POPULAR MOVEMENTS
Even though there were 500 princely states, and series of popular uprisings took place amongst them, the most important ones being. Rajkot in 1939, in Mysore 1938, the famous Orissa uprising 1939 and the famous Hyderabad state peoples uprising in 1940's.
The famous "Rajkot state peoples movement was organized under the leadership of Jamunalal Bajaj and Vallabhai Patel at the instance of Gandhi at Rajkot in 1939. It was against the heavy taxation policy of the princely states, against the peasant. Gandhi resorted to a fast unto death in Rajkot in 1939 and compelled the Goekwar ruling family to revise its policy on more moderate and considerate lines towards the peasants.
In the "state of Mysore" a popular movement was organized. It was organized by Bashyam, one of the founders of state congress, in association with the peoples federation of new Brahmins founded by K.C. Reddy and H.C. Dasappa. The movement started in the city Mysore and soon became violent. Riots took place in Kolar district. At the instance of INC, Vallabhai Patel entered into an agreement with Mirza Ismail Khan, the Diwan of Mysore, to introduce responsible government. Further, the state congress unit of Mysore, also came to be recognised by the princely state of Mysore.
"In Orissa" the peoples movement championed the cause of forced labour and heavy taxation. In 1939 Naba Kishore Chaudary organized a popular movement Dhenkanel. The movement spread to, Banapur and Rampur. The British agent Berzel Gatte was murdered by the people. At the instance of Gandhi, the movement was pacified, forced labour was abandoned, and a moderate taxation was introduced.
In Hyderabad the SPM started with the formation of Hyderabad state congress unit by Swami Ramananda Teertha in 1939. In 1939. the students of Osmania University organized the Vandemataram movement as a token of support to congress. However, the movement remained as merely anti-feudal, against the suppression of Nizam.
With the formation of communist party in 1939 in Hyderabad state the peoples movement got a momentum. The famous Telangana Rytanga Poratamu was organized under the leadership of the communists. Added to this, the Telugus of Nizam state founded in 1939, the Nizam Andhra Mahasabha and demanded a representative and responsible government. The people's movement was characterized by not only anti Nizam atrocities but also for the recognition of the Teugu language in the Nizam state. With the police action, the problem was settled once for all.
"In the state of Travancore" A.K. Gopala Krishna pillai and E.M.S Namboodripad founded the local congress committee in 1939. A movement was started against, the autocracy of C.P. Ramaswamy Iyengar, the diwan of Travnocore. The movement was successful and diwan was forced to do away with the oppressive land revenue policy and initiated a liberal process of forming the representative government.