Forest Satyagraha

After implementing the programme of breaking the Salt Tax Law all through the month of May, Congress workers undertook the programme of breaking the Forest Laws. People in the rural areas need three things for livelihood - Land, Cattle and Forest. Under the British rule, a number of restrictions were imposed after 1866 on the use of forest. Grazing cattle, cutting of grass and trees was forbidden in the protected forests. Consequently, firewood, fruit, herbs could be collected by the tribal people only by deceiving the forest guards. Considering the unrest about the stringent Forest Laws, it was decided that from July 1930 onwards the programme of Satyagraha would be expanded beyond the breaking of Salt Tax Laws to breaking the Forest Laws. The Jungle Satyagraha Committee felt that Sangamner and Akole Taluqas of the Ahmednagar district would be favourable areas for this movement and hence, its main office was opened at Sangamner. The three leaders of this Satyagraha were Ramkrishnadas Maharaj, Lalji Pendse and Shripad Shankar Navare. Navare published a pamphlet declaring that they were now moving from the Sea to the Mountain. Tarkateertha Laxmanshastri Joshi, Shreeniwas Sardesai and Bhai Sattha also participated and were jailed in this Satyagraha. On 22nd July 1930, on the day of Ashadhi Ekadashi, Satyagraha was organised in Sangamner and Akole Taluqa simultaneously at about 20-22 places. The Forest Satyagraha had reached the Taluqas of Kopargaon and Rahuri as well. It was a sight to behold when the police reached the villages of Chandanpuri and Savargaon to arrest those who broke the Law - thousands of people had gathered to oppose them. In Nasik District, Jungle Satyagraha was carried out successfully in Satana, Baglan and Kalvan Taluqas. The chief leaders in Baglan included Dadasaheb Gadre, Mahant Seetaramshastri and Tarkateertha Laxmanshastri Joshi. Dang is the area of forests. The Koli and Thakar tribes were also drawn into the Jungle Satyagraha. It became difficult for the government servants to collect the Forest Grazing Tax from them. They were not terrified even by the armed police. On 5th August, a Jungle Satyagraha was organised at Bhilwad in Baglan, wherein thousands of farmers participated. Already distressed by the world's Great Depression, farmers extended their support like never before to the programme of Satyagraha to break Salt Laws and Forest Laws.