The leader of Bijolia farmer movement, Vijay Singh Pathik’s real name was Bhoop Singh. His birth place was Ghutaval village in the Bulandshahr district. In 1907, Bhoop Singh came in contact with famous revolutionary Ras Bihari Bose, Sachindra Sanyal and from there onward he started to participate in revolutionary activities. In order to organise the revolt in Rajasthan, Bose sent him to Thakur of Khalwa, Gopal Singh.

The plan of revolt being unsuccessful, all revolutionaries were caught. Bhoop Singh was also caught and imprisoned in the fort of Tatagarh. Later, he managed to escape from that place. He grew his beard and changed his name from Bhoop Singh to Vijay Pathik. From there on for the life time, he was known by the same name.

By chance he met Sita Ram, and on the recommendation of Sita Ram, Vijay Pathik agreed to be the leader of Bijolia movement. His presence motivated the farmers. With the support of Manikya Lal Verma, Sadhu Sita Ram Dass, Bhanwar. Lal Sunar and Prem Chand Bhil, Pathik through the medium of panchayat gathered them and objected to tax them for funding of war reserves.

Farmers sent request letters to Maharana and landlords. In response, the Maharana got the farmer leader arrested and ordered his property to be seized. Pathik went underground and directed the movement from an unknown place.

The support of newspapers : Vijay Pathik through the medium of a paper published from Kanpur made the farmer movement of Bijolia a subject of discussion in the whole country. In this, the feudal lords’ oppressions were widely discussed and publicised. Leaders M. L. Verma, Sita Ram Dass etc. were made captives. The farmers were tortured cruelly but they tolerated everything and continued with the movement.

For the propagation of news about Bijolia movement. Pathik sent to the editor of Pratap, Ganesh Shankar Vidhyarthi a thread tied on arm to increase dependent relations. Gandhi Ji also heard about the Bijolia movement and invited Pathikji in this connection to Mumbai to participate in the congress convention of 1918.

He met G.S. Vidhyarthi and in 1918 to participate in Congress Conventions he left for Mumbai. Durign this period, the suppression of farmers continued. The Rana ordered the administration of the state to realise tax from the farmer on that land only which was ploughed by the farmer. This was the second success of farmers.

The foundation of Rajasthan Sewa Mandal: In 1919, Pathik formed the Rajasthan Sewa Mandal. Its office was based in Ajmer. Pathik from this place began the operations of Bijolia farmer movement. In December 1919, he left to participate in Amritsar Congress convention and tried to raise the voice of Bijolia farmers. Lokmanya Tilak presented the proposal and Kelkar supported it.

However, in the view of Madan Mohan Malviya, there could be no discussions on this proposal, because in the matters of native states, he did not wish to interfere. Malviya on the personal basis assured Pathikji that he would himself meet the Maharana and try to settle the issue. This way Bijolia farmers’ movement came in the limelight of national leaders.

Rajputana Medieval India Assembly : Pathikji wished this movement to take the form of movement of national importance. He wished to raise this issue through the medium of Rajputana medieval India assembly. In the presidentship of Bhavani Dayal ji, a commission was formed.

This information was passed on to Maharana but Maharana didn’t wish any outside agency to interfere in the issue of Bijolia movement. The Maharana did not accept the recommendation of the commision. The British government equalized this movement with the Russian revolution and gave the advice to crush the movement seriously.

In 1920, the farmers of Bijolia went to Congress convention in Nagpur. The farmers, apprised Gandhiji of the movement and received his blessings. This was the period when in the entire country, non – co – operation movement had spread. British government was worried about the movement and the farmer movement had spread to Begu , Parsoli and south – west mountain areas.

The efforts for settlement: British government was afraid that the farmers’ movement of Mewar would combine with non-co-operation movement that was active in India. With the efforts of M. J. J. Holland, there became agreement between farmers and landlords.

According to this agreement 35 cultivation costs were terminated and the taxes were lowered. The allegation on farmers was taken back. In this manner, the main demands of Bijolia farmers were agreed upon, and their panchayats got recogniton. This was the third victory of Bijolia farmers.’

No fruitful result of 1922 agreement : British Government had no interest in the agreement. They merely wished the farmers to stay away from the non-coperation movement going on across the country. At the end of the non – co – operation movement, A.G.C. did not enquire about the Bijolia movement. The feudal lords of Bijolia already did not wish to implement it. Except for ther farmers no other showed interest in this agreement.

Pathikji maintains recontrol: In 1922 by the efforts of Pathikji, an agreement between farmers and administration. Pathikji handled the leadership of the movement for which he was imprisoned for 3 years, After Pathikji was released from prison, he went into exile. His entry in Mewar state was restricted. He started giving guidance to the farmer panchayat of the Fusria village in the Gwalior state bordering Bijolia.

The question arose in 1927 for the Bijolia movement to leave taxed lands and stop cultivation in it. Pathikji probably could not assess the changed political circumstances. This decision of Pathikji proved wrong and faulty. For the moral and legal responsibility of the decision, Pathikji refused to mediate in the farmers’ panchayat.

The confidence of the farmers was broken was transfered from Pathikji to all India level. Therefore the leadership of Bijolia farmer movement was handed over to Hari B. Upadhyaya. In the end, we can say this movement created new awareness not only in Mewar but in Rajasthan’s other provinces too.