Peasant movements in Rajasthan :

The peasantry in the former princely states of Rajasthan groaned under the weight of double exploitation of British imperialism and native feudalism. Begining with 1920 the peasants were anguish against their horrible conditions of life. The peasantry in Rajasthan had to pay a large number of lag-bags (cesses),custom duties and also perform begar (forced labour) in addition to paying heavy land-revenue which was half of the gross produce. Many national and local events which encouraged the peasants to revolt in 1920 and thereafter. In fact, the peasant movements in Rajasthan initially arose under the spell of social reforms and culminated into an economic struggle. The caste panchayats played an important role in the early stage of these movements. The caste organisations developed into class organisations during the peasant struggles.

Bijolia movement :

The Bijolia movement was a peasant movement in the Bijolia jagir of the former Mewar state (in present-day Rajasthan in India) against excessive land revenue exactions. Originating in the former jagir (feudal estate) of Bijolia (near the town of Bijolia in Bhilwara district), the movement gradually spread to neighbouring jagirs. Leadership to the movement was provided, at different times, by Sitaram Das, Vijay Singh Pathik, and Manikyalal Verma. The movement continued till 1941 after a bitter struggle lasting about half a century, gained national attention and resisted state oppression.

Early Phase (1897-1915) : In 1897, a delegation of peasants consisting of Nanji Patel of Berisal and Thakari Patel of Gopal Niwas went to Udaipur and attempted, in vain, to get an audience with the Maharana. But the Maharana did institute an inquiry which concluded that certain taxes had been arbitrarily imposed by the jagirdar. The Maharana issued a warning to the jagirdar, which only resulted in him retaliating against the two delegates who had gone to Udaipur. The peasants continued appeals to the jagirdar who ultimate granted some concessions to the peasants in 1904.

The concessions granted in 1904 did not last. In 1906, Prithvi Singh ascended to the jagir and withdrew the concessions granted in 1904 and instructed officials to collected increased taxes. Failing to get a hearing from the jagirdar, some peasants chose not to cultivate their lands and migrated to neighboring Gwalior and Bundi. Some more concessions were promised to the peasants on 1914, but never implemented.

Second Phase (1915-1923) : In 1916, war fund contributions were further imposed on the peasants which lead to renewed dissatisfaction. It was in 1916 that Bhoop Singh alias Vijai Singh Pathik arrived in Bijolia and organized the peasants under the Bijolia Kisan Panchayat to oppose payments to the war fund and other taxes. Petitions were sent to the Maharana, and stories of the agitation started receiving publicity in various newspapers. Partially because of the negative publicity in the press, the Maharana appointed a commission of inquiry, which found the peasants' grievances to be genuine and recommended the abolition of some taxes and begar (unpaid or forced labor). But the Maharana failed to act on the report and the oppression as well as the movement led by Pathik continued.

This compelled the Agent to the Governor General to visit the various jagirs of Mewar and direct the jagirdar and Mewar State to conclude an agreement with the peasants. Finally, the Bijolia Agreement was signed on 11 February 1922.The agreement brought about the following changes: reduction in amount of talwar bandhi, no taxes when there was no cultivation, reduction in chatoond tax and land revenue, etc.

Third Phase (1923-1941) : By 1928, there was a general complain among the peasants of Bijolia that the agreement of 1922 had been violated by the jagirdar. The peasants also complained that taxes on unirrigated lands were very high and jagir authorities were interfering in the affairs of the Bijolia Kisan Panchayat

Begun farmer's movement :

The Begun farmer's movement was one of the farmer's movements of Rajasthan during British Raj in India. Begun is a village in Chittorgarh district. It was a movement of peasants against high taxes by then Mewar government.

This movement was started from Menal in 1921 where farmers gathered and decided for struggle against government for demand of implementing taxation system fair and reasonable. Vijay Singh Pathik gave leadership of this movement to Ramnarayan Chaudhary. The farmers decided not to pay Lags and Begars (Taxes and labour work) as well as to boycott courts and government offices. In reaction the government launched an operation of crushing the movement. After two years an agreement was made between Rajasthan Sewa Sangh (a farmer's union) and Thakur Anup Singh but it was opposed by government naming it a "Bolshevik agreement" and the government appointed a government employee in the place of Thikanedar under its 'Munsarmat policy'. Government sent the Trench commission for the inquiry of demands of the Bengun movement. Mr. Trench, head of the commission justified almost all taxes except small taxes. Later on 13 July 1923, Mr. Trench opened fire after lathicharge on a non-violent assembly of farmers. Two farmers, Rupaji and Kripaji, were killed. They are remembered as martyrs of Begun in the history of Rajasthan.

Later leadership of this movement was handed over to Vijay Singh Pathik. As a result of movement the endowment system of taxes was adopted in place of dictatorship-like system. Taxes rates were made fixed and many taxes were taken back by the government. Begar Pratha (bonded labour system) was abolished.

Shekhawati Kisan movement :

Shekhawati encompasses the administrative districts of Jhunjhunu and Sikar. The early phase of the Shekhawati movement was primarily devoted to instituting social reforms within the community. This area was particularly influenced by Arya Samaj. During the 1920's and 30's several educational societies began to contribute to the support of schools for Jat students and Jat reformers from the British Provinces started to direct their attention and action towards the activities of various Thikanas of Shekhawati. A number of Jat Panchayats and Kisan Sabhas were formed in the villages administered by various Thikanadars and bigger Jagirdars. With the passage of time, the Jats of Shekhawati, with outside support of community leaders, rose against the Jagirdars. The Shekhawati farmers movement was considered by the British media as one of the best organized and effective movements in this part of the country. The movement ultimately led not only to abolition of Jagirs and exploitation of farmers but also paved way for extraordinary social and economical uplift of the farmers of this region.