SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL IMPACTS OF A PEASANT UPRISING (KISSANI MOVEMENT) IN CHARSADDA DISTRICT

This study was carried out to ascertain social, economic and political impacts of the Kissani Movement on the living condition of the people inhabiting Northern Hashtnagar, part of Charsadda district. The Kissani Movement was launched under the banner of the Mazdoor Kissan Party (MKP) with its different factions in the field aiming at the central theme of struggle against the multifarious atrocities of the landowners of the sample area. Data was collected from 100 respondents in two big villages of the target area i.e. Shakoor and Mandani. A remarkable break through was seen in a transition of the mode of thinking of the local people, which resulted in them accepting family planning programme up to a considerable extent, sending children for attainment of education irrespective of gender discrimination, allowing educated women for employment preferably in near stations, not strictly complying with the rigid contents of the traditional social structure, marrying outside family, nuclearizing families from joint ones, increasing agricultural productivity, enhancing monthly income, accommodating women in their property, inculcating political awareness, promoting democratic leadership and developing voting behaviour. However, Relations between peasants and landowners did not remain congenial. The paper concludes that the enlightenment of local mind can further be glimpsed from developing the thought that education and freedom of expression are the bases of development.