Q.74 Critically discuss the objectives of Bhoodan and Gramdan Movements initiated by Acharya Vinoba Bhave and their success. POST- INDEPENDENT INDIA (UPSC CSE 2013) (200 words/10 marks)

Answer:

INTRODUCTION:

Bhoodan and Gramdan movements, led by Acharya Vinoba Bhave sought to alleviate landlessness and promote fair land allocation in rural India. These non-violent movements aimed at land reforms by encouraging the landed classes to voluntarily donate a portion of their land to the landless.

THE BODY:

Bhoodan Movement

• • Bhoodan movement was a socio-political movement started by Vinoba Bhave in 1951 in It aimed to persuade wealthy landowners to donate a portion of their land to landless peasants.
  • Bhave was presented with the problems faced by the landless harijans in Pochampalli, Telangana. Hence, he raised the issue of landlessness in rural In response to his appeal, some land-owning classes agreed to voluntarily donate a part of their land.
  • Bhave’s approach was rooted in the philosophy of non-violence and the idea that the landowners should donate their land out of compassion and empathy for the poor.
  • Central and State governments provided the necessary assistance to Vinoba Bhave to carry out the Bhoodan movement.

Bhoodan movement had two components:

• • Collect land as gift from zamindars and rich farmers.
  • Redistribute that gifted/donated land among the landless farmers.

Objectives:

• • It sought to collect land as a gift from zamindars, rich families and those who could give and redistribute it among landless.
  • It targeted to collect 50 million acres of land by persuading individual farmers to give away at least one-sixth of their land as gift.
  • This movement was unofficial. The landlords were under no compulsion to donate their land, it was a voluntary movement for the redistribution of land, abolition of private ownership of land, and the development of agricultural producers’ cooperatives.

Gramdan Movement

• • The next phase of the Bhoodan movement was the Gramdan Movement which started in 1952 to persuade landowners and leaseholders in each village to renounce their land rights.
  • It aimed to create self-sufficient villages by bringing about collective ownership of land.
  • All lands would become the property of a village association for egalitarian redistribution and joint cultivation.
  • A village is declared as Gramdan when at least 75% of its residents, with 51% of the land, signify their approval in writing. The first village to come under Gramdan was Magroth, Haripur, Uttar Pradesh.

Success of the Movements:

In the initial years the movement achieved a considerable degree of success, especially in North India- UP, Bihar. By 1956, receiving over 4 million acres of land as donation. By 1957, approx 4.5 million acres.

• • Address landlessness: The movement had a significant impact on Indian society as it helped in reducing landlessness, bringing about a more equitable distribution of land.
  • Address disparities: The movements aimed to reduce social and economic disparities between the rich landowners and the landless poor. It led to empowerment of rural communities along with promoting self-sufficiency.
  • Self-governance: Thes movements aimed to establish self-governing village communities where land was owned and managed collectively. This strengthened local governance, empower villagers and promote democratic values at the grassroots level.
  • Implement Gandhian principles: The movements were considered as an extension of Gandhi’s vision of “Gram Swaraj” or village self-rule. It promoted the Gandhian idea of trusteeship.

CONCLUSION:

Bhoodan and Gramdan movements brought progress in land redistribution and rural self-governance. They encouraged political participation among farmers and raised public awareness of societal inequalities but lost their importance in a short interval. Despite their failure both these movements remained significant as they raised awareness, inspired land reforms, and impacted India’s rural development.