Meaning and Features of a Movement
If the village road is bad, one or two people complain and stop. But when all villagers come together and keep trying, it can be called a movement.
A movement is collective action by people who come together for a particular issue or objective. Active participation of people is expected in it.
Key idea 1 : How a movement is formed — When people come together for an issue a movement can arise; for example pollution can be a single issue for a movement. A movement has a particular social objective or a focused problem; the aim of an anti-corruption movement is to end corruption.
Key idea 2 : Leadership, organisation and support — A movement has leadership; leaders decide the objectives, programme of action and strategy of agitation and strong leadership makes the movement effective. Without an organisation it is hard to follow up an issue; so a farmers’ organisation works for a farmers’ movement. A movement needs public support; people should feel the issue is theirs. A programme of action helps to shape public opinion.
Key idea 3 : Ideology and the right to protest — Movements are mostly on a single issue but have an ideology behind them; movements against child marriage or dowry believe in democracy, women empowerment and social equality. Some movements gradually turn into political parties. Movements inform the government about people’s problems and this is useful while making policies. The right to protest is considered important in democracy, but it should be used with patience and responsibility.
- Easy : One person complains about garbage in front of the house — why not a movement? — No collective action or organisation.
- Medium : Many villages unite for river cleanliness — objective? — Stopping river pollution.
- Exam-type : A movement turns into a party — what is it? — Transformation of movement into party.
In the figure: Main features of a movement.
What happened before the Chipko action at Reni (26 March 1974)? In 1973 villagers of Mandal near Gopeshwar in Uttarakhand, led by Chandi Prasad Bhatt, stopped contractors of a sports-goods company from felling ash trees. The forest department had refused them a few trees for their own farm tools.
What happened after the Chipko action at Reni (26 March 1974)? The movement spread across the Himalaya. In 1980 Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed a 15-year ban on the felling of green trees in the Himalayan forests of Uttar Pradesh.
Co-Ob-Le-Pu.
Right to protest is not a right to violence; it is to be used with patience and responsibility.
Memory clue: Movement = collective action + objective + leadership + organisation + public support. Memory clue: "Co-Ob-Le-Or-Su".
Spot the difference
| Point | Individual complaint | Movement |
|---|---|---|
| Participation | One or two persons | Many active people |
| Organisation | Absent | Present |
| Effect | Limited | Shapes opinion, affects policy |
Practice questions
- 1What is a movement?
- 2Write the features of a movement.
- 3Why is leadership necessary for a movement?
- 4Explain the need for organisation with an example.
- 5Explain the relation between a movement and ideology.
- 6When can a movement turn into a political party?
- 7How should the right to protest be used?
- 8Write a report on a movement in your area.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Collective action by people for a particular issue.
- 2Collective action, objective, leadership, organisation, public support, programme.
- 3Leaders decide objective, programme, strategy; strong leadership makes it effective.
- 4Follow-up is hard without organisation; farmers’ organisation runs farmers’ movement.
- 5Even if on one issue, an ideology lies behind.
- 6Some movements gradually become parties.
- 7With patience and responsibility.
- 8Student writes report based on own observation.
Tribal and Farmers Movements
Farmers and tribal people live on land, forest and water. When their livelihood is threatened they come together and raise their voice.
A tribal movement is the struggle of tribal people for rights over forests. A farmers’ movement is the struggle of farmers organised around agriculture-related policies and problems.
Key idea 1 : Tribal movement — Before independence the British government took away tribal people’s livelihood right over forest resources; this led to uprisings by different tribal communities of Chota Nagpur, Orissa, Maharashtra and Bihar; Birsa Munda is one famous name. This struggle has continued since then. A major problem is that tribals are denied rights over forests. The main demand of the tribal movement is the right to collect forest products and to cultivate forest land.
Key idea 2 : Farmers movement — In the British period farmers started organising because of anti-agriculture policies; Bardoli, Champaran and movements against revenue collection are examples. The movements drew inspiration from thoughts of Mahatma Phule, Justice Ranade and Mahatma Gandhi. Tenancy laws and land-holding reforms slowed the movement. After the Green Revolution it became active and effective again; the Green Revolution aimed at increasing production and achieving self-sufficiency in food grains, but poor farmers did not benefit; farmers were divided into rich and poor and dissatisfaction among poor farmers started the movement.
Key idea 3 : Demands of farmers movement — Demands include fair price for farm produce, treating agriculture as an industry, implementation of the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations, debt relief and debt cancellation and a national policy for agriculture. Shetkari Sanghatana, Bharatiya Kisan Union and All India Kisan Sabha are some important farmers’ organisations. Find and write the names of government welfare schemes for farmers and landless labourers.
- Easy : Right to collect forest products is a demand of which movement? — Tribal movement.
- Medium : Why were poor farmers dissatisfied after the Green Revolution? — Rich farmers benefited.
- Exam-type : Fair price for produce is whose demand? — Farmers movement.
In the figure: Changing phases of the farmers’ movement.
The Champaran Satyagraha took place in 1917 and the Bardoli Satyagraha in 1928; Bardoli was led by Vallabhbhai Patel (as per several sources; check with the book).
Organise-Slow-Green-Active.
Green Revolution did not benefit all farmers; poor farmers were left behind.
Memory clue: Tribal = forest rights; farmers = price, debt relief. Memory clue: "Forest-tribal, price-farmer".
Spot the difference
| Point | Tribal movement | Farmers movement |
|---|---|---|
| Main demand | Right over forest | Fair price, debt relief |
| Beginning | Uprisings in British period | Organising against British policies |
| Organisation/name | Birsa Munda (name) | Shetkari Sanghatana, Kisan Sabha |
Practice questions
- 1Explain the tribal movement.
- 2What is the main demand of the tribal movement?
- 3Explain the nature of the farmers’ movement in India.
- 4What was the aim of the Green Revolution?
- 5How did the farmers’ movement change after the Green Revolution?
- 6Write the demands of the farmers’ movement.
- 7Write names of three farmers’ organisations.
- 8List government schemes for farmers.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Struggle of tribal people for rights over forests.
- 2Rights over forest, collecting produce and cultivating land.
- 3Organising in British period; slowed by reforms; effective after Green Revolution.
- 4Increase production and achieve self-sufficiency in food grains.
- 5It became active due to poor farmers’ dissatisfaction.
- 6Price, industry status, Swaminathan Commission, debt relief, national policy.
- 7Shetkari Sanghatana, Bharatiya Kisan Union, All India Kisan Sabha.
- 8Student finds information and lists.
Labour and Women’s Movements
Those working in factories or homes need fair wages, safety and respect. When they come together to get these, labour and women’s movements arise.
The labour movement is the struggle for workers’ problems in the background of industrialisation. The women’s movement is a movement to end injustice and exploitation of women and give them an opportunity to live respectfully and participate in social life.
Key idea 1 : Labour movement — In the latter half of the nineteenth century textile industry and railway companies were established and in 1899 railway workers went on strike for their demands. The first organisation for workers’ problems was established in 1920; its name is All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC). After independence in the 1960s and 1970s the movement organised many agitations, but from 1980 it began to disintegrate; globalisation affected it greatly. Unstable employment, contract labour, financial insecurity, lack of legal protection, unlimited working hours, insecurity at the workplace and health hazards are workers’ problems.
Key idea 2 : Women’s movement: before independence — Before independence progressive men started the women’s movement. Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar, Raja Rammohan Roy, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, Savitribai Phule, Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve, Pandita Ramabai and Ramabai Ranade took the initiative to end the practices of Sati and child marriage. Reforms such as widow remarriage, women’s education and the right to vote for women became possible due to their work.
Key idea 3 : Women’s movement: after independence — After independence the Constitution gave women equal rights in all fields, yet in many fields they were not treated equally. In this period the aim of the movement was freedom of women and that they be treated as human beings. Later women participated in large numbers in movements against corruption, caste discrimination and religious extremism and became aware of injustice against themselves. The women’s movement in India is not homogeneous, but at various levels it takes up issues of women’s health, social security, financial independence and empowerment. Today the movement faces the challenge of equal education for women and giving them dignity as human beings.
- Easy : Which workers went on strike in 1899? — Railway workers.
- Medium : First workers’ organisation of 1920? — AITUC.
- Exam-type : Who took initiative to end Sati? — Raja Rammohan Roy and others.
In the figure: Important years of the labour movement.
The All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) was founded on 31 October 1920 in Bombay (now Mumbai); Lala Lajpat Rai was the first president (as per several sources; the book gives only the year; check with the book).
99-20-60/70-80.
The women’s movement was not started by women alone; progressive men also took initiative before independence.
Memory clue: Labour = wages, safety; women = equality, dignity. Memory clue: "99 strike, 20 union".
Spot the difference
| Point | Labour movement | Women’s movement |
|---|---|---|
| Background | Industrialisation | Reformers’ work, demand for equality |
| Main issues | Wages, safety, protection | Health, security, financial independence |
| Today’s challenge | Globalisation, contract work | Equal education, human dignity |
Practice questions
- 1Explain the labour movement.
- 2Write the problems faced by workers.
- 3Write information on AITUC.
- 4For which reforms was the women’s movement fighting before independence?
- 5State the aim of the women’s movement after independence.
- 6Why is the women’s movement not homogeneous?
- 7What effect did globalisation have on the labour movement?
- 8Collect information on laws made for workers after independence.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Struggle for workers’ problems in background of industrialisation.
- 2Unstable jobs, contract work, insecurity, long hours, health hazards.
- 3The first workers’ organisation of 1920.
- 4End of Sati and child marriage, widow remarriage, women’s education, right to vote.
- 5Freedom of women and being treated as human beings.
- 6Different issues are taken up at different levels.
- 7The movement disintegrated and weakened.
- 8Student collects information from the internet or library.
Environment, Consumer and Neo-social Movements
Everyone wants rivers to stay clean and not to be cheated in the market. When people unite for this, environment and consumer movements arise.
A movement to protect the environment is an environment movement; a movement to protect consumers from fraud is a consumer movement. Issue-based movements after 1980 are called neo-social movements.
Key idea 1 : Environment movement — Environmental degradation is a serious problem at national and international level; at the international level many movements work to stop it and there is significant international cooperation in this field. In India movements work on different aspects of the environment: protection of biodiversity, protection of water sources, protection of forests and green belt, pollution of rivers and ill effects of chemicals. Dr Rajendra Singh built thousands of ‘johads’ in Rajasthan and raised a water movement; he established the organisation ‘Tarun Bharat Sangh’ and revived rivers in the desert.
Key idea 2 : Consumer movement — The consumer movement emerged in India after the Consumer Protection Act came into existence in 1986. Its objective is broad; the movement believes that every member of society is a consumer. As the social and economic system changes consumers face problems like adulteration, increased prices and fraud in weights and measures. The consumer movement works to protect consumers from such frauds. Practise preparing a format of complaint under the law if cheated in buying vegetables or grains.
Key idea 3 : Neo-social movements — Movements increase people’s participation in public life. Movements after 1980 are called neo-social movements because their nature is different from the earlier movements; they are issue-based, that is they try to build mass movements on a specific issue. Civic problems do not arise only from the social sphere; many social reform movements took place in Maharashtra and India and society became modern. Our freedom struggle was also a social movement.
- Easy : Agitation to stop river pollution — which movement? — Environment movement.
- Medium : Who protects against fraud in weights? — Consumer movement and law.
- Exam-type : What are issue-based movements after 1980 called? — Neo-social movements.
In the figure: Environment, consumer and other issue-based movements.
Dr Rajendra Singh received the Stockholm Water Prize in 2015; per the prize committee about 9,000 johads were built in about 1,000 villages (the book says 11,000; figures differ by source; check with the book).
The Consumer Protection Act 1986 received the President’s assent on 24 December, hence 24 December is National Consumer Day. The new Consumer Protection Act 2019 came into force on 20 July 2020 and repealed the 1986 Act; the textbook information is dated (as per several sources; check with the book).
Env-Con-Issue-Part.
Neo-social movements are post-1980 and issue-based; they are not limited to one class.
Memory clue: Neo = after 1980 + issue-based. Memory clue: "After 80, issue first".
Spot the difference
| Point | Environment movement | Consumer movement |
|---|---|---|
| Aim | Protect nature | Protect consumers |
| Issues | Biodiversity, water, forest, pollution | Adulteration, price, fraud in weights |
| Example | Johad movement | Consumer complaint redressal |
Practice questions
- 1Explain the functions of the environment movement.
- 2What is the consumer movement?
- 3When did the consumer movement emerge?
- 4What problems do consumers face?
- 5What are neo-social movements?
- 6Write the work of Dr Rajendra Singh.
- 7What change do movements bring in public life?
- 8Prepare a format of complaint under the consumer protection law.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
- 1Protection work on biodiversity, water, forest and pollution.
- 2Movement protecting consumers from fraud.
- 3After the Consumer Protection Act 1986.
- 4Adulteration, high prices, fraud in weights and measures.
- 5Issue-based movements after 1980.
- 6Built thousands of johads, founded Tarun Bharat Sangh, revived rivers.
- 7People’s participation increases.
- 8Student prepares the format on their own.