Sharma : The technique was also…
Chavan : Technique developed. I was arrested in May 1943, that is one chapter of the movement. After that, the Patri Sarkar movement in Satara became violent.
I was not a participant in that movement. What happened later on was that, the Government started to find its own base in the village and towns. So those who were depending on the Government, started giving information and acted under the pressure of the Government. So it was necessary to create some sort of fear in their mind. Then they thought that it was better because people who gained more, were under the influence of the pro-Government elements. So our people started enforcing prohibition and brought it about in large areas. There were many centres where liquor used to be produced.
That was the tradition in our area. If they found that anybody was doing that, they used to go and beat him. The Patri Sarkar's orders were largly obeyed. So there was an atmosphere of fear. Those who gave information to the Government were traitors to the resistance movement. So they were to be punished. The goondas or exploitors in the villages used to be proseut. This was their programme.
Sharma : They gave a kind of rough and ready justice.
Chavan : That is right. If they knew that somebody was doing injustice to the poor people, they used to ask for explanation from him. If explanation was not satisfactory, they would punish him.
Sharma : And there was the Prati Sarkar also?
Chavan : I do not know why it was called like that. The idea was to create a parallel authority or Government. It was called Prati Sarkar. It was an old fashion in my district to beat a person in such a way that no proof was found. They used to beat him on the soles. And this was known as given patri to the man. Patri is a sort of nail which is put on to hoof of horse or bullock Marathi it is called patri. It became popularly known as the Patri Sarkar.
