The PEPSU Muzhara Movement: Agrarian Struggle for Land Rights

Landless tenant farmers called muzharas staged the historic PEPSU Muzhara Movement through their struggle for ownership rights over farmed lands on March 19. During the 1940s and 1950s the movement against oppressive landowners reached its height after mobilizing thousands across different districts. Prominent activists leadership directed the movement to achieve land reforms in 1952 which granted ownership rights to tenants. The movement stands today to symbolize persistent resistance and every year people commemorate its leaders and participants to remember their sacrifices.

About the PEPSU Muzhara Movement

What was the Muzhara Movement?

• Intending to claim their rights to land ownership, tenant farmers fought collectively.

• The movement fought against exploitative landlord practices at the biswedari level in Punjab.

Year and Region:

• The Patiala princely state hosted its first small protests that sparked this movement back in the 1930s.

• Reached its peak between the 1940s–1950s.

• The PEPSU Muzhara Movement spread throughout 784 villages which today make up the states of Punjab and Haryana particularly in Patiala, Barnala, Mansa, Sangrur, Bathinda, Mohali, Fatehgarh Sahib, Faridkot, and Jind.

Causes of the Movement

• Because of feudal exploitation Muzharas lost a third of their produce which left them hopelessly poor.

• Governors paid their revenue to the princely rulers who taxed the British government while both groups maintained exploitative practices.

• Ancestral lands passed to the control of landlords making numerous small property owners rent their property to landlords.

• The post-1947 period saw feudal landlords continue to extract agricultural produce and this practice led farmers to demonstrate against them.

Key Leaders of the Movement

• Jagir Singh Joga: Organized and united tenant farmers through mass mobilization.

• Buta Singh: The political leader Buta Singh promoted both the redistribution of lands and the protection of rights that belonged to tenants.

• Teja Singh Sutantar: Through his leadership Teja Singh Sutantar added revolutionary ideas to the peasant movement and linked it with struggles throughout peasant communities.

• Sewa Singh Thikriwala: Provided inspiration through anti-feudal activism.

Forms of Resistance

• The beginning stage of demonstrations began when protesters made peaceful demands for their land rights.

• The increasing repression led tenant farmers to start using weapons for their defense.

• Through mass mobilization the movement planned large public forums as well as group actions to fight against exploitation.

Outcome and Legacy

• The 1952 land reforms legislation gave tenant farmers the right to own their land properties.

• As a sign of endurance the movement solidified its place as the main symbol which peasants used to fight feudal oppression.

• Every year on March 19 the members of the movement observe both the victims' commemoration and celebrate the achievements of their battle.

Conclusion

Historians consider the PEPSU Muzhara Movement an essential part in India's agricultural history because it showed how people united to fight against their feudal masters. The land reforms that resulted from the movement brought substantial victory to tenant farmers through guaranteed security and improved dignity in their farming professions. India uses the Muzhara movement stories to motivate ongoing movements fighting for just land distribution and fair agricultural rights throughout the country.