Tebhaga Movement, Causes, Features, Impacts

The Tebhaga Movement was a significant peasant uprising in Bengal, India, during the late 1940s. It aimed to reduce the share of crops that tenants had to give to landlords. This movement was driven by widespread discontent among sharecroppers (bargadars) who demanded that their share of the produce be increased from half to two-thirds, leading to intense confrontations with landlords and the colonial government.

Tebhaga Movement Background

The Tebhaga movement (1946-1947) was a significant peasant agitation launched in Bengal by the Bangiya Pradeshik Kisan Sabha (BPKS), a peasant front of the Communist Party of India. The term Tebhaga means “three shares of the crop.” 

• The Tebhaga Movement took place against the backdrop of British colonial rule, where the agrarian structure was deeply exploitative. The agricultural system was based on sharecropping, where tenants cultivated the land owned by landlords (zamindars) and shared a portion of their produce with them.
• During this period, the sharecropping system in Bengal required the sharecroppers to rent out 50% of the harvested crops to the landlords.
• This system left the peasants with barely enough to survive, particularly in years of poor harvest. The discontent among the peasantry was further aggravated by the famine of 1943.
• The Communist Party of India (CPI), which had a strong presence in Bengal, recognised the growing unrest among the peasants and decided to mobilise them against the landlords' exploitative practices. 
  • The party's agenda was to address the grievances of the sharecroppers and push for land reforms that would benefit the agrarian community.

Tebhaga Movement Causes

The Tebhaga Movement (1946-1947) in Bengal arose from economic exploitation by landlords, exacerbated by the 1943 famine and fueled by the unimplemented Floud Commission recommendation for sharecroppers to receive two-thirds of their produce.

• Economic Exploitation: The primary cause of the Tebhaga Movement was the economic exploitation of sharecroppers by landlords. 
  • Under the existing system, sharecroppers had to give half of their produce to the landlords, leaving them with insufficient resources to sustain themselves and their families.
• Famine of 1943: The Bengal famine of 1943 had a devastating impact on the peasantry, leading to widespread starvation and death. It fueled resentment against the landlords who continued to demand their share of the produce even in the face of mass suffering.
• Floud Commission Recommendations: The Floud Commission, established by the British government, recommended that sharecroppers receive two-thirds of the produce instead of half. Although not implemented, this recommendation provided a basis for the peasants' demands during the movement.

Tebhaga Movement Course

The Tebhaga Movement began in late 1946 and continued through 1947, spreading rapidly across various districts of Bengal, including Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri, and Khulna. The course of the movement can be divided into several phases:

• Initial Mobilisation: The Tebhaga Movement started with the CPI organising meetings and rallies to educate peasants about their rights, using the slogan "Adhi noy, Tebhaga chai" (We want two-thirds).
• Resistance from Landlords: As the movement grew, sharecroppers withheld landlords' shares, leading to confrontations. The colonial government sided with landlords, deploying police to suppress the movement, resulting in violent clashes and arrests.
• Decline of the Movement: By mid-1947, the movement declined due to government repression, internal divisions, and political changes from India's impending independence. 

Tebhaga Movement Features 

The Tebhaga Movement, which took place in Bengal from 1946 to 1947, was a significant agrarian uprising led by sharecroppers demanding a larger share of the produce they cultivated. Several distinct features characterised the Tebhaga Movement:

Nature of Tebhaga Movement

The Tebhaga Movement was primarily an agrarian revolt rooted in the economic grievances of the sharecroppers. It was a mass movement that involved large-scale participation from the rural population, particularly the poor and marginalised sections of society.

Tebhaga Movement Leadership

The Tebhaga Movement was a peasant resistance that erupted in Bengal in 1946-47 under the leadership of Bangiya Pradeshik Kishan Sabha (BPKS), the peasant wing of CPI. The movement's leaders included Kampram Singh, Bhavan Singh, and Hare Krishna Konar. 

Tebhaga Movement Participation

The movement saw widespread participation from sharecroppers, landless labourers, and small farmers. Women also played a significant role in the movement, participating in protests, meetings, and even armed resistance against the police.

Tebhaga Movement Outcomes

The Tebhaga Movement, though not entirely successful in its immediate goals, significantly influenced land reforms, increased political awareness among peasants, empowered women, impacted the independence struggle, and inspired future agrarian movements in India.

• Land Reforms: The movement brought the issue of land reforms to the forefront of the political agenda in Bengal. Although the immediate demands of the movement were not met, it laid the groundwork for future land reforms, including the abolition of the zamindari system and the redistribution of land.
• Increased Political Awareness: The movement contributed to a heightened political consciousness among the peasantry in Bengal. It demonstrated the potential of organised peasant resistance and the need for political representation of agrarian interests.
• Impact on Independence Struggle: The Tebhaga Movement was part of the broader wave of agrarian struggles that swept across India in the 1940s. These movements played a crucial role in challenging the legitimacy of colonial rule and contributed to the momentum for India's independence.
• Empowerment of Women: Women played a significant role in the movement, forming groups like the 'Nari Bahini' to defend the rights of sharecroppers, which broadened the base of the women's movement in India.
• Legacy of Peasant Movements: The Tebhaga Movement impacted subsequent agrarian movements in India, including the Telangana Rebellion and the Naxalite movement. It remains a symbol of peasant resistance against economic exploitation and injustice.

Tebhaga Movement UPSC PYQs

Question 1: The demand for the Tebhaga Peasant Movement in Bengal was for (UPSC Prelims 2013)

(a) the reduction of the share of the landlords from one-half of the crop to one-third

(b) the grant of ownership of land to peasants as they were the actul cultivators of the land

(c) the uprooting of Zamindari system and the end of serfdom

(d) writing off all peasant debts

Ans: (d)

Tebhaga Movement FAQs

Q1. What is the Tebhaga movement?

Ans. The Tebhaga Movement was a significant peasant uprising in Bengal initiated by the Bangiya Kisan Sabha. It demanded a two-thirds share of the produce for sharecroppers instead of the traditional half-share.

Q2. Who was the leader of the Tebhaga movement in 1946?

Ans. The movement was primarily led by the leaders of the Communist Party of India, with key leaders including Hare Krishna Konar, Kalyan Mitra, and Benoy Choudhury.

Q3. What is the slogan of Tebhaga?

Ans. The slogan of the Tebhaga Movement was "Adhi noy, Tebhaga chai," which means "We want two-thirds, not half."

Q4. Where is Tebhaga?

Ans. The Tebhaga Movement took place in the Bengal region, particularly in the districts of North Bengal and parts of East Bengal (now Bangladesh).

Q5. What was the main demand of Tebhaga?

Ans. The primary demand of the Tebhaga Movement was for sharecroppers to receive two-thirds of the crop yield, reducing the landlords' share to one-third.