Bahujan Samaj and peasant mobilisation in Satara

The Satara district of Maharashtra has a glorious position in the history of Indian Independence movement. Bahujan Samaj, or the non-Brahmin section of the society who was politically awakened by the efforts of its leaders, made a considerable contribution to the national movement in the district. The freedom movement reached rural Bahujan Samaj in Satara during the anti-small holding bill movement of 1927-1929 and then the Jungle Satyagraha in 1930. Many Bahujan leaders such as Nana Patil, Atmaram Patil, Vinaykaro Thorat, Kasinathrao Deshmukh, Kisan Veer, Yeshvantrao Chavan, Bapusaheb Deshmukh etc. joined the nationalist fold under Indian National Congress’s banner in 1930 influenced by Gandhiji’s leadership. They joined the leadership positions of the Satara district Congress and started mobilising the peasants for national politics. Many Bahujan Samaj leaders who earlier worked with Satyashodhak Samaj took the leadership of the nationalist movement in the district. The Quit India Movement of 1942 saw a huge Bahujan participation due to the nationalising influence of these leaders. Leaders like Bhaurao Patil trained many peasants of the Bahujan Samaj and the youth who actively participated in the movement and turned schools and hostel buildings in rural areas their hiding places for underground activities. The participation of Bahujan Samaj was a landmark in the history freedom struggle in the Satara district, turning it into a heroic and armed mass struggle.