Bijolia movement

The Bijolia movement (Hindi: बिजोलिया आंदोलन) was a peasant movement in the Bijolia jagir of the former Mewar state (in present-day Rajasthan in India) against excessive land revenue exactions. Originating in the former jagir (feudal estate) of Bijolia (near the town of Bijolia in Bhilwara district), the movement gradually spread to neighbouring jagirs. Leadership to the movement was provided, at different times, by Sitaram Das, Vijay Singh Pathik, and Manikyalal Verma. The movement continued till 1941 after a bitter struggle lasting about half a century, gained national attention and resisted state oppression.

Land revenue and other taxes were the main issues behind the movement. Bijolia was a jagir in Mewar State, ruled by the Parmar jagirdar, one of the leading 16 nobles (solah umrao) in Mewar State. Peasant discontent started after the accession of Rao Sawai Kishan Singh ji to the jagir in 1894. "Rao Sawai" was the title given to the Jagirdars of the Pawar /Parmar dynasty who ruled on Bijolia; Rao Sawai Kishan Singh ji shuffled the administrative personnel of the jagir and the new officials were encouraged to realize more revenue from peasants. Certain taxis (lagat) which were formerly imposed under extraordinary circumstances for short periods were now made to last longer.

In 1897, a delegation of peasants consisting of Nanji Patel of Berisal and Thakari Patel of Gopal Niwas went to Udaipur and attempted, in vain, to get an audience with the Maharana. But the Maharana did institute an inquiry which concluded that certain taxes had been arbitrarily imposed by the jagirdar. The Maharana issued a warning to the jagirdar, which only resulted in him retaliating against the two delegates who had gone to Udaipur. The peasants continued appeals to the jagirdar who ultimate granted some concessions to the peasants in 1904.

The concessions granted in 1904 did not last. In 1906, Prithvi Singh ascended to the jagir and withdrew the concessions granted in 1904 and instructed officials to collected increased taxes. Failing to get a hearing from the jagirdar, some peasants chose not to cultivate their lands and migrated to neighboring Gwalior and Bundi. Some more concessions were promised to the peasants on 1914, but never implemented.

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