"A Sanyasi who came to that district after a spell as an indentured labourer in Fiji carrying a copy of Tulsidas Ramayana on his back from which he would recite verses to rural audience." The peasant leader referred to here is

The correct answer is Baba Ram Chandra.

Key Points

Baba Ram Chandra:

• Baba Ramchandra fought against the injustices meted out by landlords in the 1920s and 1930s.
• As an indentured labourer, Baba Ramchandra had been to Fiji, an island nation in the Pacific.
• In India, the Non-Cooperation movement spread from cities to the countryside.
• The struggles of Tribals and Peasants were drawn into the fold of the Non-cooperation movement.
• Baba Ramchandra led the peasant movement in Awadh.
• The peasant movement demanded to socially boycott oppressive landlords, demanded to abolish begar, and demanded a reduction of revenue.
• In many places to deprive the services of even washermen and barbers to the landlords, the nai-dobi bandhs were organized by the Panchayats.
• In June 1920, Jawaharlal Nehru tried to understand the grievances of the villagers in Awadh by talking to them.
• As a result of this, a new sabha was set up headed by Baba Ramchandra, Jawaharlal Nehru, and others. This new sabha was known as the Oudh Kisan Sabha and it was set up in October 1920.
• In the region, within a month, more than 300 branches of the Sabha were set up.
• As the movement spread grain hoards were taken over, bazaars were looted, and merchants' and talukdar's houses were looted.