Changed Nature of Peasant Movements after 1857

● Peasants emerged as the main force in agrarian movements, fighting directly for their own demands.

● The demands were centred almost wholly on economic issues.

● The movements were directed against the immediate enemies of the peasant—foreign planters and indigenous zamindars and moneylenders.

● The struggles were directed towards specific and limited objectives and redressal of particular grievances.

● Colonialism was not the target of these movements.

● It was not the objective of these movements to end the system of subordination or exploitation of the peasants.

● Territorial reach was limited.

● There was no continuity of struggle or long-term organisation.

● The peasants developed a strong awareness of their legal rights and asserted them in and outside the courts.