The roots of rural agitation in India, 1914–1947 : A rejoinder to Charlesworth

Abstract

In a recent essay in the Journal of Peasant Studies, Neil Charlesworth has rejected the ‘middle peasant’ theory of peasant militancy as it has been applied to India. It is argued here, first, that Charlesworth has not properly understood this theory, and, second, that there are drawbacks to the theory, but that they are very different from the ones put forward by Charlesworth. In addition, a critical examination is made of Charlesworth's analysis of the Bardolino‐tax campaign of 1928, which heuses as the chief example to back up his argument. It is argued that Charlesworth has failed to understand the manner in which the long‐term interests of the peasants have found their expression through political action.

Notes

Department of Politics, University of Leicester