Who among the following was not associated with the formation of U.P. Kisan Sabha in February 1918?

1. Evolution of Peasant Movements (Pre vs. Post 1857) (basic)

To understand the evolution of peasant movements in India, we must first look at the root cause: the British land revenue systems. Before the mid-19th century, agrarian life was governed by traditional norms, but the advent of British rule introduced excessive land revenue demands (such as the Permanent Settlement) and the commercialization of agriculture. This forced peasants into a cycle of debt, making them vulnerable to indigenous zamindars, moneylenders, and foreign planters Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. | Peasant Movements 1857-1947 | p.577. These early struggles were essentially a fight for survival, often spontaneous and localized.
The movements of the 19th century (especially post-1857) had a very distinct character. Unlike the later freedom struggle, these peasants did not target British colonialism itself. Instead, their anger was directed at the immediate exploiter—the 'lathiyals' of the zamindar or the European indigo planter. A classic example is the Indigo Revolt of 1859-60, where peasants in Bengal, led by figures like Digambar and Bishnu Biswas, resisted being forced to grow indigo instead of food crops History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) | Rise of Nationalism in India | p.3. Interestingly, these peasants often displayed a strong awareness of legal rights; they didn't just pick up weapons, but also fought their battles in courts, asserting that they were being forced into 'fraudulent contracts' Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. | Peasant Movements 1857-1947 | p.575.
As we moved into the 20th century, the nature of these movements shifted. While 19th-century revolts were isolated and lacked long-term organization, the 20th-century movements became deeply intertwined with the national freedom struggle. Peasant grievances were now championed by political organizations like the Congress Socialist Party and various 'Kisan Sabhas'. The focus shifted from mere 'redressal of specific grievances' to a broader critique of the colonial economic structure Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. | Peasant Movements 1857-1947 | p.578.

Feature	19th Century Movements (Post-1857)	20th Century Movements
Target	Immediate enemies (Zamindars/Planters)	Both landlords and the Colonial State
Objective	Specific economic redressal	Economic relief + Political liberation
Organization	Temporary and spontaneous	Permanent (Kisan Sabhas, Jathas)
Legal Outlook	High trust in legal rights/courts	Mass mobilization and civil disobedience

Sources: Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM., Peasant Movements 1857-1947, p.575, 577-578; History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Rise of Nationalism in India, p.3

2. Impact of Home Rule Leagues on Rural Mobilization (intermediate)

The Home Rule Movement (1916–1918) was a watershed moment in Indian nationalism because it shifted the political focus from elite urban centers to the rural heartland. Before this, the Indian National Congress was largely in a state of inactivity following the 1907 Surat split. Annie Besant and Bal Gangadhar Tilak filled this political vacuum by demanding "Home Rule" or self-government on the lines of white colonies like Canada and Australia History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Impact of World War I on Indian Freedom Movement, p.39. Their leagues established branches in towns such as Kanpur, Allahabad, and Benaras, which served as vital bridges to the surrounding countryside History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Impact of World War I on Indian Freedom Movement, p.33.

Crucially, the Home Rule Leagues (HRL) created the first real political infrastructure in rural India. Activists used the League’s organizational networks to educate peasants about their rights and the impact of the First World War on their livelihoods. This rural outreach directly led to the formation of specialized peasant bodies. In February 1918, HRL activists Gauri Shankar Mishra and Indra Narain Dwivedi, with the support of Madan Mohan Malaviya, founded the U.P. Kisan Sabha Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM., Chapter 31: Peasant Movements 1857-1947, p.578. This move institutionalized the grievances of the peasantry, such as high rents and illegal cesses, within the nationalist framework.

By the time Mahatma Gandhi emerged as a national leader, the Home Rule Leagues had already "prepared the ground" for mass mobilization. Many early Gandhian satyagrahis were former HRL members who had gained experience in traveling to villages and organizing local committees History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Impact of World War I on Indian Freedom Movement, p.34. This transition transformed the nationalist struggle from a middle-class debate into a genuine mass movement.

Sources: History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Impact of World War I on Indian Freedom Movement, p.33, 34, 39; Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM., Chapter 31: Peasant Movements 1857-1947, p.578

3. Congress Policy Shift towards the Peasantry (intermediate)

Initially, the Indian National Congress was primarily an urban, middle-class organization focused on constitutional reforms. However, the early 20th century witnessed a decisive policy shift towards the peasantry, driven by the need for a broader mass base to challenge British rule. This transition began in earnest around 1918 with the formation of the U.P. Kisan Sabha by Gauri Shankar Mishra and Indra Narain Dwivedi, with the patronage of Madan Mohan Malaviya Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, Chapter 31, p. 578. While later leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru became deeply involved in peasant mobilization by 1920—largely due to the influence of grassroots activists like Baba Ramchandra—the movement's institutional roots were planted by those seeking to organize farmers against high rents and illegal levies.

This shift intensified during the 1930s, a period marked by agrarian distress exacerbated by the Great Depression. As the Congress transformed into a mass party under Mahatma Gandhi's leadership, it increasingly prioritized peasant problems to ensure national unity History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Period of Radicalism, p. 66. By the time the Congress contested the 1937 provincial elections, agrarian reform was a central pillar of their manifesto. Upon forming ministries, they enacted significant legislation concerning land reforms, debt relief, and the reduction of forest grazing fees. However, this policy shift had its limitations: the reforms primarily benefited statutory and occupancy tenants, while sub-tenants and landless laborers gained very little Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, Congress Rule in Provinces, p. 413.

A key challenge during this period was the complex agrarian structure and the political need to conciliate landlords and moneylenders who dominated the Legislative Councils (Upper Houses). This forced Congress ministries to adopt a reformist rather than a revolutionary approach. Despite these constraints, the Congress successfully utilized administrative power to weaken the myth of British indispensability and solidified its bond with the rural masses Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, Congress Rule in Provinces, p. 415.

Sources: Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, Chapter 31: Peasant Movements 1857-1947, p.578; History, class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Period of Radicalism in Anti-imperialist Struggles, p.66; Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, Congress Rule in Provinces, p.413, 415

4. Baba Ramchandra and the Awadh Peasant Movement (intermediate)

To understand the peasant awakening in the Awadh region (modern-day Uttar Pradesh), we must first look at the oppressive Taluqdari system. After the 1857 revolt, the British restored lands to Taluqdars (landlords), who then imposed exorbitant rents, illegal cesses (nazrana), and the constant threat of bedakhali (eviction) on the peasantry. The movement began formally in February 1918 with the formation of the U.P. Kisan Sabha by Gauri Shankar Mishra and Indra Narain Dwivedi, with the support of Madan Mohan Malaviya Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India, Chapter 31: Peasant Movements 1857-1947, p.578. While this organization grew rapidly, a more radical undercurrent was brewing among the grassroots workers. At the heart of this grassroots mobilization was Baba Ramchandra, a sanyasi who had previously been an indentured laborer in Fiji. He was a master of communication, using recitations of the Ramcharitmanas to gather peasants and explain their plight in a language they understood. In June 1920, Ramchandra successfully urged Jawaharlal Nehru to visit the villages of Awadh. This was a turning point; Nehru spent time listening to the villagers, which bridged the gap between the urban-centric national movement and the rural masses India and the Contemporary World – II. History-Class X. NCERT, Nationalism in India, p.35. By October 1920, due to differences in the nationalist ranks regarding the intensity of the struggle, the Awadh (Oudh) Kisan Sabha was formed, headed by Nehru, Baba Ramchandra, and others. The movement employed unique tactics such as Nai-Dhobi bandhs, where barbers and washermen refused services to landlords, and social boycotts of those who accepted bedakhali land. They firmly stood against begar (forced unpaid labor) and illegal cesses Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India, Chapter 31: Peasant Movements 1857-1947, p.578.

Sources: A Brief History of Modern India, Peasant Movements 1857-1947, p.578; India and the Contemporary World – II. History-Class X. NCERT, Nationalism in India, p.35

5. The Eka Movement and Radical Peasant Protests (exam-level)

To understand the Eka Movement, we must look at the shifting landscape of peasant resistance in the United Provinces (modern-day Uttar Pradesh) during the early 1920s. While the Non-Cooperation Movement was engaging the masses at a national level, the peasantry was facing an immediate crisis: rents were often 50 percent higher than recorded rates, and the thikadars (revenue contractors) were using oppressive methods to collect them Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, Chapter 31, p. 579.

By late 1921, this discontent crystallized into the Eka (Unity) Movement in the northern districts of Hardoi, Bahraich, and Sitapur. This movement was distinct because of its grassroots leadership. Unlike earlier peasant mobilizations that often relied on urban nationalists or upper-caste reformers, the Eka Movement was led by Madari Pasi and other leaders from lower castes, as well as some small zamindars Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, Chapter 31, p. 579. This social composition made the movement more radical and harder for the traditional Congress leadership to control.

The movement was centered around a unique symbolic religious ritual. In these gatherings, a hole was dug and filled with water (representing the holy Ganga), and peasants took a collective vow. They pledged to:

• Pay only the recorded rent, but pay it on time.
• Refuse to perform forced labor (begar).
• Stay on their land even if illegally evicted.
• Abide by the decisions of their own panchayats rather than external authorities Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, Chapter 31, p. 579.

As the movement grew, it occasionally turned violent, with clashes against the police and the looting of houses. This radicalization eventually led to a distancing by the Congress leadership, which favored non-violent constitutional pressure. By early 1922, the combination of severe government repression and the passing of the Awadh Rent (Amendment) Act caused the movement to subside Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, Chapter 31, p. 578-579.

Sources: A Brief History of Modern India, Chapter 31: Peasant Movements 1857-1947, p.578-579

6. Formation and Leaders of the U.P. Kisan Sabha (1918) (exam-level)

The agrarian landscape of the United Provinces (U.P.) in the early 20th century was one of extreme hardship. After the 1857 revolt, the British had restored lands to the taluqdars (big landlords), granting them immense power over the peasantry. By the end of World War I, peasants were crushed under high rents, bedakhali (summary evictions), and nazrana (illegal renewal fees). This boiling discontent found a voice through the efforts of Home Rule League activists, who began organizing the farmers into a cohesive political force Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, Peasant Movements 1857-1947, p.578.

In February 1918, the United Provinces Kisan Sabha was formally established. The movement was spearheaded by Gauri Shankar Mishra and Indra Narayan Dwivedi, with the significant backing of the veteran leader Madan Mohan Malaviya. The Sabha spread like wildfire; by June 1919, it had established nearly 450 branches across the province. It is a common misconception in historical studies that Jawaharlal Nehru was a founder of this specific organization. In reality, Nehru’s involvement with the U.P. peasants began only in June 1920, when he was urged by Baba Ramchandra to visit the villages and witness their plight firsthand Rajiv Ahir, A Brief History of Modern India, Peasant Movements 1857-1947, p.578.

As the movement grew, a rift emerged between those who preferred traditional mobilization and those who wanted more radical action. This led to the formation of the Awadh Kisan Sabha in October 1920, led by figures like Baba Ramchandra, Jhinguri Singh, and Durgapal Singh. Unlike the broader U.P. Kisan Sabha, the Awadh Kisan Sabha took a more direct stance, asking peasants to refuse begar (unpaid labor) and boycott landlords who practiced evictions.

Sources: A Brief History of Modern India, Peasant Movements 1857-1947, p.578

7. Solving the Original PYQ (exam-level)

Having mastered the Home Rule League and the early nationalist phase, you can now see how these organizational skills were channeled into the peasant movements of North India. The U.P. Kisan Sabha, established in February 1918, was essentially a product of Home Rule League activists who sought to mobilize the peasantry against taluqdari oppression. By connecting the dots between political activism and agrarian grievances, we identify that the initial leadership consisted of local organizers supported by prominent Congress figures who favored constitutional and organizational methods during that specific window of time.

To arrive at the correct answer, (C) Jawaharlal Nehru, you must focus on the chronological timeline of his political evolution. While Nehru is famously associated with the peasants of Awadh, his active involvement began only around June 1920 after meeting Baba Ramchandra. As highlighted in A Brief History of Modern India by Spectrum, the original founders in 1918 were Indra Narain Dwivedi and Gauri Shankar Misra, who worked under the mentorship and patronage of Madan Mohan Malviya. Therefore, while Nehru became a face of the movement later, he was not part of its 1918 inception.

This question showcases a classic UPSC trap: the "famous leader" association. UPSC often uses a giant figure like Jawaharlal Nehru to distract you, betting that you will associate him with any U.P.-based movement. Similarly, Madan Mohan Malviya is often wrongly excluded by students who think he was strictly a conservative politician; however, he was the crucial bridge between the elite Congress and the Kisan Sabha. Distinguishing between the 1918 formation (led by Dwivedi and Misra) and the 1920 expansion (led by Nehru) is the technical precision required to solve this PYQ correctly.

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