Explanations:The Kheda Movement, also known as the Kheda Satyagraha, was a significant event in the Indian independence movement, led by Mahatma Gandhi in 1918. The movement was centered in the Kheda district of Gujarat and was a non-violent protest against the high land revenue demands imposed by the British colonial government. The context of the movement was particularly severe due to a famine that had struck the region, making it extremely difficult for the peasants to meet the revenue demands.
The primary grievance of the peasants was the excessive burden of land revenue, which was not adjusted to account for the famine conditions. The colonial government insisted on collecting the full amount of revenue despite the economic hardship faced by the peasants. This led to widespread distress and a call for action.
Mahatma Gandhi, who had already gained experience in non-violent resistance through the Champaran Satyagraha, took up the cause of the peasants in Kheda. He organized a campaign of non-payment of revenue, encouraging the peasants to refuse to pay the demanded amount until their grievances were addressed. The movement was successful in drawing attention to the plight of the peasants and eventually led to a compromise where the revenue demand was reduced.
The Kheda Movement is significant in the history of the Indian independence struggle as it demonstrated the power of non-violent resistance and the ability of the masses to unite against colonial exploitation. It also marked a turning point in Gandhi's leadership, as he gained further recognition and support for his methods of civil disobedience.
It is important to distinguish the Kheda Movement from other significant events and movements of the time. For instance, the Champaran Satyagraha, which occurred in Bihar, was a protest against the indigo cultivation system, not high land revenue. Similarly, the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre was a tragic event in Amritsar, unrelated to the economic grievances of the peasants in Kheda. The Kheda Movement was specifically about the economic burden of high land revenue demands during a time of famine, making it a unique and important chapter in the history of the Indian independence movement.