Pabna Revolt 1873-1876, History, Significance, Outcomes, Leaders

The Pabna Revolt, also known as the Pabna Peasant Uprising, was a significant agrarian movement in Bengal during the late 19th century. This revolt, occurring between 1873 and 1876, manifested the widespread discontent among the peasantry against the oppressive zamindari system. 

The revolt highlighted the exploitation faced by the peasants and marked a crucial point in the history of the peasant movements in India.

Pabna Revolt Background

The Pabna Revolt of 1873 took place in Bengal's Pabna district, now in Bangladesh. Under the British Permanent Settlement of 1793, zamindars became landowners, while peasants had to pay rent. This land revenue system led to heavy exploitation, as zamindars increased rents, imposed illegal taxes(abwabs), and forced peasants into labour (begar). 

The peasants, already suffering from economic hardships and frequent famines, eventually rose in revolt against these oppressive practices. One of the key leaders, Ishan Chandra Roy (Ishan Raja), along with followers like Koodi Molla and Shambhu Nath Pal, declared their parganas independent from zamindari control and envisioned establishing a local government.

Pabna Revolt Causes

The Pabna Revolt was caused by the severe exploitation of peasants through exorbitant rents, illegal cesses, forced labour, and a biased legal system, which, combined with economic hardships, led to widespread desperation and rebellion. Some interrelated factors contributed to the outbreak of the Pabna Revolt are:

• Exorbitant Rents: The primary cause of the revolt was the imposition of excessively high and often arbitrary rents by the zamindars, leaving peasants with little surplus for their sustenance and pushing many into perpetual debt.
• Illegal Cesses (Abwabs): Besides high rents, zamindars imposed illegal cesses known as abwabs, charging peasants for irrigation, livestock, religious festivals, and other arbitrary purposes, even though these charges were not recognized by law; refusal to pay often resulted in eviction threats.
• Forced Labor (Begar): Zamindars demanded forced labour, or begar, from peasants, compelling them to work on zamindar lands or perform other services without any compensation, further exacerbating their hardships and deepening their resentment.
• Lack of Legal Recourse: The colonial legal system in Bengal was heavily biased in favour of the zamindars, with courts dominated by British officials typically siding with them in disputes over rent and land rights, leaving peasants with little hope of obtaining justice.
• Economic Hardship: The general economic conditions in 19th-century Bengal, including frequent famines and exploitation by zamindars, left peasants in extreme poverty, creating a volatile environment ripe for the uprising.

Famine's Effect on the Pabna Revolt

The Bengal famine of the early 1870s, triggered by monsoon failure, intensified the grievances of peasants already suffering under high rents and cesses imposed by zamindars. Widespread crop failure and food shortages, coupled with inadequate government relief, deepened their desperation. This combination of famine, economic distress, and oppressive landlord practices ultimately led to the Pabna Revolt.

Pabna Revolt Course

The Pabna Revolt began in 1873 and quickly spread across the Pabna district and neighbouring areas. The peasants, recognizing the futility of individual resistance, began to organize themselves into groups and took collective action to assert their rights against the zamindars. The course of the revolt can be divided into several key phases:

• Initial Grievances: Peasants in Pabna expressed discontent over oppressive zamindar practices, including high rents, illegal cesses (abwabs), and forced labour (begar), exacerbated by frequent famines, leading to widespread unrest.
• Formation of Peasant Leagues: The establishment of Kisan Sabhas marked a key development in the revolt, providing a platform for peasants to unite, voice grievances, and coordinate resistance against zamindar oppression.
• Escalation of Protests: The movement gained momentum as thousands of peasants participated in mass meetings and non-violent protests, asserting their rights and opposing zamindar demands.
• Government Intervention: Alarmed by the scale of the unrest, the British administration initially responded with military force and arrests but later acknowledged the grievances, indicating a shift in their approach.

Reaction of Peasants During the Pabna Revolt

The peasants' reaction during the Pabna Revolt was characterized by defiance against rent payments, organized resistance through peasant leagues, and remarkable resilience in the face of repression and hardship.

• Defiance: The peasants' refusal to pay rent and organized resistance showcased their courage in confronting the zamindars and colonial authority.
• Organization: The establishment of peasant leagues and coordinated actions enabled the peasants to maintain unity and effectively resist zamindar oppression through Kisan Sabhas.
• Resilience: Despite facing repression and hardships, the peasants demonstrated unwavering determination to continue their struggle until they achieved their goals, reflecting their deep-rooted grievances.

End of Pabna Revolt

The Pabna Revolt gradually came to an end in the mid-1870s as the British colonial administration, recognizing the widespread nature of the unrest, began to address the grievances of the peasants. The revolt's decline was marked by a combination of government interventions, including military suppression and legal reforms. The enactment of the Bengal Tenancy Act in 1885, which provided some protection to peasants against arbitrary evictions and illegal cesses, was a significant outcome influenced by the revolt. 

Pabna Revolt Features

The Pabna Revolt was characterized by its non-violent nature, led by local leaders and educated sympathizers, with widespread participation from various rural segments, making it a sustainable movement that challenged colonial suppression.

• Nature of the Revolt: The Pabna Revolt was primarily non-violent, utilizing non-cooperation, legal resistance, and mass mobilization instead of armed conflict, making it more sustainable and difficult for the colonial administration to suppress.
• Leadership: The revolt was led by local leaders and educated sympathizers, such as lawyers and journalists, with prominent figures like R.C. Dutt and Bankim Chandra Chatterjee provided legitimacy and visibility to the movement.
• Participation: The revolt saw widespread involvement from various rural segments, including peasants, artisans, shopkeepers, and the rural middle class, which contributed to its mass character and complicated colonial efforts to isolate and suppress the rebels.

Pabna Revolt Outcomes

The Pabna Revolt resulted in reduced rents and the abolition of illegal cesses, led to the introduction of the Bengal Tenancy Act of 1885 for tenant protection, strengthened peasant solidarity through collective action, and inspired nationalist leaders to integrate agrarian issues into the broader struggle against colonial oppression.

• Reduction in Rent and Abolition of Abwabs: The revolt led to reduced rents and the abolition of illegal cesses (abwabs) as the collective action of peasants compelled zamindars to negotiate more reasonable terms, with colonial intervention regulating rent levels.
• Introduction of the Bengal Tenancy Act (1885): The Pabna Revolt was pivotal in the introduction of the Bengal Tenancy Act of 1885, which protected tenant rights and regulated landlord-tenant relationships, offering legal safeguards against arbitrary eviction and exploitation.
• Strengthening of Peasant Solidarity: The revolt fostered a sense of solidarity and collective identity among peasants, empowering them through the formation of leagues and collective resistance, which later influenced other agrarian movements.
• Influence on Nationalist Leaders: The Pabna Revolt inspired nationalist leaders like Surendranath Banerjee and Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, symbolizing the broader struggle against colonial oppression and highlighting the need to address agrarian issues within the nationalist agenda.

Pabna Revolt FAQs

Q1. What was the Pabna Revolt?

Ans. The Pabna Revolt was an agrarian rebellion that occurred in the Pabna district (now in Bangladesh) between 1870 and 1871.

Q2. Who started the Pabna revolt?

Ans. The Pabna Peasant Uprising (1873-76) in Bengal was led by Ishan Chandra Roy, also known as "Bidrohi Raja" or "Rebel King". 

Q3. What were the objectives of the Pabna revolt?

Ans. The objectives of the Pabna Revolt were to reduce rent, halt illegal evictions, address oppressive debt practices, and secure fair tenant rights.

Q4. When was Pabna established?

Ans. The Pabna district was established in 1832. Pabna District is bounded north by Natore and Sirajgonj districts, south by Rajbari and Kushtia districts, east by Manikgonj and Sirajgonj districts, and west by the Ganges River and Kushtia district.

Q5. What does the name Pabna mean?

Ans. The name is derived from the Persian word "Panmbah", which means cotton.