Kheda is a small district near Ahmedabad. Kheda used to be a part of the Bombay Presidency at that time.
The farmers here used to belong to the Patidar community who were known for their agricultural skills.
Kheda was also a great place in terms of agriculture. The land here was considered fertile enough for cotton crops.
But because of the famine, everything was ruined here. The agricultural economy here had weakened.
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The farmers were becoming increasingly poor, they were on the verge of starvation. He had become a laborer by compulsion leaving farming.
In 1918, once again there was a drought. In 1918 there was no rain and the disease of plague was also spread. Many people had died because of Plague.
On the other hand, the British government was getting the re-assessment of the land and crops grown in Kheda.
In this ray assessment, the British government found that there has been good cultivation in Kheda. The British government said that the tax will be increased.
Tax increased by 23%. On hearing this, the senses of the farmers were blown away. Local leaders also opposed it.
Farmers and local leaders took these matters and reached Gujarat Sabha. Gandhiji was the President of Gujarat Sabha. The members of Gujarat Sabha gave this information to Gandhiji.
Sardar Patel was the General Secretary of Gujarat Sabha at that time. He had joined the Gujarat Sabha in 1917 at the request of Gandhiji.
At that time Gandhiji was fighting for the Ahmedabad mill workers, so Gandhiji asked Sardar Patel to survey the surrounding villages.
Gandhiji asked Sardar Patel to submit a petition to the British government that the assessment should be canceled. The farmers of Kheda also put their thumbs on the petitions prepared by Sardar Patel.
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After this the petition was submitted to the British authorities and requested that the condition of the farmers is very bad due to drought and plague, then you waive their tax.
It was written in the petition that only one-fourth of the total capacity of the farmers has been grown. In such a situation, the British Land Revenue Court also says that if the product is one-fourth, then the tax should be waived.
But the British government did not listen and rejected the petition. In response, the British government said that we have got the assessment done and the crops of the farmers have not been ruined, while the crop was ruined.
Gandhiji had now come to Kheda, he said that the British government is doing injustice to us and we will not kneel before them.
Gandhiji said that now we will do Satyagraha and will not pay tax. So the farmers said that if we do not pay tax, then the British government will take away our land.
Gandhiji started Satyagraha and farmers also joined him. British government confiscated people's land and animals for not paying tax, but the farmers did not give up.
Some rich farmers and landlords did not participate in the Satyagraha and paid tax to the British government.
In the end, the British government made this commitment that the farmer who is capable will pay the tax and the tax rate of 1918 and 1919 will be reduced.
Eventually, the tax was reduced and the confiscated property of the people was returned.
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