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Trace the evolution of the All India Kisan Sabha and

explain it’s significance in aiding Agricultural reforms for
peasants’ welfare.

Dimension A: Introduction
Kisan Sabhas have pioneered in peasant front, working for the
rights of the farmers and anti-feudal movement in India. These
organisations also have the support of communist parties, which
gave them sanctity and helped them penetrate many rural areas.

Dimension B: Evolution of Kisan Sabhas’:

1. UP Kisan Sabha – formed in1918 by Gauri Shankar Mishra
and Indra Narayan Dwivedi and was supported by Madan
Mohan Malaviya.
2. Awadh Kisan Sabha – formed in1920 by Baba
Ramachandra with support of Jawaharlal Nehru.
3. Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha – in 1929 by Sahajanand
Sarawsati, who started the kisan sabha movement against
zamindars over Bihar.
4. The All-India Kisan Sabha(AIKS) -- formed in 1936 at
Lucknow also known as ‘Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Sabha.
4.1 Swami Sahajanand Saraswati was the head of the
Sabha and the secretary of this association was NG Ranga.
Following the clashes of interest among the Kisan Sabha and INC,
in 1942 CPI took over the AIKS. They were later divided on the lines
of CPI split in 1962 to AIKS-CPI (Peasant wing) and AIKS-CPI
(Marxist’s Kisan Front)

Dimension C: Significance in aiding Agricultural reforms for

peasants’ welfare:
1. Abolish landlordism: Helped to abolish the Zamindari
system, and to distribute the land free of cost to agricultural
and other rural labourers.
2. Standard of living: For improving the standard of living of
rural masses and to develop agriculture and industry.
3. Curb exploitation: To end exploitation meted out to the
agricultural and other rural labourers.
4. To reduce land tax and revenue collection in untoward circumstances.
5. To institutionalize the credit.

Dimension D: Conclusion
The All-India Kisan Sabha led many famous peasants struggles that
started in the 20th Century against the Zamindari System. It aided
farmers, peasants and other agricultural and rural labourers to
promote their standard of living. The very formation of Kisan
Sabhas reflect the fact that the largest political force during
Independence movement i.e., INC could not win the confidence of
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farmers.