India’s freedom struggle was not fought only in cities or political halls — it also rose from the villages and farmlands of the country. Among the countless voices that demanded justice for the poor and the oppressed, one name stands tall: Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, a saint, reformer, and fearless leader of peasants.
He transformed the lives of millions of farmers in Bihar and beyond. He made them realize that they were not powerless, that they too had the right to live with dignity. His work laid the foundation of the peasant movement in India — a powerful chapter of the independence struggle that combined spirituality with social justice.
This is the story of the man who was born a monk but became a revolutionary voice for India’s peasants.
🌱 Early Life and Background
Swami Sahajanand Saraswati was born as Naurang Rai in 1889 in a small village called Deva, located in the Ghazipur district of Uttar Pradesh (then part of the North-Western Provinces under British rule). He was born into a middle-class Bhumihar Brahmin family that valued education, faith, and simplicity.
From childhood, he showed signs of deep spirituality and intelligence. His parents hoped he would become a scholar or religious teacher. But young Naurang Rai had a restless mind. He questioned inequality and injustice even at an early age.
He studied Sanskrit and the Hindu scriptures, showing great devotion to religion and philosophy. After his parents passed away while he was still young, he found himself drawn completely toward a spiritual path.
At the age of 18, he renounced worldly life, left home, and became a monk. He took the name Swami Sahajanand Saraswati after being initiated into the Dashanami Sanyasi order, following the tradition of Adi Shankaracharya.
But his path as a monk was not just about meditation or isolation. Swami Sahajanand Saraswati believed that serving humanity is the highest form of worship — a belief that would shape the rest of his life.
🔥 From Monk to Reformer
After renouncing the world, Swami Sahajanand traveled widely across northern India. He saw first-hand the pain and poverty of the Indian peasants — especially in Bihar.
The farmers worked hard day and night but were crushed under heavy taxes, unfair rent, and cruel treatment by zamindars (landlords). The British government supported this feudal system, taking away most of the farmers’ produce as revenue.
Swami Sahajanand was deeply moved by their suffering. He realized that religion without compassion and action was meaningless. A saint, he decided, must also be a soldier of social justice.
By the 1920s, he began to speak out publicly against exploitation. He started organizing meetings with peasants, urging them to unite peacefully and demand their rights. His message was simple yet powerful:
“Those who feed the nation should not starve themselves.”
This new mission gave him a different kind of spiritual energy — the strength to fight injustice with courage and truth.
🏛️ Founding of the Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha
In 1929, Swami Sahajanand founded the Bihar Provincial Kisan Sabha (BPKS) — the first organized farmers’ association in India.
The Sabha became the voice of thousands of landless laborers, sharecroppers, and small farmers. It demanded fair rent, protection from forced labor, and an end to the zamindari system.
Through peaceful protests, marches, and petitions, the movement began to grow rapidly. The British authorities and landlords saw it as a threat, but they could not ignore the determination of the peasants led by the Swami.
The Kisan Sabha movement gave the farmers not only a platform but also a sense of self-respect. For the first time, they realized they were part of a larger national struggle — not just for land, but for freedom and dignity.
📢 The All-India Kisan Sabha and National Role
Swami Sahajanand’s movement in Bihar inspired similar actions across the country. Peasants in Bengal, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and other regions began organizing themselves.
In 1936, under his leadership, the All-India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) was formed at Lucknow, during the session of the Indian National Congress.
This was a historic moment. The AIKS united farmers from different provinces under one banner. Its founding leaders included well-known figures such as N.G. Ranga, E.M.S. Namboodiripad, Indulal Yagnik, and Swami Sahajanand Saraswati himself as the first president.
The AIKS adopted the red flag as its symbol, representing the struggles of the working class and peasants. It demanded:
-
Reduction in land rent and taxes
-
Abolition of landlordism
-
Freedom from debt
-
Better wages for agricultural laborers
Under Swami Sahajanand’s leadership, the Kisan Sabha became one of the strongest mass movements in pre-independence India. By the 1940s, it had millions of members and had become a pillar of the broader national movement against British rule.
🌾 The Peasant Movements in Bihar
The Bihar Kisan Movement, led by Swami Sahajanand, was both a social and economic revolution.
He exposed the cruelty of the zamindari system, where landlords controlled vast lands and forced peasants to work for them under unfair terms. He mobilized peasants to refuse illegal taxes and resist eviction.
The movement spread like wildfire in districts such as Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, and Saran. Villagers gathered in large meetings, carrying red flags and shouting slogans demanding “Zamindari Abolish Karo!” (“End landlordism!”).
Swami Sahajanand always emphasized non-violence and discipline. He warned his followers not to attack individuals but to fight the system through unity and awareness.
In his speeches, he often linked the farmers’ struggle to India’s broader freedom struggle:
“The independence of India will have no meaning unless the farmer becomes free.”
His words inspired a generation of leaders and activists to focus on rural justice as an essential part of India’s independence.
📚 Writings and Ideas
Swami Sahajanand Saraswati was not only a leader but also a deep thinker and writer. He wrote several books and pamphlets that explained his philosophy of social equality, nationalism, and agrarian reform.
Some of his well-known works include:
-
“Mera Jeevan Sangharsh” (My Life Struggle) – his autobiography, which gives valuable insights into his life and the peasant movement.
-
“Bhumihar Brahmin Kosh” – a historical work defending the social identity of his community while calling for unity among all castes.
-
“Kisan Sabha Ka Itihas” – a record of the development of the peasant movement in India.
His writings showed that he was not motivated by hatred or violence but by a vision of justice and equality. He believed that true freedom would come only when the poorest of the poor gained control over their own lives.
He was critical of both British colonial policies and the Congress leadership when they ignored peasant issues. Although he supported the Congress in its anti-colonial struggle, he often disagreed with its leaders for neglecting rural reforms.
⚖️ Relationship with Mahatma Gandhi and the Congress
Swami Sahajanand respected Mahatma Gandhi for his honesty and commitment to truth but differed from him on certain economic and social issues.
While Gandhi focused on moral reform and non-violence, Sahajanand stressed economic justice and class equality. He argued that freedom without social reform would only change the rulers, not the lives of the poor.
He once said,
“Political independence without the end of feudal exploitation is incomplete.”
Despite ideological differences, both leaders shared the same goal — to uplift India’s poor and oppressed.
His relationship with the Indian National Congress was often complex. The Congress wanted to keep the peasant movement under its influence, but Swami Sahajanand insisted that the Kisan Sabha remain independent, focusing on agrarian issues rather than party politics.
This independence gave the Kisan Sabha its unique identity and credibility among rural Indians.
🌍 Influence Beyond Bihar
Although Swami Sahajanand started his work in Bihar, his influence quickly spread across India. The All-India Kisan Sabha branches in Bengal, Punjab, Andhra, and Kerala were inspired by his vision.
In Bengal, his ideas encouraged the Tebhaga Movement, where sharecroppers demanded two-thirds of the produce they grew. In Andhra Pradesh, peasants organized under leaders like N.G. Ranga following his example.
He also connected India’s agrarian struggles with international movements for workers’ rights and equality. His leadership helped bridge the gap between urban and rural activists, making India’s freedom struggle truly people-oriented.
💬 Personal Qualities and Character
Swami Sahajanand Saraswati lived a simple, disciplined, and selfless life. Even as a national leader, he owned very few possessions. He often traveled barefoot or by bullock cart to remote villages, speaking directly with farmers.
He believed in equality among all human beings, regardless of caste, religion, or gender. He opposed untouchability and worked for the upliftment of the lower castes and women.
People who met him were struck by his fiery energy and gentle compassion. He could speak like a scholar, lead like a warrior, and live like a saint — a rare combination.
He was known for his sharp intellect, straightforwardness, and strong will. He never sought personal fame or political position. His only mission was to make India’s villages free from exploitation and ignorance.
🕊️ Final Years and Death
By the early 1940s, Swami Sahajanand Saraswati’s health began to decline, but his spirit remained strong. He continued to guide the Kisan Sabha and participate in political debates.
In 1942, when the Quit India Movement began, he supported it wholeheartedly, seeing it as part of the broader fight for people’s freedom.
He also participated in campaigns against famine and poverty, organizing relief efforts for the poor.
Swami Sahajanand Saraswati passed away on 26 June 1950 in Patna, just a few years after India achieved independence.
His death marked the end of an era, but his legacy continued through the peasant movements and agrarian reforms that shaped independent India.
🌺 Legacy and Contributions
Swami Sahajanand’s legacy is vast and multi-dimensional. His greatest contribution was that he gave a political voice to India’s peasants — the majority of its population at that time.
Here are some of his major contributions:
-
Pioneer of Peasant Movements
-
He built India’s first organized and nationwide farmers’ movement, which later influenced agrarian policies after independence.
-
-
Social Reformer
-
He fought against caste discrimination, untouchability, and the exploitation of the poor.
-
He encouraged education and awareness among rural people.
-
-
Spiritual Revolutionary
-
As a monk, he combined religion with action, teaching that spirituality means fighting injustice.
-
-
Inspiration for Future Movements
-
His ideas inspired land reform movements, the abolition of zamindari, and later rural development programs.
-
-
Writer and Thinker
-
His books remain valuable sources for understanding India’s social and agrarian history.
-
In recognition of his contribution, many educational institutions, roads, and organizations in Bihar and other states are named after him.
💡 Lessons from His Life
Swami Sahajanand Saraswati’s life offers timeless lessons:
-
True religion is service to humanity.
He showed that spirituality is not about rituals alone but about fighting injustice and lifting others. -
Unity is strength.
He proved that when common people unite for a just cause, even the most powerful systems can change. -
Social equality is the foundation of real freedom.
He taught that independence means nothing if millions remain poor and voiceless. -
Education and awareness bring transformation.
He believed that only an educated and self-aware society can remain free.
Even today, his vision is relevant as India continues to face challenges in agriculture and rural life. His message reminds us to value the hands that feed the nation.
🕯️ Conclusion
Swami Sahajanand Saraswati was more than a monk or a political leader — he was the conscience of rural India.
He spoke for those who could not speak for themselves, fought for justice without fear, and lived with unshakable faith in truth and equality.
His life bridged two worlds: the spiritual and the political. He taught that freedom is not complete until every farmer, worker, and poor person can live with dignity.
As India celebrates its freedom and democracy, remembering Swami Sahajanand Saraswati means remembering the roots of that freedom — the fields, the villages, and the millions of peasants whose courage nourished the nation.
He remains, forever, the saint who gave power to India’s farmers. 🌾
No comments:
Post a Comment