Kathleen Gough’s Classification of Peasant Struggle: 5 Categories

Gough has classified peasant agitations or struggles into five important categories: 1. Restorative Rebellions. 2. Religious movements. 3. Social Banditry. 4. Terrorist Vengeance. 5. Mass Insurrections. 6. Liberal Reformist Movements.

1. Restorative Rebellion:

Agitations of this type usually consist of an attempt on the part of the agitators to fight for the restoration of one time existed privileges and statuses.


The santhal Insurrection. The santhals fought against the British not very much for driving them away from India but restoring their traditional rights. At fording to Gough, as many as 29 such rebellions took place in India prior to 1857.

2. Religious Movements:

These type of movements took place under the active leadership of religious leaders. People supported and joined in these agitations with a hope, wherein social equality, justice and brotherhood would be assured for all.



The Moplah Muslims of Malabar, revolted against the Hindu landlords also the British.

3. Social Banditry:

It means a type of robbery in which the leaders loot the properties of the rich people and distribute the looted property among the poor. Example: the banditry led by Narasimha Reddy of Karnool in Andhra Pradesh.

4. The Terrorist Vengeance:

It is based on violence and armed revolt. Here the agitators make a frontal attack on the opponents who are regarded as their enemies. Here the enemies are tortured, tyrannized and finally killed. Example: Naxalite agitations.

5. Mass Insurrections:

These take place suddenly and came III nil end abruptly. They arise without any leader or any organisational base. Whenever they get a solution, may be temporary in nature, the agitations may come to a sudden end.


The so called “Deccan Revolt” that took place in Poona, Ahmed Nagar, Satara, and Solapur.

6. Liberal Reformist Movement:

The examples are the Champaran Satyagraha, Bardoli Satyagraha and Kheda Satyagraha in Bihar and Gujarat etc. This type of movement helps in removing some of the dangerous or at least harmful laws/legislations. There is no use of violence, atrocities. These movements do not have the intention of creating any conflict or enmity between different communities.

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