Question map
What was the main reason for the greatly worsened condition of the Peasants in the late 1920s and early 1930s which led to Peasants Movements in thePunjab,Gujaratand Uttar Pradesh? Time
Explanation
The primary cause for the severe deterioration of the Indian peasantry's condition in the late 1920s and early 1930s was the Great Depression. This global economic crisis led to a catastrophic fall in the prices of primary commodities [3][t3]. Agricultural prices began to decline in 1926 and collapsed after 1930, making it nearly impossible for peasants to sell their harvests at sustainable rates or pay their fixed land revenue and debts [3][t1]. This economic distress triggered widespread agrarian turmoil and fueled peasant movements in Punjab, Gujarat (notably Bardoli), and Uttar Pradesh (the No-Rent campaigns) [3][t9]. While landlord oppression and high rents were persistent issues [c1][t7], the sudden price collapse acted as the immediate catalyst for the intensified movements during this specific period, as the real burden of revenue and debt increased significantly while income vanished [3][t3].
Sources
- [3] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 31: Peasant Movements 1857-1947 > Eka Movement > p. 579