Changed Nature of Peasant Movements after 1857
• Peasants emerged as the main force in agrarian movements, fighting directly for their own demands.
• The demands were centred almost wholly on economic issues.
• The movements were directed against the immediate enemies of the peasant-foreign planters and indigenous zamindars and moneylenders.
• The struggles were directed towards specific and limited objectives and redressal of particular grievances.
• Colonialism was not the target of these movements.
• It was not the objective of these movements to end the subordination or exploitation of the peasants.
• Territorial reach was limited.
• There was no continuity of struggle or long-term organization
• The peasants developed a strong awareness of their legal rights and asserted them in and outside the courts