Securing the Right to Land FULL - ANGOC

SECURING THE RIGHT TO LAND120
Table 3. con’t.
YEAR
March 1954
1953–1955
1960
1960 to 1990
1970–1974
1978–1979
NAME OF MOVE-
MENT/PLACE OF
ORIGIN
Ratamata
Bijayanagar,
Pyuthan District
All Terai Districts
Dang Deokhuri
District
Jhapa
Chintang Revolution/
Dhankuta
District
CAUSE/AIM
Started as political education
and physical training; trainees
who were called in to help the
people in Narikot who complained
about being oppressed
were attacked by Thakuries,
whom they defeated.
Agitation among farmer youth
against domination and exploitation
and formation of the
Socialist Farmers Party
Eviction of farmers
Oppression by feudal lords
Widespread famine prompted
starving poor people to break
into the grain stores of the
majhayas, or landlords. The
majhayas owned all the fertile
lands, while the poor farmers
had to eke out a living from
marginal lands, apart from paying
land rent. They were also
forced to work in the fields or in
the majhaya’s home for two
weeks every year without compensation.
In Dashain, the poor
had to offer the majhaya gifts
such as cocks, hens, alcohol,
wooden pots, and sometimes,
money. Poverty led to the insurgency.
RESULT
Warrants of arrest were issued against
the trainees, who were forced to go underground.
Mass reprisals against farmers movements
in 1960 led to the banning of the
Farmers Union, which re-grouped as the
Farmers Organization under the
Panchayat System.
Farmers united against the combined
forces of the landlord and the local police.
Fighting ensued, during which
farmer leaders were shot at. One of them
died.
Recruited youth supporters, who engaged
in violent encounters with government;
the killing of a number of youth supporters
in 1973 paved the way for a higher
form of revolt.
As the majhaya stores were heavily
guarded, the starving people failed in
their attempt to break in.