Peasant movements played a crucial role in India’s freedom struggle by mobilizing rural populations, intensifying mass participation, and directly challenging British colonial authority at its grassroots economic foundations. Their significance can be understood through various dimensions:  

1. Mass Mobilization and Wider Participation:

Peasant struggles brought India’s vast rural population into the mainstream of anti-colonial politics, turning isolated protests into national movements. Villagers who had remained passive became politically conscious and actively resisted colonial oppression, expanding the base of the nationalist movement.

2. Exposure of Colonial Economic Exploitation:

Peasant agitations directly challenged the exploitative nature of British rule, particularly land revenue systems, forced indigo cultivation, and arbitrary taxation. These movements laid bare the harsh realities of colonial policies, thereby delegitimizing British rule and generating widespread resentment among peasants.

3. Development of Leadership and Organizational Structures:

Peasant movements served as training grounds for prominent leaders, notably Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Baba Ramchandra, Swami Sahajanand Saraswati, and N.G. Ranga. Their active involvement linked local grievances to national politics, strengthening the organizational foundation of the freedom movement.

Regional Examples:

(a) Champaran Satyagraha (Bihar, 1917)

• Led by Mahatma Gandhi, peasants protested against forced cultivation of indigo by British planters.
• The movement exposed the brutal exploitation of peasants under the 'Tinkathia system.'
• Its success marked Gandhi’s emergence as a national leader and validated the effectiveness of satyagraha as a political tool, greatly enhancing rural participation in the national struggle.

(b) Kheda Satyagraha (Gujarat, 1918)

• Under leadership of Sardar Patel and Gandhi, peasants demanded tax remission due to crop failure and famine conditions.
• This mobilization was notable for disciplined, nonviolent resistance, and significantly increased rural awareness and involvement in Gandhian politics.

(c) Eka Movement (Awadh, Uttar Pradesh, 1921)

• Organized by Baba Ramchandra, it highlighted tenants' struggles against oppressive landlords and excessive taxation.
• Linked rural exploitation directly with the Non-Cooperation Movement, energizing rural areas to actively challenge colonial authority.

(d) Tebhaga Movement (Bengal, 1946-47)

• Led by Kisan Sabha demanding reduction of landlord’s share from half to one-third.
• Mobilized thousands of peasants, demonstrating peasant strength, class consciousness, and rural unity against feudal-colonial exploitation.

Impact on Freedom Struggle:

• Peasant movements fostered unity between urban nationalists and rural communities, making independence a broad-based demand.
• They compelled the Indian National Congress to include peasant concerns into mainstream politics, making the freedom struggle more inclusive.
• Localized movements formed the backbone of mass mobilization efforts during crucial movements like Non-Cooperation, Civil Disobedience, and Quit India.

Thus, peasant movements not only raised economic and social issues but deeply politicized the rural masses, making them integral to India’s anti-colonial struggle.