Bardoli Satyagraha, Causes, Features, Impacts

The Bardoli Satyagraha of 1928 was a significant episode in India's struggle for independence, marking a turning point in the Indian nationalist movement. It was led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and is remembered for its non-violent resistance against the British colonial government.

Bardoli Satyagraha Background

The Bardoli Satyagraha took place in 1928 in Bardoli taluka, located in the Surat district of Gujarat. This region was predominantly agrarian, with most of the population engaged in farming. The roots of the Satyagraha can be traced back to the oppressive tax policies imposed by the British colonial government, which disproportionately affected the farmers of Bardoli.

• In 1927, despite severe famine and reduced agricultural productivity, the British government raised land revenue by 22%, worsening farmers' distress. With pleas for relief ignored, this sparked the Bardoli Satyagraha, where peasants launched a non-violent protest against British authority.

Bardoli Satyagraha Causes

The primary cause of the Bardoli Satyagraha was the unjust increase in land revenue assessment by the British government. However, several other factors contributed to the unrest among the farmers:

• Economic Hardships: Bardoli farmers were already struggling due to crop failures and famine in 1925. The increased tax burden worsened their financial plight.
• Lack of Redressal Mechanisms: Farmers' appeals for tax reduction were ignored by British authorities, heightening resentment and anger.
• Injustice and Oppression: Enforcing higher taxes despite hardships was seen as unjust, creating a sense of betrayal among farmers who had previously supported the British in World War I.

Bardoli Satyagraha Course

The Bardoli Satyagraha officially began in 1928, when the farmers of Bardoli were under the leadership of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The Satyagraha unfolded in several stages, each marked by a series of events that collectively shaped the course of the movement:

• Beginning: On June 12, 1928, Bardoli farmers, led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, unitedly launched Satyagraha, pledging non-payment of unjust taxes as a collective resistance against British authorities.
• Establishment of Volunteer Network: Patel created a disciplined volunteer network to ensure non-violence and spread awareness, urging peasants to refuse tax payments and boycott government services, enhancing movement coordination and solidarity.
• British Response: In response, British authorities seized properties, auctioned lands of resisting farmers, and used intimidation and violence to suppress the Satyagraha, aiming to weaken the agitators' resolve.

Bardoli Resolution

The Bardoli Resolution was a formal declaration made by the farmers of Bardoli after the Satyagraha. It marked the successful resolution of the tax issue and laid down the principles of nonviolent resistance that would guide future movements. The resolution expressed the grievances of the farmers and called for the following: 

• Withdrawing the 22% tax increase on farmers in the Bombay Presidency 
• Restoring stolen lands and properties 
• Cancelling the year's revenue payment 
• Lowering the revenue demand to 6.03% 
• Treating the farming community fairly 

Bardoli Satyagraha Features

The Bardoli Satyagraha of 1928 was a significant nonviolent resistance movement led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in the Bardoli Taluka of Gujarat, India. It was a pivotal event in the Indian struggle for independence, particularly within the broader Civil Disobedience Movement. Below are the detailed features of the Bardoli Satyagraha:

• Nature of the Bardoli Satyagraha: The Bardoli Satyagraha was a nonviolent resistance movement based on the principles of Satyagraha (truth and nonviolence) advocated by Mahatma Gandhi. The movement was marked by its disciplined and organised approach, which focused on maintaining peace and order throughout the agitation.
• Leadership of Bardoli Satyagraha: The movement was led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, his leadership was instrumental in maintaining the farmers' unity and morale. 
  • He was assisted by several local leaders and volunteers who ensured that the movement remained focused and non-violent.
• Bardoli Satyagraha Participation: The Bardoli Satyagraha saw widespread participation from the farmers of Bardoli, who displayed remarkable courage and determination in the face of adversity. 
  • Women also played a significant role in the movement, participating in protests, spreading awareness, and supporting the male agitators. 

Bardoli Satyagraha Role of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel emerged as the central figure in the Bardoli Satyagraha, earning the title of "Sardar" (leader) for his leadership during the movement. He ensured that the farmers were committed to nonviolence and prepared for the consequences, including property confiscation and imprisonment. Patel's role in the Satyagraha can be summarised as follows:

• Organisational Skills: Patel divided Bardoli into zones, each led by local leaders and volunteers, ensuring smooth coordination and communication. Patel’s leadership emphasised non-violence and discipline, keeping the movement focused and morally grounded.
• Use of Media: Patel used leaflets, public meetings, and the "Bardoli booklet" to rally support, encouraging unity and persistence in tax refusal, which helped sustain the Satyagraha’s momentum.
• Negotiation and Resolution: Patel’s negotiation skills led to a successful resolution, securing a settlement with the British that rolled back the unfair tax increases, concluding the Satyagraha victoriously.

Bardoli Satyagraha Impacts 

The Bardoli Satyagraha of 1928 had a profound impact on India's struggle for independence and the socio-political landscape of the time that extended beyond the immediate resolution of the tax issue. The following are the critical impacts of Bardoli Satyagraha:

• Victory as a Peasant Movement: Under mounting pressure and fearing a larger movement, the British reduced the tax to 6.03%, returned confiscated properties to farmers, and cancelled the auctions.
• Shift in British Policies: The movement compelled British authorities to reconsider and retract their harsh tax policies. The Maxwell-Broomfield Commission was set up, leading to a reduction in the tax hike and the return of confiscated lands to the farmers.
• International Recognition: The Bardoli Satyagraha gained international attention, exposing British colonial oppression and earning global sympathy. 
  • The UK Parliament even debated the issues raised, highlighting India’s struggle.

Bardoli Satyagraha Significance

The Bardoli Satyagraha of 1928 was a significant movement in India's struggle for independence, marked by its profound impact on both the local and national levels. It is significant for several reasons:

• Symbol of Non-Violent Resistance: The Satyagraha became a powerful symbol of non-violent resistance against colonial rule, demonstrating Satyagraha's effectiveness in fostering social and political change through truth and non-violence.
• Empowerment of Peasants: The movement empowered Bardoli's peasants and inspired agrarian activism across India, emphasising the need to address rural grievances and promoting fair governance.
• Legacy of Unity and Discipline: The movement's success stemmed from the unity and discipline of its participants, creating a lasting legacy of collective action that influenced future independence movements in India.
• The Turning Point: Following the Non-Cooperation Movement, Bardoli emerged as a hub for initiatives like khaddar production, aiding disadvantaged communities and preparing the masses for further agitation.

Bardoli Satyagraha FAQs

Q1. Who started Bardoli Satyagraha and when?

Ans. The Bardoli Satyagraha was started by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on June 12, 1928, in response to a tax hike imposed by the British government on the farmers of Bardoli, Gujarat.

Q2. What was the Bardoli Satyagraha?

Ans. The Bardoli Satyagraha was a nonviolent protest led by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel against the British government's 22% tax increase on farmers. The protest aimed to cancel the tax hike.

Q3. What is Bardoli famous for?

Ans. Bardoli is famous for the Bardoli Satyagraha, a significant movement in India's struggle for independence that elevated Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to a key leader.

Q4. What was the Bardoli resolution of 1922?

Ans. The Bardoli resolution of 1922 was a decision by the Congress to withdraw the Non-Cooperation Movement following the Chauri Chaura incident, not directly related to the Bardoli Satyagraha of 1928.

Q5. Who gave the Sardar title to Patel?

Ans. The women of Bardoli awarded Vallabhbhai Patel the title "Sardar" in recognition of his leadership during the Bardoli Satyagraha.