Nature of Conflicts, Tensions and Exploitation in Sharecropping in Rural Sindh

Ghulam Hussain,Shuja Ahmed,Anwaar Mohyuddin

doi:10.4236/ojapps.2013.38058

Abstract

This paper explains the causes of conflicts and tensions in sharecropping relationships, the nature and level of exploitation. It explains the immediate as well as root causes of conflicts that emerge between sharecroppers and landlords. Life-world of peasants of Sindh has been explored at village, sub-regional and regional level. It was found that the historical systemic structures of exploitation still exist in its refined form in peasant life-world. Peasant life within village and among village peasants is relatively peaceful. Conflicts emerge or take serious turn when outside systemic agents get involved in issues related to sharecropper and landlord. Historically property rights given to big landlords and feudal lords by imperialistic forces while snatching the indigenous right of peasants to self-cultivation, is the root cause that has spawned several sub-systemic pathologies in the life-world of peasants. Absentee landlordism, Kamdaari system, debt bondage, social bondage, system of Kann, landlessness, adulterated hybrid seeds, and issues of Sanad are some of the sub-systemic evils that have emerged over the years. All such sub-systemic structures put bigger and influential landlords into strategic advantage over the sharecroppers, particularly landless peasants; the imbalance that perpetuates “permanent liminality” suppresses reciprocal dialogues and discourages mutual negotiations. Outside systemic factors like SHO-Landlord nexus or Feudal-Police-Tapedar troika play central role in conflict creation and exacerbation in landlord-sharecropper relationship leading to bloody conflicts, caste wars, tribal feuds and honor-killings, thus, further differentiating and alienating life-world and the system rural Sindh.

Highlights

This research-based explanation aims at the understanding of immediate and root causes and consequences of conflicts, tensions and the exploitation, embedded in sharecropper1-landlord relationship
6“Kann” is the sharecropping contractual arrangement, in which landlord is entitled to get the settled or agreed half-share of the produce, instead of usual half-share on the basis of 50:50 ratio. It is considered by sharecroppers as the extremely exploitative contractual arrangement, as even in case of natural calamities and theft, sharecropper has to pay the agreed half-share to the landlord. 7“Sanad” is the legal entitlement of the land, or the village area, a legal document to prove ownership of the landed property, or the place of residence. 8FGD stands for Focus Group Discussions
Social and economic crises that lead to conflict in sharecropper’s life occur in situations when the land is snatched by the landlord, caste clashes and family feuds erupt, standing crop is ravaged by flood, rain, insects, animals, collected paddy grain “Raah” or domestic animal is stolen, irrigation water shortage, fine to be paid in Faisilo, Karo-kari case or scene of honor killing is created among relatives, landlord over-invoices input loan, landlord stops giving further loans, police to be bribed, fees of lawyers to be paid, family and when the gainfully employed main family member perishes

Summary

Introduction

This research-based explanation aims at the understanding of immediate and root causes and consequences of conflicts, tensions and the exploitation, embedded in sharecropper1-landlord relationship. It will explain the vulnerability of sharecropper and the strengths of landlords and the levels of exploitation and conflict inside village settings as well as outside village settings. Looking in the context of rural Sindh, Jageers have been legally dissolved by the government yet former feudalstill hold sway and have kept those lands under their informal control. 2“Jageer” was formerly, a landed area given under feudal lord’s supervision to collect land revenue from peasants. Later on, virtually became undeclared property of the feudal lords, and peasants were turned into sharecroppers

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