Hyderabad State was predominantly an agrarian area. The agrarian structure and the land system was feudal in nature. There were three types of land tenure, such as Diwani, 60% of total agricultural land was directly under the land revenue tax system, 30% of the land out of the total agriculture land was under jagir, in the State. The jagirs are also called as Paigas, Sanstanams, Jagirdars, Banjardars, Muktedars, Inamdars and Agraharanas have their own Revenue, Police, civil and criminal offices to impose and collect taxes. Local landlords, called Deshmukhs owned majority of lands and used to oppress peasants. Under Sarfekhas, 10 percent of agriculture land was kept under the control of Nizam for his own expenses. The peasants were subjected to great sufferings and misery due to these land tenurial systems.
The Causes for the Peasant Revolts
Several factors contributed for the revolts of peasants in Hyderabad State.
Commercialisation of Agriculture
The main crops of Hyderabad State were Jowar, Bajra, Rice and Cereals. From the beginning of 20th century, commercial crops like cotton, oil seeds, groundnut and castor were promoted by the rich peasants. The penetration of market economy on a wider scale caused change in agrarian economy. Reforms undertaken by Salar Jung, such as establishing State control over agriculture, cash payment of revenue, and increase in demand for foodgrains were some of the factors that led to peasants’ unrest.
The demand for cash crops grew and the agriculture economy underwent fundamental changes. Cotton, which was largely grown in Marathwada, was also grown in new areas in the Telangana region. By the 1930s, over 60 percent of cotton was being exported. Oil seed cultivation was prevalent in Telangana in the nineteenth century, which grew predominantly by 1930s.
The penetration of high profile cash crops resulted in the incorporation of the Hyderabad economy into the world market. The State supported this by providing more irrigation facilities and introducing improved varieties of seeds.
The commercialisation of agriculture adversely affected the cropping pattern. The area under foodgrain cultivation declined from 75 percent in 1920–22 to 68 percent in 1949–50. Moreover, the process of commercialisation completely defeated the spirit of some measures introduced by Salar Jung. With these measures, State revenue increased, but affected the peasants. The intensification of profit motive of landlords forced peasants to work more to feed landlord demands. With commercialization coupled by deteriorating tenancy conditions, peasant’s rural indebtedness increased. The commercialisation of agriculture resulted in the intensification of feudal exploitation of the peasantry.
Feudal Oppression
In Hyderabad State, particularly in the Telangana region, a major portion of cultivable land was concentrated in the hands of few landlords, including Jagirdari areas. The Jagirdars imposed illegal exactions on the peasants. Nearly 82 varieties of such exactions were recorded. The burden of exactions could be judged from the fact that 110 Jagirdars collected about Rs. 10 crores. The Deshmukhs wielded lot of political and economic power, being rent collectors and owners of vast lands. The Patels and Patwaris supported the Deshmukhs. The Jagirs acted like State within the State, having their own rules in their areas. It was the emergence of this type of powerful landlords that was responsible for the degeneration of the system.
Vetti and Begari
The peasants of Hyderabad also fought against Vetti. It was confined mainly to Dalit communities, but affected all backward castes in the 19th century. Vetti involved forced labour and exaction. Under this system, Dalits used to clean village, collect forest wood, carry post and supply leather items for cultivation and shoes for the doras’ families. The rest of the communities in the village were forced to render service to the dora freely.
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Boyalu and Bestalu carried the dora family members in pallakis and menas to distant places.
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Goudas supplied toddy, Salolu supplied cloth, Kummaris supplied pots, dhobis washed cloths and did household work.
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Mangalis who were barbers also performed foot massage and Gollas and Gollakurmas supplied goats and sheep for all functions.
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Komatis supplied goods and groceries.
This was the kind of Vetti that was in practice in Hyderabad, particularly in Telangana. The landlords treated the Dalits as bonded labourers and treated them as slaves. Illegal exploitation of labour, and severe punishments against them became common. The village officials – Patels, Patwaris and Mali Patel used Vetti labour for both official and personal works.
Another inhuman custom was Bhagela. Bhagelas were bonded labourers to the landlord due to debt. They worked freely in the Dora’s gadi through debt bondage. The contract was annual, but they became hereditary labourers. They worked for the doras round the clock and were paid namesake or nil.
