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Bijolia movement

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The Bijolia movement was a peasant movement started in the Mewar region, of Rajasthan in India against the excessive land revenue exactions, where the peasants refused to do bagar (unpaid labour) and held back the taxes for three years. Based in Bijolia, a town in Bhilwara district and gradually spread to neighbouring jagirs (feudal estates), initial leadership to the movement was provided by Sitaram Das, later Bhoop Singh and Manikyalal Verma prominently further carried the movement.

The movement had its origins in the Great Famine of 1899–1900, which led to mass migration from the area. The remaining farmers were exploited by the thikana (estate) owner through heavy taxes. The first revolt took place in 1905, then in 1913 and continued intermittently for several decades, with the most potent revolt in 1916. In 1916, the leaders of the movement led a no tax movement against the Maharaja of Udaipur State, a princely state under the British Raj. The farmers refused to cultivate the land. The movement continued till 1941 after a bitter struggle lasting about half a century, gained national attention and resisted state oppression.

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Bijolia movement Wikipedia


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