Farmers Movement Archive

Centenary of Coolie-Begar movement sees muted political activity in Bageshwar

Pithoragarh: Muted celebrations took place to mark the centenary of Coolie-Begar movement in Bageshwar on Makar Sankranti due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Termed as the ‘bloodless revolution’ by Mahatma Gandhi, it was on January 14, 1921, that the farmers of Kumaon rose in revolt against the Coolie-Begar system of the British government.Owing to Covid-19 this year, the centenary year saw only religious activities, whereas political activities and traditional trade fair were not allowed by the district authorities.During the event, which coincides with the Uttarayani Mela held in Bageshwar, people performed rituals on the banks of Saryu river and took a holy dip.“The Coolie-Begar movement anniversary usually attracts an array of political parties who organise public events every year. But this year, there were restrictions due to the coronavirus,” said Chandra Sekhar Dewadi, a local resident."Some of our workers threw copies of the three farm bills into the river and started our party's year-long programme to celebrate the centenary of the Coolie-Begar movement," said Lalit Pharswan, ex-Congress MLA. The Coolie-Begar system was an exploitative practice in which families of farmers were forced to provide free labour to British officers, soldiers, mountaineers and surveyors. The village headmen also used to maintain a register of coolies.In 1921, thousands of farmers marched to Bageshwar and took an oath that they will no longer work for the British as part of the dominating practice.

The Times of India

2021-01-15

Dehradun