Tebhaga Movement (1946–1947): A Peasant Uprising in Bengal

 

Tebhaga Movement (1946–1947): A Peasant Uprising in Bengal

The Tebhaga Movement (1946–1947) was a powerful peasant struggle in Bengal, organized by the Communist Party of India (CPI) through its peasant wing, the All India Kisan Sabha. It was a bold demand for fairness and justice by sharecroppers (bargadars) who tilled the land but were trapped in an exploitative system. The movement, meaning "three shares" in Bengali, sought to ensure that sharecroppers retained two-thirds of the harvest, reducing the landlords' share to one-third. Without a single leader but driven by collective action and communist ideology, it was a landmark in India’s agrarian history. This note explores the reasons for its inception, its course, and its results, weaving a story of courage, resistance, and change.

Reasons for the Inception of the Tebhaga Movement

The Tebhaga Movement was born out of deep-rooted economic, social, and political grievances. Bengal’s agrarian system, shaped by colonial policies, was a breeding ground for exploitation. Below are the key reasons that sparked this uprising:

Exploitative Sharecropping System
The heart of the movement lay in the unjust sharecropping system, known as barga, adhi, or bhag. Sharecroppers, or bargadars, cultivated land owned by landlords (zamindars or jotedars) and were forced to hand over half their harvest as rent, despite bearing the full cost of cultivation. This left them with barely enough to survive, especially during poor harvests. On top of this, they faced illegal cesses and usurious loans, trapping them in a cycle of debt and poverty. The demand for two-thirds of the produce was a cry for fairness, as it recognized the sharecroppers’ labor and investment.

Bengal Famine of 1943
The devastating Bengal famine of 1943, which killed millions, deepened the peasants’ misery. The famine exposed the cruelty of landlords who continued to demand their share of crops even as starvation gripped the countryside. The Communist Party of India, which provided relief in areas like the Sundarbans, gained the trust of peasants. The famine fueled resentment and created a fertile ground for rebellion, as sharecroppers saw the system’s failure to protect them.

Floud Commission Recommendations
The Bengal Land Revenue Commission (1938–1940), known as the Floud Commission, investigated the agrarian crisis and recommended that sharecroppers receive two-thirds of the produce, with landlords getting one-third. This proposal, though unimplemented, gave legitimacy to the peasants’ demands. The All India Kisan Sabha used this report to rally sharecroppers, arguing that their demand was not radical but aligned with official recommendations.

Growth of Communist Ideology
The Communist Party of India, with its focus on class struggle, played a pivotal role in mobilizing peasants. By the 1940s, the CPI had built a strong presence in Bengal through the Bengal Provincial Kisan Sabha, which had thousands of members and organizers. The party’s call for peasant unity, cutting across religious and communal lines, resonated with sharecroppers. The CPI’s relief efforts during the famine and its anti-landlord rhetoric inspired peasants to challenge the jotedars.

Political Climate of the 1940s
The Tebhaga Movement unfolded against the backdrop of India’s freedom struggle and the impending partition of Bengal. The weakening of British colonial authority, coupled with communal tensions and economic unrest, created a volatile environment. Sharecroppers, aware of the broader fight for independence, saw their struggle as part of a larger battle against oppression. The CPI’s slogan, “Adhi noy, Tebhaga chai” (We want two-thirds, not half), captured this spirit of defiance.

Socio-Economic Disparities
The rise of jotedars, a class of rich peasants who controlled land, markets, and moneylending, intensified exploitation. Unlike zamindars, who often lived in cities, jotedars were local powerhouses, especially in North Bengal. They wielded immense control over sharecroppers, who had no legal rights to the land. This stark inequality, combined with the growing political consciousness of peasants, set the stage for revolt.

Course of the Tebhaga Movement

The Tebhaga Movement was a dynamic struggle that unfolded in phases, spreading across Bengal’s countryside with remarkable speed. It was marked by grassroots mobilization, violent clashes, and significant participation from diverse groups, including women and tribal communities. Here’s how the movement progressed:

Initial Mobilization (September 1946)
In September 1946, the Bengal Provincial Kisan Sabha, guided by the CPI, called for a mass struggle to implement the Floud Commission’s recommendation. Communist cadres, including urban students and local leaders, fanned out into rural areas to organize sharecroppers. They held rallies, meetings, and cultural programs like folk theater (palagan, zarigan) to educate peasants about their rights. The slogan “Adhi noy, Tebhaga chai” became a rallying cry. Sharecroppers were urged to store crops in their own godowns (khamars) and pay only one-third to landlords.

Outbreak and Expansion (Late 1946)
The movement erupted during the winter harvest of 1946, starting in Atwari village, Dinajpur district. Bargadars harvested their paddy and took it to their own khamars, defying the traditional practice of storing it in jotedars’ godowns. This act of defiance spread to 19 districts, including Dinajpur, Rangpur, Jalpaiguri, Jessore, Khulna, Mymensingh, and 24-Parganas. In some areas, peasants declared “Tebhaga elakas” (liberated zones) and set up Tebhaga Committees for local governance. The movement’s storm centers were Kakdwip and Namkhana in the Sundarbans.

Role of Women and Tribal Communities
A striking feature of the movement was the massive participation of women, who formed groups like the Nari Bahini (Women’s Brigade). Women acted as couriers, sheltered activists, and even fought police with household tools like brooms, sticks, and powdered pepper. Tribal communities, such as the Santals and Rajbanshis, brought militancy to the struggle, adding an ethnic-class dimension. This unity of Hindus, Muslims, and tribals defied the communal tensions of 1946.

Resistance and Repression (Late 1946–Early 1947)
Jotedars, backed by the colonial police, resisted fiercely. Violent clashes broke out as landlords hired goons to seize crops, and police arrested activists. A tragic incident in Talpukur village, Dinajpur, saw the deaths of Samir Uddin (a Muslim adhiar) and Shivram Majhi (a Santal), who became the movement’s first martyrs. Despite repression, the movement gained momentum in January 1947 when the Muslim League Ministry, led by Suhrawardy, published the Bengal Bargadars Temporary Legislation Bill, incorporating the two-thirds demand. This gave peasants hope, but the government’s commitment was questionable.

Peak and Decline (Early 1947)
By early 1947, the movement reached its peak, with thousands of peasants withholding landlords’ shares. However, state repression intensified. In February 1947, police attacks in Khanpur, Dinajpur, and other areas led to mass arrests of CPI leaders like Sudhir Samajpati and Sachindu Chakravorty. The looming partition of Bengal disrupted communication, especially in areas like Dinajpur, which fell into East Pakistan. Internal divisions within the CPI and the peasants’ exhaustion weakened the movement. By mid-1947, it began to subside, though sporadic protests continued until 1950.

Results of the Tebhaga Movement

The Tebhaga Movement did not achieve all its goals, but its impact was profound, shaping Bengal’s agrarian landscape and inspiring future struggles. Its results can be viewed in both immediate and long-term perspectives:

Passage of the Bargadari Act (1950)
The movement’s pressure led to the enactment of the Bargadari Act in 1950, which recognized sharecroppers’ rights to two-thirds of the produce when they provided inputs. However, implementation was weak, and large landholdings remained with wealthy landlords. The Act was a partial victory, as it gave legal backing to the Tebhaga demand but failed to transform the agrarian structure fully.

Political Awakening of Peasants
The movement awakened the political consciousness of poor peasants, tribal sharecroppers, and women. It showed that collective action could challenge powerful landlords and colonial authorities. The CPI’s emphasis on peasant unity fostered solidarity across religious and ethnic lines, countering the communal riots of 1946. This newfound awareness laid the groundwork for future agrarian movements.

Empowerment of Women
Women’s active role in the movement was a game-changer. Their participation in protests, organizational work, and armed resistance broke traditional gender norms. Groups like the Nari Bahini became symbols of women’s agency, influencing the broader women’s movement in India.

Influence on Land Reforms
The Tebhaga Movement brought land reforms to the forefront of Bengal’s political agenda. Although immediate changes were limited, it set the stage for later reforms under West Bengal’s Left Front Government (1977 onwards). Initiatives like “Operation Barga” and land redistribution in the 1970s and 1980s owed their inspiration to the Tebhaga struggle.

Contribution to the Independence Struggle
The movement was part of a wave of agrarian uprisings in the 1940s, including the Telangana Rebellion. These struggles weakened colonial authority and added momentum to India’s independence movement. By challenging the zamindari system, Tebhaga aligned with the broader fight against exploitation and imperialism.

Legacy in Agrarian Movements
The Tebhaga Movement became a symbol of peasant resistance, inspiring movements like the Naxalite uprising and other struggles against economic injustice. Its emphasis on grassroots mobilization and class struggle remains a reference point for activists and historians.

Shortcomings and Challenges
Despite its achievements, the movement faced setbacks. State repression, the partition of Bengal, and internal CPI divisions hampered its success. The Bargadari Act’s poor implementation meant that many sharecroppers continued to face exploitation. Large-scale land redistribution, a key demand, remained unfulfilled in the immediate aftermath.

Conclusion

The Tebhaga Movement (1946–1947) was a shining chapter in India’s history, where ordinary sharecroppers dared to dream of a fairer world. Organized by the Communist Party of India’s All India Kisan Sabha, it was a collective cry against the oppressive sharecropping system, fueled by the Bengal famine, the Floud Commission’s recommendations, and the growing influence of communist ideology. Though it lacked a single leader, its strength came from the unity of peasants, women, and tribal communities, who fought bravely despite violent repression.

The movement’s course was marked by bold actions, from withholding landlords’ shares to declaring liberated zones. While it faced challenges like state crackdowns and the partition’s disruptions, its results were far-reaching. The Bargadari Act, political awakening, women’s empowerment, and influence on land reforms were its lasting gifts to Bengal and India. The Tebhaga Movement remains a beacon of hope, reminding us that even the most marginalized can rise against injustice with courage and solidarity. Its legacy continues to inspire struggles for equality and justice, making it one of the greatest peasant movements in Indian history.