOSHI of Maharashtra
8) KARNATKA RAJ RAYTU SANGHAM (by
NANJUNDAH SWAMI)
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

PEASANT MOVEMENT

A) Naxalbari movement (not as per AR DESAI

CLASSIFICATION)
A) Landless cultivators, marginal farmers
B) Demanded rent regulations and land reforms

BERRINGTON MOORE & Eric Stokes


A) No peasant movements on pre modern times, concerning India
B) Peasants movements are supposed to be class based movements, and a centre
authority against whom the grievances are redressed
C) But in India, fragmented peasants
D) No class consciousness, since production is localised
E) Merely caste based mobilisation of peasants
F) Fought against dominant caste only
G) Class based mobilisation did not surface

DHANAGARE & CATHELINE GOUGH CRITICISED BERRINGTON

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

Catherine studied "Peasant Uprising In India"

77 revolts by peasant in last two centuries
12 of them had a mass base of 100,000s
30 of 'em had 10,000s
Incorrect to say docile

5 TYPES OF PEASANT MOVEMENTS IN INDIA (MaSTeR2)

Kathleen Gough

1) RESTORATIVE MOVEMENT

A) Against changes, want status quo
B) Eg. SANTHAL movement
C) GOUGH said 1857 revolt was a peasant Movement too (except sepoy)

2) Religious Ideology movement

A) Class identity overlaps with religious identity

B) Religious coloration sometimes
C) Mopillah revolt
A) Muslims tenant
B) Hindus landlords
D) FARAIZI MOVEMENT

A) Landlord Hindus
B) Tenant Muslims
C) Religion comes handy in mobilising tenant
E) GOUGH---> can't be called communal since Muslim landlords were attacked also
F) So, landlords were attacked not a religious group

3) Social banditry

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

Pan Singh tomar

Takes role of bandits
Outlaw as per State
Peasant revers them as heroes
Against landlords

4) Terrorist movements

A) Punjab
B) Most terrorists drawn from marginal farmers
C) Attacked Punjab artiyas (merchant middleman)

5) Mass Insurrections

A) TELANGANA movement
B) Naxalbari movement
C) 1000s of peasants participated

STUDIES ON PEASANT MOVEMENTS


1) GHANSHYAM SHAH


A) Identified causes for protest movement
A) Arbitrary eviction
B) Reck renting in APNA (Bengal)
C) Share cropping related grievances (TEBHAGA MOVEMENT)
D) Protest against govt for high rate of taxation (BARDOLI & KHEDA) LAGAAN
E) Demand for redistribution of land (protest against benami)
F) Social grievance of farmers (VETI & Begar vs pagar)
A) Sexual abuse of their women
B) Peasant movement arose after famine
C) Price rise contributes too
G) Rice growing areas more prone than wheat or millet, reason being more labour
requirement in rice
H) Middle class Gives sustenance to Movement

DHANAGARE SAID NO!

See TELANGANA movement, rich and middle class peasants are against it;
nevertheless, it is doing fine

VARIOUS PEASANT MOVEMENTS

Revolt of 1857

FARAIZI & Moppilah

SANTHAL rebellion

KISAN SABHA MOVEMENT

Indigo revolt

BARDOLI, kheda

Pabna rebellion

TELANGANA movement

Naxalbari movement

TEBHAGA movement

TELANGANA MOVEMENT (POST INDEPENDENT)

1) Communist led peasant uprising
2) TELANGANA region of erstwhile state of
Hyderabad (1724)
3) Nizam-ul-mulk---> 16 districts, 8 formed
TELANGANA

SOCIO-economic profile of TELANGANA

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)

Beginning of 20th century, 10% Muslims

1940, 14% due to proselytisation
Resentment among Hindus
ARYA SAMAJ SHUDDHI movement
Urdu as a medium of instruction----> major grievance
Telugu speaking resented
Police and goverment dept. filled with Muslims
Hindu demanded representation
Agrarian state---> 85%
1) 60% ryotwari
2) 40% nizam
10)Land alienation, all farmers were loosing their land
11) Nizam rule was repressive
12)1921---> Social confrontation in Hyderabad
13)One of the lawyer delegate wanted to deliver speech in Telugu
1) Telugu Italian of east
14) LINGUISTIC BASIS PROTEST STARTED
15)AJS (ANDHRA JAN SANGHAM) Was formed
16)Activities to propagate Telugu
17)Journal started, what to write in it, not yet decided
18)Wrote about social reforms
1) Criticised VETI, CHILD MARRAIGE, UNTOUCHABILITY
19)AJS replaced by AM (ANDHRA MAHASABHA)
1) Total work of social reforms
2) Also made political demands

3)
4)
5)
6)

Nizam responded positively to former and not to latter

Nizam perceived AM as a threat to his hegemony
Nizam started majlis-e-ikthiar-ul-muslami
Mazlis started a movement, whereby, all students in schools will pray for nizam's
eternal rule
7) AM started VANDE MATARAM MOVEMENT
8) Large no. Of educated youth joined
9) Leaders like RNR (RAVI NARAYAN REDDY) (AM)
10)A landlord converted to communist
11) Asked for land to the tillers and wage hike
12)Other landlords of AM retaliated
13)All wanted Hyderabad as a part of India, but never wanted to redistribute land
14)Radicalisation of AM began
15)Moved resolution against LL in 1940
16)Younger lads identified with RNR
17)internal division---> RNR captured the organisation
18)Split 1945---> 2 separate sessions KHAMMAM & WARANGAL

Nalgonda and TELANGANA movement

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
F)
G)
H)
I)
J)
K)
L)
M)
N)
O)
P)

Jalgaon (Nalgonda district)

Nalgonda incident triggered TELANGANA movement
DESHMUKH had 40000 acres of land
Sent henchmen to grab a poor widow's land
AM ---> intervened
One of their man was killed by henchmen
They were already radical, here things dashed them
Communist cadres started killing LL
Princely states did not have any army due to subsidiary alliance with
DALHOUSIE
communist cadre poorly armed
Nizam done a blunder by saying "will not join India"
AM (moderate section) identified with congress came to help AM (communist)
Congress organised gorilla camps in vicinities of Hyderabad
RAZZAKA force of nizam to supplement police
AM (communist) liberated 3000 villages from nizam
Public supported AM (communist)

Q) Sumit Sarkar (VETI disappeared, wages increased,land grabbed reformed, ceiling over
landholdings,surplus land distribution, irrigation facilities, people corps developed,
solving internal disputes and untouchability
R) Mid 1948
S) RAZZAKA surrendered
T) Hyderabad merged into Indian union
U) Division among communist themselves
V) Nehru sent VINOBA BHAVE to pacify
A) BHAVE gave message of peace and brotherhood
B) Suggested the LLs to willingly gave their excess lands
C) BHUDAN started
D) Later, gramdan transmutation
E) Finally, SULABH GRAMDAN (1/20th of your land) to gramsabha
F) Distribution to landless
G) TELANGANA was succeeded by BHUDAN movement
H) BHAVE failed to endure this

NAXALBARI MOVEMENT

A) communist led mass insurrections

B) NAXALABARI AREA OF SILIGURI SUB-DIVISION
C) GENESIS OF MOVEMENT
A) Located in agrarian land relations existed in Bengal in early 20th century
B) JOTEDARI-ADHIYARI RELATIONS (landlords vs share croppers or
BARGADARS)
C) 1/2 of share to BARGADARS
D) Actual---> 1/3 or 1/4 to ADHIYARS
E) Glitches ---> giving rice, repaid with Interest
A) Jotedars give castles, rent in return
B) If gives seed, then twice amount by ADHIYARS
C) Perpetual debt trap for BARGADARS
D) Not enough to feed the family
E) 50% interest rate!
F) 1942-43 famine in Bengal, killed many BARGADARS due to starvation
G) Brits appointed a FLOYD COMMISSION
A) Share of BARGADARS was fixed at 2/3rd of produced
B) Meanwhile, KISAN SABHA was captured by Communists

H)
I)

J)
K)
L)
M)
N)

C) Gave call for Mass struggle to enforce recommendation of FLOYD commission

Paddy used to be stored with jotedars after harvesting
DEMANDS IN MASS STRUGGLE
A) Keep paddy with ADHIYARS
B) Share of jotedars ---> 1/3rd (TEBHAGA MOVEMENT) PRE-cursor for
Naxalbari movement
C) Communist mobilised BARGADARS in JALPAIGURI & SILIGURI
Started grabbing paddy from jotedars
Law & Order problem for Brits
Movement ended after confrontation with police (1947)
Peasant looked to govt. For the remedy
Communist carried on their mobilisation even after TEBHAGA
A) grassroots leaders like (KANU SANYAL, MIJUBIR RAHMAN)
B) 1950---> took up independent issues
C) PANUDANS (rent of cattle plough)
D) Attacked on it
E) Attacked on paddy loan too
F) Intervene on behalf of peasant
G) Success In KHORIBARI AREA, near to NAXALBARI AREA
H) Communist took bonus issue of tea estate workers
I) Communist took issue of benami transfer of land and land reforms
J) 1964 saw a split in CPI
K) 1964, CPI-M formed

L) 1965-66-67 severe drought, added problems for peasants

M) CPI-M got an opportunity to implement their policies
N) Stared radicalisation of educated youth
O) Flooded with recruits
P) Thought of bringing agrarian reforms by force
Q) Won election (1967)
R) Life is full of contradictions!
S) Previously, armed struggle > parliamentary power, now just reverse of it
T) However, CPI-M was a small party with 50000 peasant base
U) Formed alliances in 8 states other than WB
V) Arms struggle vs law&order
W) Policy of radicalisation of cadre on back burner
X) Focus upon work and efficiency
Y) Law and order became 1st priority
Z) Did everything by legal means which they previously thought to do with
arms struggle
AA)Spontaneous revolt---> 1000s of peasant mobilisation (SILIGURI area)
BB)1967 took paddy from jotedars methodically
CC)Some cases of brutal killing of jotedars
DD)CHARU MAJUMDAR against negotiations with government
EE)Freed a part of area (SILIGURI) from Indian government
FF)CPM acted, police moved into the area
GG)Regained SILIGURI

CONCLUSION ON NAXALBARI MOVEMENT

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
F)
G)

Redistribution of benami land

Production of share cropper (2/3)
Paddy loan < 25% interest
Revolted & suppressed by August 1967
Young leaders were against senior leaders of CPM
Young cadre never wanted to solve problem under the ambit of law
NKSSS (NAXAL KRISHAK SURAKSHAK SAHAYAK SAMITI) an independent
organisation was setup
A) Consisted communist group, LOKAYAN group, Maoist committee, Chatra fauz
B) Led by CHARU MAJUMDAR CCR (coordinated committee of revolt)
C) KANU SANYAL & SOREN BOSE were other members
H) WBCCCR (WEST BENGAL COORDINATED COMMITTEE OF COMMUNAL
REVOLUTION)

I) 1969 WBCCCR ----> AICCCR (CPM-ML) led by CHARU MAJUMDAR

A) Changed ideology from peasant to political power capturing
B) Revolutionary methods
C) Merely Narrow economism (land redistribution) will not do
D) System will remain the same
E) CHARU MAJUMDAR's linpiyaon strategy (1969)
F) Creation of PLA army
G) CHARU thought revolution in one region will instigate peasants all over India
A) Murder of police and jotedars
H) It did not happen, peasants were against the violent method
I) Alienation of peasant, lost interest in CPI-ML
J) INCLINATION towards congress
K) SIDDHARTH SHANKAR RAY, CM of WB (congress)
A) Order the arrest and shoot at sight orders against CPI-ML members
B) Later, governor of Punjab
L) Congress lost its sheen due to emergency (1975)
M) CPM came to power (1977)
A) Understood the importance of land question
B) "Operation Barga" --> 30 years of CPM rein
C) Identified and distribute surplus land (fortunately HYV)
D) Previous GR to wheat, now rice too
E) Communist parties---> agriculture increased, but not the industry since a check
was put on capitalism

WOMEN'S MOVEMENT

GAIL OMVEDT classification


1) Equality Movement

A) Led by liberal moderate feminists

B) Attacked patriarchy
C) But did not want to abolish patriarchal inst. of
marriage
D) Sexual (DOL) criticised


2) Liberation Movement

A) Radical stance - radical feminists
B) Outrightly rejected patriarchy
C) Against mothering role

Romila Thapar

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)

Liberation movement is partake of western style of protest

Not for India as of now
In west, women are educated and economically independent (majority)
They have realised that S(DOL) and mothering role prohibits them on success ladder
Here, women are uneducated; thus, can't compete with men
Professions (Medicine, reaching, nursing, secretaries, IT)
Pink collar or soft jobs
Equality movement is more suitable for India

GENESIS OF WOMEN MOVEMENT

1) Movements Led by men, impacting the issues of women

2) State leadership and women participation, but diffused issues (Gandhi)
3) Lead and participated by women (Autonomous movement)
1) This stage is yet to emerge in India
2) Advancing towards it
3) Women participation Is increasing in 3rd world countries

HISTORICAL VIEW ON WOMEN MOVEMENTS

1) Movements in 19th century (1st phase)

A)
B)
C)
D)

Via socio-religious reform movements

RRR, BS, AS, IVS, RKM (except RRR else were diffused)
Purdah
Infanticide

E)
F)
G)
H)
I)
J)
K)

Child marriage
Widow remarriage
Sati
Inter-caste marriage
Patriarchy was more on upper caste (Brahmin Patriarchy)
PANDITA RAMABAI OF MAHARASHTRA
Movement targeted upper class urban

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
F)
G)
H)
I)
J)
K)
L)
M)
N)
O)

Freedom movement of Gandhi

Gandhi attacked compulsory domesticity (in upper caste)
Dandi march
Picketing liquor shops, "GHERAO"
Burning foreign clothes
Prabhat feri
Gandhi accepted modernity, but not rejected tradition
Demanded public life for women
Women leaders (ARUNA ASAF ALI, USHA MEHTA, SAROJINI NAIDU)
AIWC (All India women conference)
WIA (women Indian association)
NCIW (national council of Indian women)
Equality, political rights, education and participation from women
Freedom movement created fertile land
Women showed willingness and participated in
A) PEASANT MOVEMENT
B) TELANGANA MOVEMENT
C) NAXALBARI MOVEMENT
D) TRIBAL MOVEMENT
E) ECOLOGICAL FEMINISTS
A) CHIPKO MOVEMENT (epitome) Garhwal, never seen government so nothing to
fear
B) APIKO MOVEMENT (also an environment movement) KARNATKA
F) ANTI-ARRACK (Liquor) movement
A) Andhra pardesh
B) Cheap liquor
C) No money for health and education
D) Domestic violence
G) SARDAR SAROVAR MOVEMENT (NARMADA BACHAO ABHIYAAN)

2) 20th century (2nd phase of movement.)

A) MEDHA PATEKAR
B) Not cornering to women; Nevertheless....

VARIOUS TYPES OF WOMEN ORGANISATION

VIBHUTTI PATEL

1) Agitational and consciousness raising groups

2) Grass root mass based organisation (Tribal organisation, trade unions asso. With
women issues)
3) Professional women organisation (doctors, journalists...)
4) Women wings of political parties
5) Women organisation (shelter & free legal aid)
6) Women groups researching and documenting women problems

All the above organisations majorly focus upon.....

1) Violence and atrocities against women (sexual/physical/psychological)

1) Due to communal or inter-caste or otherwise
2) Sexual harassment at work place, streets or public place
3) Dowry related harassment
4) Dowry deaths
5) Wife beating and bride burning
6) Demand for common civil code for gender justice
7) Problems of working women
8) Trafficking of women (Bangladesh and Nepal)
9) Dalits and minority community women are specially targeted
10)Problems at home
11) Obscene portrayal by media
12)Beauty pageants
13)Temple prostitution (DEVDASI system)
1) Still on ODISHA & AP (Bharat natyam)
14)Violence due to superstition
15)Allegation of witchcraft and then killing
16) Declining sex ratio (914:1000)
17)Rape, abduction and prostitution
18)Religious fundamentalism ---> patriarchy and submissive portrayal
19)Autonomous and structures women organisation yet to emerge