Praja Party
Encyclopedia
The Praja Party, initially called the Council Praja Party or the Bengal Praja Party (Bengal Tenant Party) and later renamed the Nikhil Banga Praja Samiti (All Bengal Tenant Association) and finally the Krishak Praja Party
(Peasant Tenant Party), was a political party of Bengal
in the latter days of British India. Formed in July 1929, it lasted until 1937. The name Praja Party is a generic term which covers all of the party's different phases.
, after the elections held in June 1929. By the end of 1929, it had evolved into a party with a wider scope called the Nikhil Banga Praja Samiti.
The party began by committing itself to support the majority decision in all matters in the Legislative Council. It also aimed to champion the cause of tenants and the working classes and to support the dyarchy and the appointment of ministers selected by the party.
The party found a good campaign issue in the Bengal Tenancy (Amendment) Act, 1928.
As the Nikhil Banga Praja Samiti, in its second phase, the party added a new dimension to Bengal politics by activating the people of Calcutta
's rural hinterland with the slogan of "Land to the tillers!". Its aim was not egalitarianism
or revolution
. Its leaders were a group of Muslims drawn from the lesser landowners and the higher grades of farmers who sought to dislodge the existing Muslim leadership of the Province of Bengal, who were generally greater Muslim landlords and rich Urdu
speaking merchants of Calcutta. The Nikhil Banga Praja Samiti was formed late in 1929 with Sir Abdur Rahim
as its President, and its initial activities were confined to holding annual conferences and adopting resolutions demanding the redress of the grievances of the workers on the land.
There was a split in the Samiti in 1934, when Sir Abdur Rahim was elected President of the Central Legislative Assembly
in New Delhi
and Huq's faction took control, installing Huq as President.
In April 1936, the party was renamed the Krishak Praja Party to turn it into an election machine to fight the first Provincial elections held under the Government of India Act 1935
. The title of Krishak Praja Party (Peasant Tenant Party) was chosen to appeal to rural voters. Soon after the 1937 elections, despite electoral success, the party broke up.
Krishak Praja Party
Krishak Praja Party , originally known as "Proja-Shamiti" , was a political party in British India. It struggled for the abolition of zamindari .In the late 1930s, A. K...
(Peasant Tenant Party), was a political party of Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
in the latter days of British India. Formed in July 1929, it lasted until 1937. The name Praja Party is a generic term which covers all of the party's different phases.
History
The party was formed within the Bengal Province Legislative Council, as a loose parliamentary group of eighteen of the thirty Muslim members, led by A. K. Fazlul HuqA. K. Fazlul Huq
Not to be confused with the cricket ground in Dhaka Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium Sher-e-Bangla Abul Kashem Fazlul Huq was a well-known Bengali statesman in the first half of the 20th century...
, after the elections held in June 1929. By the end of 1929, it had evolved into a party with a wider scope called the Nikhil Banga Praja Samiti.
The party began by committing itself to support the majority decision in all matters in the Legislative Council. It also aimed to champion the cause of tenants and the working classes and to support the dyarchy and the appointment of ministers selected by the party.
The party found a good campaign issue in the Bengal Tenancy (Amendment) Act, 1928.
As the Nikhil Banga Praja Samiti, in its second phase, the party added a new dimension to Bengal politics by activating the people of Calcutta
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
's rural hinterland with the slogan of "Land to the tillers!". Its aim was not egalitarianism
Egalitarianism
Egalitarianism is a trend of thought that favors equality of some sort among moral agents, whether persons or animals. Emphasis is placed upon the fact that equality contains the idea of equity of quality...
or revolution
Revolution
A revolution is a fundamental change in power or organizational structures that takes place in a relatively short period of time.Aristotle described two types of political revolution:...
. Its leaders were a group of Muslims drawn from the lesser landowners and the higher grades of farmers who sought to dislodge the existing Muslim leadership of the Province of Bengal, who were generally greater Muslim landlords and rich Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
speaking merchants of Calcutta. The Nikhil Banga Praja Samiti was formed late in 1929 with Sir Abdur Rahim
Abdur Rahim (judge)
Sir Abdur Rahim, KCSI, Kt , sometimes spelt Abdul Rahim, was a judge and politician in British India, and a leading member of the Muslim League...
as its President, and its initial activities were confined to holding annual conferences and adopting resolutions demanding the redress of the grievances of the workers on the land.
There was a split in the Samiti in 1934, when Sir Abdur Rahim was elected President of the Central Legislative Assembly
Central Legislative Assembly
The Central Legislative Assembly was a legislature for India created by the Government of India Act 1919 from the former Imperial Legislative Council, implementing the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms...
in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
and Huq's faction took control, installing Huq as President.
In April 1936, the party was renamed the Krishak Praja Party to turn it into an election machine to fight the first Provincial elections held under the Government of India Act 1935
Government of India Act 1935
The Government of India Act 1935 was originally passed in August 1935 , and is said to have been the longest Act of Parliament ever enacted by that time. Because of its length, the Act was retroactively split by the Government of India Act 1935 into two separate Acts:# The Government of India...
. The title of Krishak Praja Party (Peasant Tenant Party) was chosen to appeal to rural voters. Soon after the 1937 elections, despite electoral success, the party broke up.