Kheda Movement : 1918

In this episode of the farmer's movement, we will know about the movement done by the farmers of Kheda district of Gujarat, which was led by Gandhiji. Other peasant movements are Ramosi Movement, Mopla Rebellion, Indigo Movement, Deccan Rebellion, Pabna Rebellion, Champaran Satyagraha etc. whose details we have seen in earlier topics.

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Kheda Movement : 1918

• This was the first real farmer Satyagraha of Mahatma Gandhi.
• The Kheda movement started on March 22, 1918 in the Kheda district of Gujarat.
• In Kheda district, even after crop failure, farmers were being charged rent and land revenue, due to which the farmers agitated under the leadership of Gandhiji. Because of starting in Kheda district, it was called Kheda movement.
• The government was confiscating the property of the farmers for not paying the rent, and started taking away their cattle.
• Members of 'Servant of India Society', Vithal Bhai Patel, Gandhiji after the survey accepted the demand of the farmers as justified and demanded to waive the entire rent according to the 'Revenue Code'.
• The 'Gujarat Sabha' played an important role in the Kheda movement. Gandhiji was its president in 1918. When appeals and petitions did not have any effect on the government, Gandhiji
  appealed to the farmers for a militant struggle and appealed to the farmers not to pay rent.
• The first slogan for non-payment of rent was given by local leader 'Mohanlal Pandya' in 'Kapadganj' taluka of Kheda.
• In the Kheda movement, Gandhi ji and his associates Vallabh Bhai Patel, Indulal Yagnik etc. many youths visited villages and awakened the farmers.
• The rich farmers who were in a position to pay the rent in the Kheda movement were also prohibited from paying the rent. And it was said that if you pay the rent, the small or poor farmers will be under pressure to pay the rent. In this way even the prosperous farmers refused to pay the rent.
• Meanwhile, Gandhiji received the secret information of the government, according to which the rent was asked to be collected only from the well-to-do farmers. In this way, considering the condition of farmers suffering from inflation, poverty, drought and epidemic diseases like plague, Gandhiji ended the Kheda movement and Gandhiji was successful in the use of his Satyagraha.

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