The Begun farmer's movement (in Hindi and Rajasthani:बेगून किसान आंदोलन) was one of the farmer's movements of
Rajasthan during
British Raj in
India. Begun is a village in
Chittorgarh district. It was a movement of peasants against high taxes by then
Mewar
Mewar or Mewad is a region in the south-central part of Rajasthan state of India. It includes the present-day districts of Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Pratapgarh, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Pirawa Tehsil of Jhalawar District of Rajasthan, Neemuch and Man ...
government.
[Rajasthan Ka Itihaas by S.Singh Matharu,Sikhwala Publications.]
This movement was started from
Menal in 1921 where farmers gathered and decided for struggle against government for demand of implementing taxation system fair and reasonable.
Vijay Singh Pathik
Vijay Singh Pathik (born Bhoop Singh; 1882–1954), popularly known as Rashtriya Pathik, was an Indian revolutionary. He was among the first Indian revolutionaries who lit the torch of freedom movement against British rule. Much before Mohand ...
gave leadership of this movement to
Ramnarayan Chaudhary. The farmers decided not to pay Lags and Begars (Taxes and labour work) as well as to boycott courts and government offices. In reaction the government launched an operation of crushing the movement. After two years an agreement was made between
Rajasthan Sewa Sangh (a farmer's union) and Rawat Sawai anup singh ji but it was opposed by government naming it a "
Bolshevik agreement" and the government appointed a government employee in the place of
Thikanedar under its 'Munsarmat policy'. Government sent the
Trench commission for the inquiry of demands of the Bengun movement. Mr. Trench, head of the commission justified almost all taxes except small taxes. Later on 13 July 1923, Mr. Trench opened fire after lathicharge on a non-violent assembly of farmers. Two farmers, Rupaji and Kripaji, were killed. They are remembered as martyrs of
Begun
: ''For Begun farmer's movement see Begun movement. For people with Begun surname see Begun (surname).''
Begun is a city and a municipality in Chittaurgarh district in the state of Rajasthan, India. Begun was offered along with Gothlai to Chun ...
in the history of
Rajasthan.
Later leadership of this movement was handed over to
Vijay Singh Pathik
Vijay Singh Pathik (born Bhoop Singh; 1882–1954), popularly known as Rashtriya Pathik, was an Indian revolutionary. He was among the first Indian revolutionaries who lit the torch of freedom movement against British rule. Much before Mohand ...
. As a result of movement the endowment system of taxes was adopted in place of dictatorship-like system. Taxes rates were made fixed and many taxes were taken back by the government. Begar Pratha (bonded labour system) was abolished.
References
Kingdom of Mewar
Chittorgarh district
{{India-hist-stub