ABSTRACT
The first wind of change could be felt in the mid-1930s when the political parties started taking interest in the conditions of the Sundarbans peasants. The unity, militancy and organizational strength forced the landlords to concede to the peasants' demands. In those districts where the tebhaga elaka had been achieved, the sharecroppers continued to struggle against landlords and the authorities. The Kakdwip Movement was a part of All Bengal Tebhaga Movement sponsored by Bengal Provincial Kisan Sabha. The Tebhaga Movement broke out in 1946 in Kakdwip. As a part of the Sundarbans the Kakdwip area was excluded from the Permanent Settlement of 1793. Tebhaga songs were sung early in the morning through the village paths and meetings were held regularly to make the sharecroppers aware of their oppressive conditions. The government had conceded the tebhaga demand and the Bengal Bargadars Temporary Bill was notified in Calcutta Gazette on 22 January 1947.
