Tebhaga Movement

The Tebhaga Movement was a significant peasant uprising that took place in Bengal (now West Bengal and Bangladesh) during 1946–47. It was led primarily by sharecroppers (bargadars) demanding a greater share of the produce they cultivated. The term “Tebhaga” means “three shares” in Bengali, reflecting the peasants’ demand that the crop be divided into three parts—two-thirds for the sharecroppers and one-third for the landlords.
This movement marked a major milestone in India’s agrarian struggle and symbolised the rising consciousness of rural poor against feudal exploitation.

Historical Background

During the colonial period, Bengal’s agrarian system was dominated by the Zamindari system introduced under the Permanent Settlement Act of 1793.
Under this system:

• Zamindars (landlords) owned vast tracts of land and collected rent from tenants.
• The actual cultivation was done by sharecroppers (bargadars), who tilled the land and shared half of their produce with landlords.
• Sharecroppers had no ownership rights and were subject to exploitation, high rents, and eviction.

By the 1940s, economic distress caused by World War II, the Bengal famine of 1943, and rising inequality intensified rural discontent, setting the stage for revolt.

Causes of the Tebhaga Movement

1. Exploitation of Sharecroppers:
   • Bargadars were required to give half of the produce to landlords, even though they bore most of the cultivation costs.
   • They had no security of tenure and could be evicted at any time.
2. Economic Hardship:
   • Post-war inflation and famine led to severe poverty and hunger among peasants.
   • Agricultural productivity was low, and landlords often hoarded food grains for profit.
3. Inspiration from the Kisan Movement:
   • The growing strength of the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), the peasant wing of the Communist Party of India (CPI), mobilised rural masses for rights and reforms.
4. Flawed Land Tenure System:
   • The British colonial policy favoured zamindars, creating structural inequality in land distribution.
5. Government’s Flawed Revenue Policy:
   • Heavy taxation and arbitrary levies worsened the plight of cultivators.

The Main Demands

The central demand of the movement was “Tebhaga”, i.e., two-thirds of the produce for the sharecroppers and one-third for the landlords.
Key aspects of the demand included:

• The produce should be stored in the peasant’s granary, not the landlord’s.
• The landlord’s share should be reduced to one-third, as the sharecropper contributed seeds, labour, and other inputs.
• Security of tenure for the bargadars to prevent arbitrary eviction.

Leadership and Organisation

• The movement was led by the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and the Communist Party of India (CPI).
• Prominent leaders included Khadim Hussain, Hare Krishna Konar, and Jyoti Basu.
• The movement was strongest in North Bengal districts such as:
  • Dinajpur
  • Jalpaiguri
  • Rangpur
  • Mymensingh (now in Bangladesh)

Course of the Movement

1. Initial Mobilisation (Late 1946):
   • Peasants began refusing to hand over half the produce to landlords.
   • They claimed two-thirds of the produce and stored it in their own granaries.
   • Local Kisan Sabhas organised village-level resistance.
2. Spread and Escalation:
   • The movement quickly spread across rural Bengal, with mass participation from peasants, agricultural labourers, and women.
   • Violent clashes broke out between peasants and landlords’ militias, often supported by the police.
3. Government Response:
   • The British provincial government of Bengal deployed police forces to suppress the agitation.
   • Several peasants were killed, arrested, or evicted.
4. Legal and Political Pressure:
   • Following widespread unrest, the Bengal Bargadari Act (1949) was passed, recognising sharecroppers’ rights to a larger share of produce and tenancy security.
   • However, implementation remained weak due to landlord resistance and administrative apathy.

Role of Women

• Women played an active and courageous role in the Tebhaga Movement.
• They participated in protests, guarded crops, and confronted police and landlord goons.
• Their involvement highlighted the gender dimension of agrarian struggles in India.

Impact and Significance

1. Economic Impact:
   • Although the immediate demands were only partially fulfilled, the movement brought attention to the plight of sharecroppers.
   • It led to future tenancy reforms in West Bengal after independence.
2. Political Impact:
   • Strengthened the Communist movement in Bengal, which later played a dominant role in state politics.
   • Influenced land reform policies adopted by the Left Front government in West Bengal in the late 20th century.
3. Legislative Impact:
   • The Bargadari Act (1949) gave legal recognition to sharecroppers’ rights to two-thirds of the produce.
   • Later reforms, such as Operation Barga (1978–82), were inspired by Tebhaga’s legacy and ensured implementation of tenant rights.
4. Social Awakening:
   • The movement fostered unity among peasants across caste and religious lines.
   • It challenged feudal oppression and strengthened the idea of agrarian equality.
5. National Influence:
   • Tebhaga became part of the broader Kisan movement in India, inspiring similar struggles in Telangana and Kerala.

Limitations of the Movement

1. Suppression by the British and Landlords:
   • Severe police action and violence weakened the movement.
2. Lack of Uniform Leadership:
   • Differences among Communist leaders and poor communication across districts limited coordination.
3. Partial Implementation:
   • Legal recognition of peasants’ rights did not translate into practical relief due to bureaucratic resistance.
4. Regional Restriction:
   • The movement remained largely confined to Bengal and did not spread widely across India.

Legacy of the Tebhaga Movement

• Foundation for Land Reforms: Laid the groundwork for future agrarian reform movements and policies, including Operation Barga in the 1970s.
• Rise of the Left in Bengal: Strengthened the Communist Party’s base in rural Bengal, paving the way for its later electoral success.
• Symbol of Peasant Resistance: The Tebhaga Movement became a symbol of collective struggle against feudal exploitation and colonial oppression.
• Empowerment of Rural Poor and Women: It marked one of the earliest large-scale participations of women and landless labourers in an organised rural uprising.