From Radical Resistance to Political Institutionalization: the Evolution of the Mazdoor Kissan Movement in Hashtnagar

Abstract

This research explores the evolution, socio-economic factors, and institutionalization of peasant movements in Pakistan, with a specific focus on the Mazdoor Kissan Movement (MKM) in the Hashtnagar region of Charsadda. Drawing on historical analysis, the sources presented describes the transition of the peasantry from a marginalized, submissive class into an organized political movement through the Mazdoor Kissan Party (MKP), established in 1968 after it splintered from the National Awami Party (NAP). The study explains the roots of systemic exploitation in the British colonial land tenure systems, such as the Zamindari and Ryotwari, which established a middle man role that oppressed the "Ryots" (tenants). Central to this analysis is the role of modernization—that includes the introduction of canal irrigation system and mechanization of agriculture—intensifying landlord-tenant conflicts and leading to an "indelible era of oppression". By synthesizing theoretical perspectives on peasant resistance, the research argues that addressing agrarian grievances is essential for ensuring national food security and impeding the infiltration of radical ideologies in rural areas.