Motilal Tejawat

Motilal Tejawat (1885–1963) was the leader of the Eki Movement that was agitated in the 1920s in the adivasi-dominated border areas of present-day Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Early life Motilal Tejawat was born in Koliyari (now in Jhadol tehsil, Udaipur district, Rajasthan) in 1886. After being educated to the fifth grade, he was employed in the Jhadol thikana (in present-day Jhadol tehsil) for some time. During his stint at Jhadol, he witnessed the oppressive behavior of the thakur and his henchmen towards the local Bhil people, which prompted him to resign his position in 1920. Tejawat organized several meetings in Bhil villages in the erstwhile estate of Jhadol, which resulted in the formation of a committee that sought to articulate the grievances and demands of the Bhil peasantry. He is said to have stated during speeches that once 'Gandhi raj' was established, the agitators would have to pay only one anna in the rupee (i.e., 6%) to their rulers. Similarly, V.S. Pathik criticized Tejawat:One thing, however, is certain and that is that it was beyond Moti Lal's intellectual capacity to lead the public on the right path...nobody, even a child, would ever recognize Moti Lal as having a political aim or status, nor was he connected with any political society.

Tejawat's arrest and imprisonment Tejawat had been outlawed by the Udaipur state, which had announced a Rs-500 reward on his head.

Tejawat was arrested in Khedbrahma on June 4, 1929, by police belonging to Idar State, and handed over the Mewar State. Tejawat was held in Udaipur, without trial, until his release on April 23, 1939. However, in spite of state opposition to his activities, Tejawat continued to tour adivasi areas to advocate social reform, and was arrested again in Kotra on January 24,1946.