Baba Ram Chandra facts for kids

Baba Ram Chandra (born between 1864 and 1875, died 1950) was an important leader in India. He helped farmers in a region called Awadh to stand up against unfair landlords in the 1920s and 1930s. He also played a big role in the history of Fiji. His desire to help others came from his 12 years as an indentured labourer in Fiji. This meant he worked there under a special contract, often in tough conditions. He worked hard to end this system. Baba Ram Chandra is also a main character in the historical novel "Bedakhal" by Kamla Kant Tripathi.

Early Life and New Beginnings

Baba Ram Chandra was born in a small village in Gwalior State. His real name was Shridhar Balwant. In 1904, he went to Fiji as an indentured labourer. He changed his name to Ram Chandra Rao to hide that he was from a priestly family. People from priestly families were usually not chosen for this type of work.

Helping Others in Fiji

Baba Ram Chandra lived in Fiji for about 13 years. During this time, he worked to improve the lives of other indentured labourers. He met Manilal Doctor, who was also interested in social issues in Fiji.

Ram Chandra used religious stories to bring people together. He helped organize Ram Lila plays in Fiji. These plays helped Indian labourers feel more connected and united. He also helped remove an official who disrespected the workers' religious feelings.

He led protests in Fiji to highlight the problems faced by labourers. He secretly sent an article to India about the terrible conditions of the workers. This article was published in a newspaper called Bharat Mitra in Calcutta. The Fiji government was worried by the article and looked for the writer. Friends advised Ram Chandra to leave Fiji before he was caught. He left Fiji in 1916.

Leading Farmers in India

When Baba Ram Chandra returned to India, he settled in Ayodhya and became a sadhu (a holy man). He was accused by the police of causing trouble among farmers. He started calling himself "Baba Ram Chandra."

He traveled around with a copy of the Ramayana, a famous Hindu epic. He would read from it and also speak out against the British Raj (British rule) and unfair landlords. He encouraged farmers to work together against those who exploited them.

Forming the Oudh Kisan Sabha

At first, he tried to make landlords and tenants get along. But he soon realized this wasn't working. So, he began to organize the farmers. He told them to pay only the required rent and not to give extra money or forced labor (called begari).

In 1919, he led the first farmer protest against landlords. By 1920, he had organized all the farmer groups in Awadh. He formed the Oudh Kisan Sabha (Oudh Farmers’ Association) with friends like Jhinguri Singh and Mata Badal Koeri. He was arrested many times for organizing these protests.

Baba Ram Chandra's movement had huge support from farmers. When he was put in Pratapgarh jail in September 1920, about 40,000 to 50,000 farmers gathered to demand his release. He recognized the important contributions of lower-caste people, like Pasi and Chamars, in the fight against the British.

Working with National Leaders

In June 1920, Nehru visited the villages of Awadh. By October, Baba Ram Chandra, Nehru, and others were leading the Sabha. Within a month, it had over 300 branches. This helped connect the farmers to the larger Non-cooperation movement for India's independence.

However, Baba Ram Chandra was disappointed when he tried to get support from Nehru and other Indian National Congress leaders. He felt that the Congress, mostly led by people from cities, focused only on independence and didn't fully understand the farmers' needs. After Baba Ram Chandra was arrested, the farmer movement in that area became less active.