Abstract
The roots of the Indian women’s movement go back to the 19th century male social reformers who took up issues concerning women and started women’s organizations. Women started forming their own organization from the end of the nineteenth century first at the local and then at the national level. In 1946, the two main issues they took up were political rights and reform of personal laws. Women’s participation in tebhaga movement broadened the base of the women’s movement. Tebhaga movement was one of the great post war peasant agitations in Bengal. It was the most extensive of all the post war agrarian agitation. Women of Bengal played a rather significant role in this movement. After the end of the Second World War, there were a number of educated women who were participating in the various peasant rebellions that were springing up all over the country. The legacy of female nationalists, taking part in the Quit India Movement and accepting prison sentence for the nation, had ignited the flame of protest in the hearts of women. Thus there was seen the active participation of women on par with men in these movements and rebellions of which the Tebhaga movement was one. This movement erupted in 1946 in Bengal on the eve of the withdrawal of the British. Although the tide of Tebhaga receded as fast as it rose, the uprising stands out as one of the most important political events in twentieth century Bengal. Among the unique features of the movement is the large-scale participation of women on par with men. The landless and poor peasant women formed fighting troops called ‘Nari Bahini’ and took a front rank role in defending the gains of the movement and in countering the repression of the state. Women of Jalpaiguri District also played an active role in this movement. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the role of women in the Tebhaga movement under the leadership of Communists and seeks to throw light on fundamental questions such as why, despite women's demonstrated capacity to organize, struggle and lead progressive movements. Key words: Tebhaga, exploitation, Nari Bahini, Jotedar, Zamindar, Krishak Sabha, sharecroppers, communist party, justice.
Highlights
Any universal success depends on the active role of men and women
The aim of this paper is to evaluate the role of women in the Tebhaga movement under the leadership of Communists and seeks to throw light on fundamental questions such as why, despite women's demonstrated capacity to organize, struggle and lead progressive movements
The history of the Tebhaga movement is especially important for a history of women in the district
Summary
Ila Mitra, a veteran communist leader, was popularly known as 'Nacholer Rani' played an active role in Tebhaga movement She organized landless peasant and sandals women. Tilak Tarini Nandi, Sikha Nandi and a host of militant peasant women activists of Pachagarh area (Dasgupta, 1992).14 They took part in meetings, processions, paddy harvesting and threshing and even resistance to the police. They were incensed and shouted for retaliation Another major incident of indiscriminate firing by a police party led by the Sadar SDO himself on a group of peasants and tea garden workers took place on 4th April, 1947 at village Mahabari situated near Mangalbari hat (chalsa area) under Matiali P.S. Nine persons including one thirteen year old boy were killed and a few others were seriously injured.
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