Question

Differentiate between the participation of rich and poor persons in the civil disobedience movement

Answer 1

(i) The poor peasants had their own problems.
They were not just interested in lowering of the revenue, but also demanded remission of rent which they had failed to pay during the depression years.
(ii) In some parts of the country, they launched a ‘no rent’ campaign which was not supported by the Congress because this might had upset the rich peasants and landlords.
(iii) These poor peasants joined a variety of radical movements, often led by Socialists and Communists.

Answer 2

(i)Rich peasants were hard hit by the trade depression and falling prices, whereas poor peasants' cash income dwindled and they could not pay their rents.

(ii) Refusal of the government to reduce the revenue demand led to widespread resentment, whereas poor peasants wanted the unpaid rent to the landlords to be remitted.

(iii) For rich peasants, fight for Swaraj was a struggle against high revenues and for poor peasants, their 'no rent' campaign.

(iv) Rich peasants were disappointed since revenue was not reduced and poor peasants were disappointed with the Congress as they were unwilling to support