India’s freedom struggle is often remembered through the names of great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose, and Bhagat Singh. Yet, hidden within the rural heartlands were thousands of local heroes who fought quietly for the dignity of common people. Among them, Baba Ramchandra stands tall as one of the most inspiring figures of India’s grassroots independence movement.
He was not a politician in the traditional sense, nor a man of great wealth or power. He was a simple peasant, a religious preacher, and a fearless voice of the oppressed. His movement in Awadh (now part of Uttar Pradesh) awakened thousands of poor farmers and bonded laborers to rise against centuries of exploitation under British rule and the feudal landlords known as taluqdars.
Baba Ramchandra’s story is one of courage, faith, and justice—a story of how one man’s moral strength became a movement that shook the foundations of colonial India.
Early Life and Background
Baba Ramchandra was born around 1864 in the village of Nasirpur in Faizabad district (now Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh). His birth name was Shri Shridhar Balwant Jadhav. Interestingly, he was originally from Maharashtra, not Awadh. Later in life, he became known as “Baba Ramchandra,” a name that symbolized both his spiritual nature and his deep connection with the common people.
From a young age, Ramchandra showed a strong interest in religion and social justice. He learned to read and recite the Ramayana, especially the Ramcharitmanas, the Awadhi version written by Tulsidas. His understanding of religion was not limited to ritual—he saw it as a source of moral strength and equality.
In his early adulthood, Ramchandra worked as an indentured laborer in Fiji, a British colony in the Pacific. This experience became a turning point in his life. There, he witnessed the terrible conditions faced by Indian laborers, who had been taken abroad with false promises but were forced to work on plantations under harsh and inhuman conditions.
This suffering opened his eyes to the larger system of colonial exploitation. When he returned to India, he carried with him not only the pain of the oppressed but also a burning desire to fight injustice.
Return to India and Transformation into a Social Leader
After returning from Fiji around 1909, Ramchandra renounced his old life and became a sadhu (saint). He took the name Baba Ramchandra and began travelling across villages, reciting verses from the Ramcharitmanas.
However, unlike many saints of his time, Baba Ramchandra did not limit himself to spiritual preaching. He used the language of religion to talk about freedom, equality, and justice. He spoke of Rama Rajya not just as a spiritual kingdom, but as a symbol of a just and moral society where no one would suffer exploitation.
His message struck a deep chord among the poor peasants of Awadh, most of whom were burdened by heavy rents, forced labor (begar), and abuse by landlords. The peasants began to see Baba Ramchandra as not only a holy man but also a protector of their rights.
The Condition of Peasants in Awadh
To understand Baba Ramchandra’s importance, it is necessary to understand what the peasants of Awadh were going through in the early 20th century.
Under the British colonial system, much of the land in Awadh was controlled by taluqdars, large landlords who collected rent from peasants and passed a portion to the British authorities. The peasants, who actually worked the land, had no ownership rights.
They had to pay high rents, give free labor, and were often beaten or humiliated by the landlords’ agents. Many were forced to sell their crops at low prices or even lose their homes for failing to pay rent.
The situation worsened after the First World War (1914–1918). Prices of essential goods rose sharply, taxes increased, and returning soldiers found no employment. Poverty deepened. This was the moment when Baba Ramchandra’s voice began to unite the farmers.
The Birth of the Peasant Movement
By 1919, Baba Ramchandra had become widely known in Faizabad, Pratapgarh, and Rae Bareli districts. He began organizing meetings and religious gatherings that slowly turned into political platforms.
He would recite lines from Ramcharitmanas and then connect them to the everyday life of the farmers. For example, he compared Ravana to the British rulers and landlords, and Rama’s victory to the struggle of the peasants for justice.
This simple but powerful method helped him reach even illiterate villagers. He told them that religion and justice are one, and that it was their duty to stand up against exploitation.
His leadership gave rise to the Awadh Peasant Movement, one of the earliest organized peasant uprisings in India.
Formation of the Awadh Kisan Sabha (Oudh Farmers’ Association)
In October 1919, a significant step was taken with the formation of the Awadh Kisan Sabha (Oudh Kisan Sabha). The Sabha was founded by Baba Ramchandra, along with other nationalist leaders such as J.B. Kripalani, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Gauri Shankar Misra.
The Sabha aimed to:
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Demand lower rents and better treatment of peasants,
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End the system of begar (unpaid labor),
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Stop illegal evictions, and
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Unite farmers under one voice.
Under Baba Ramchandra’s leadership, peasants began holding meetings, singing devotional songs, and marching with flags that carried slogans like “Sita-Ram” and “Land for those who till it.”
This religious yet revolutionary tone gave the movement great emotional power.
Spread of the Movement and British Reaction
The movement quickly spread across Awadh—from Rae Bareli to Faizabad, Pratapgarh, Sultanpur, and other regions. Tens of thousands of farmers began to refuse forced labor, protest unfair rents, and petition against landlord cruelty.
In early 1921, the movement reached its peak. Villages began forming their own local assemblies and sending representatives to Baba Ramchandra. Some peasants even boycotted landlord estates and refused to pay taxes.
The British government saw this as a major threat. They feared that this “religious uprising” could merge with the Non-Cooperation Movement led by Mahatma Gandhi.
In June 1921, Baba Ramchandra was arrested on charges of inciting rebellion. His arrest led to widespread protests. Thousands of peasants marched in anger, shouting his name and demanding his release.
Though the British managed to suppress the movement temporarily, the spirit of resistance could not be erased.
Connection with the Indian National Congress
Baba Ramchandra’s peasant movement attracted the attention of the Indian National Congress, which at that time was looking for ways to involve rural India in the national struggle.
Leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru visited the villages of Awadh and personally met the peasants and Baba Ramchandra. Nehru was deeply moved by the poverty and courage of the farmers. In his autobiography, he wrote about how Baba Ramchandra and his followers gave him a new understanding of India’s rural heart.
However, there were also differences between Baba Ramchandra’s peasant-centered approach and the Congress’s more urban, elite leadership. While Congress aimed for political independence, Baba Ramchandra focused on social and economic justice for the poorest.
Despite these differences, both movements complemented each other—the Kisan Sabha gave Congress a rural base, and Congress gave the peasants national recognition.
Ideology and Vision
Baba Ramchandra was not a political theorist, but his ideas were clear and deeply moral. He believed that religion and justice should serve humanity, not exploitation.
His core beliefs included:
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Equality of all human beings, regardless of caste or wealth.
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Right to land for those who cultivate it.
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End of forced labor and unfair rents.
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Moral governance based on the ideals of Rama Rajya.
He never used violence. His methods were based on non-cooperation, faith, and mass unity, which made his movement similar in spirit to Gandhi’s approach, though it began independently.
Later Years
After his release from prison, Baba Ramchandra continued his work among peasants but gradually withdrew from active politics. By the late 1920s, the Awadh Kisan Sabha’s influence declined, as the Congress began organizing peasant wings at the national level.
Still, Baba Ramchandra remained respected as a moral and spiritual guide for farmers. He continued to live simply, moving from village to village, preaching equality and justice.
He passed away in 1950, just three years after India achieved independence. Though he did not live to see major land reforms, his ideas inspired later kisan movements and agrarian reforms in independent India.
Legacy and Historical Importance
Baba Ramchandra may not be as widely known as some other leaders, but his contribution is immense. He was among the first leaders to organize peasants on a mass scale and link religion with social justice in a way that common villagers could understand.
His movement:
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Awakened political consciousness among the poor farmers of northern India,
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Inspired later agrarian movements like the Eka Movement and Kisan Sabha movements in Bihar and other regions,
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Helped bridge the gap between rural struggles and national politics, and
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Demonstrated that freedom was not just political independence but also social equality.
In modern India, Baba Ramchandra’s name is remembered with honor among grassroots freedom fighters who gave voice to the voiceless. Schools, roads, and institutions in Uttar Pradesh and beyond have been named after him. Yet, his greatest monument lies in the spirit of India’s farmers, who continue to fight for justice with courage and unity.
Conclusion
Baba Ramchandra’s life shows that the Indian freedom struggle was not fought only in cities or parliaments—it was also fought in the fields, huts, and dusty roads of villages, where farmers dreamed of a life of dignity.
He taught the peasants of Awadh to raise their voices and believe in their own strength. He turned religious faith into a tool for social awakening and transformed suffering into solidarity.
In the words of Jawaharlal Nehru, the story of India’s freedom is not complete without the story of its peasants—and Baba Ramchandra was their voice, their saint, and their leader.
He may not have carried weapons or worn fine clothes, but his courage was greater than any army’s, and his legacy continues to inspire those who believe that true freedom begins with justice for the poorest.
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