Maharshi Shinde and the Peasant Movement

Maharshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde was an eminent activist for peasant rights from Bagalkot in Karnataka. Maharshi Shinde was a pioneering social reformer, who was involved with the Prarthana Samaj and the Brahmo Samaj from a young age, and was a lifelong follower of the principles of these organizations. He was also a committed nationalistand a follower of Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy. Maharshi Shinde rose to national prominence during the agitations against the Small Holdings Bill proposed by the British Administration in 1927. The Bill was intended to prevent the further fragmentation of small plots held by the poorer peasantry. However, this bill raised concerns among the peasantry that the colonial government, in collusion with large landholders and industrialists was planning to render the peasants landless, and push them into working in the factories in terrible conditions. He raised awareness among the peasants by holding number of meetings and conferences in different districts. Pamphlets attacking the provisions of the bill were distributed to raise popular support. Very soon, the peasants also began agitating against the Land Revenue Amendment Bill as well as the government actions at Bardoli, thus signaling their solidarity with the larger nationalist movement. Maharshi Shinde presided over the Provincial Conference at Pune, where thousands of peasants from Maharashtra and Karnataka participated to protest against the agricultural policies of the colonial government. Shinde urged the peasants to align themselves with the Congress and thereby usher in an era of freedom.